Learn/experience Drago-Drama

The action structure of Drago-Drama is a quest to reclaim the Jewel of Great Worth from the Dragon who hordes it in its lair. Seekers, on their way to the dragon, encounter other denizens of the Dragon's Realm such as the Sirens of Self Doubt , the Ogres of Oblivion , the Duchess of Depression , and the Mage of Malice . This workshop uses archetypal psychodrama to explore life issues through the metaphor of Encountering the Dragon. It has been offered in various forms around the world.

Format: This workshop moves back and forth between brief didactic warm-ups, which allows participants to experience various parts of the drama and then engage in discussions of the experience. Participants have the option to move in and out of the three participant roles: seeker , denizen, or witness . The seeker is the protagonist or protagonist cluster that is on the quest. Denizens include all the characters that are encountered in the dragon's domain. The witness observes actively, but from outside the action.

Participants: The focus is on training participants who want to learn about Drago-Drama for possible use of it, in whole or in part, with various client groups. Human services as well as educational professionals would be likely participants. Many may have a connection to working with youth, ALTHOUGH DRAGO- DRAMA IS NOT JUST FOR KIDS! No psychodrama experience is required.

Learning Outcomes - Participants will be able to:

. describe the elements of the Drago-Drama structure

. articulate ways that parts of the structure could be used in their work setting

. facilitate a psychodramatic or sociodramatic vignette utilizing Drago-Drama elements

. describe the benefits of working through metaphor

Logistics: This offering is a full day workshop, with six hours of workshop time bookended around a lunch break. Time is adjustable. Space needs include a room with movable chairs and large enough to accommodate the people involved. Tables off to the side and a blackboard or whiteboard are needed. Lunch breaks are scheduled and group members may be on their own for lunch, or "pot luck" arrangements can be made.

Staff: In its simplest form, I facilitate this workshop from the role of Wizard/ Director . One (or more) Trained Denizens or Denizens-in-Training (see Personal Growth Workshop description, below) can also be employed. The one-day workshop is an excellent training experience for someone who would like to be a Trained Denizen for a Personal Growth workshop.

Drago-Drama Personal Growth Workshop

Format: (See action structure provided for one-day workshop.) Participants come to this workshop to participate, so the assumption is that all participants will end up being Seekers and all the denizen roles will be played by trained or in-training team members. There is a group building time, a warm-up, and character building time, and then the drama begins. Participants ritually step into and out of character at the beginning and end of each segment of the drama (for breaks, lunch, at the end of day one, etc.) There is no formal processing until the end of day one, and again at the end of the workshop if the workshop spans more than one day. The focus is on the experience.

Participants: Participants can be any group of interested people, aged from about 12 or 13 on up. An already established group of any sort may decide to do Drago-Drama together. Workshops can be offered to the general public and the group formed from those who show up. No psychodrama experience is needed.

Experiential Process - Participants will:

. explore their personal dragons through graphic arts, movement, and drama

. participate in an archetypal quest into the dragon's dimension

. explore life issues through the safety of metaphor

Logistics: This offering can be one, long, day-long workshop (e.g., 9am to 9pm, with breaks for lunch and dinner), but is probably best done in two-days with about 6 hours on day one and 5 hours on day two of workshop time, bookended around lunch breaks each day. The reverse hour arrangement is also possible. Space needs include a room with movable chairs and large enough to accommodate the people involved. Tables off to the side and a blackboard or whiteboard are needed. Art supplies are used for this project as well. Lunch breaks are scheduled and group members may either be on their own for lunch, or "pot luck" arrangements can be made. Team members will meet apart from participants for a portion of the lunch break.

Staff: In addition to the Wizard/Director, three or four Denizens (trained, in-training, or a combination) are used to play the various characters that are encountered. The Denizens/Wizard team must be available the day before the workshop begins, for team warm up, and also on each pre-and post-workshop day times for warm up and process. Individuals need experience in psychodrama and/or interactive theatre to serve in this auxiliary capacity.

A Denizen in Training becomes a Trained Denizen once s/he has successfully served on a team and demonstrated the ability to hold roles and follow directions. Those with prior experience in Drago-Drama can be granted Trained Denizen status from the start. Trained Denizens share a percentage of the profit of the workshop, and Denizens-in-Training pay ½ tuition for the workshop.