Participant diary: A Dramatic Resources Open Course

By Andrea Lungay, newest member of DR HQ!

It’s the day of the Dramatic Resources Open Course, and as the newest member of the office team, I’ve been invited to take part as a participant. If you’ve ever been curious about what really happens at a DR Open Course – read on! 

I arrive at the October Gallery at 9am, into an almost-empty room with chairs in a circle. Geoff and Shelley, today’s trainers, greet me with bright smiles. I make my way to the kitchen where I have a coffee and a few (many…) biscuits. As I mingle with the other participants, the anticipation grows. We are all feeling nervous and excited for the start of the session.  

At 9.30am, Geoff and Shelley introduce themselves and explain their role as trainers, as well as sharing details of their other lives as an actor and director. They are genuinely warm and welcoming, and I feel my shoulders relax a bit, knowing I’m safe to try out some new things in the room today. 

Time for the first exercise! Shelley invites us to get into pairs, and we label ourselves A & B. I was A. We play a classic improvisation game (a great way to warm up a group of strangers), and soon it seems like there is an improvised performance of STOMP! taking place with clapping, stamping, and laughter filling the room. 

In the next exercise, we imagine a world map on the floor and stand on the place where we were born. I attempt to find Northwest London, nestled between one participant in Essex and another in Germany! As we walk around the world, sharing information about our time in these places, our personal stories start to emerge. We soon recognise little links between us all. We move from windy, rainy Manchester to villages in India, and I feel like I am jet setting across the globe rather than in a rehearsal space in Central London. 

Now, if I am being totally honest, I thought the next exercise was bizarre at first! Shelley and Geoff ask each of us to walk into the room one by one, introduce ourselves, and then walk out. Sounds easy, right? In fact, through this simple exercise, we all start to consider how we present ourselves consciously and unconsciously. Each of us receives individual tools to apply to our communication. After every introduction, Geoff invites us to talk about what we notice and how each person can improve – from little non-verbal signals, to volume, to energy. As nerve-racking as it suddenly seems, it is so interesting to get specific feedback from the room on something we all dismiss as easy.  

Lunchtime! A chance to refuel on some delicious chicken, rice and veggies, as well as chat together about the day so far. A fellow participant and I reflect on how we feel these exercises will help us bring our teams together when we are back in our own working environments. After some tasty brownies and flapjacks, we head back to the training room, eager to find out what is next and to continue building on the skills we’ve discovered so far.  

I feel confident and inspired when it comes to one of the last exercises of the day, in which we are asked to speak about something we’re passionate about. I decide to speak about how we should all work to increase diversity in the arts, and as this is something I have spoken about often in my life. While presenting, I have the chance to apply the coaching points we have been working on. It’s a clever way to amalgamate all the exercises we’ve done throughout the day and apply our new toolkit to a real-life situation. Everyone’s chosen subjects are different, varying from helping those without a home to playing piano in their first apartment. 

As I’m comfortable with speaking in public about diversity in the arts, Geoff and Shelley soon notice my ease with this exercise. Suddenly, I get an additional mini challenge... The other participants are going to walk from one end of the room to the other. If they feel convinced by what I am saying, they should stop and listen. If they don’t, they should continue walking. Pressure! I start thinking about how I can convey my passion and increase my impact. I make sure to ground my voice and maintain a strong stance. Next, I think carefully about what I really want my audience to hear. And of course, I must remember to keep breathing! Sure enough, everyone stops to listen. I feel proud of myself in this final exercise and appreciate that I was encouraged to step up further. In the end, I learn a lot from the exercise I expected to “ace” first time! 

My key takeaway from the day is that you can always learn more. Never strive for perfection – just strive for honesty and authenticity. Although we do not always make time to rehearse our communication in business (and in life!), we should all try to implement the “rehearsal process” before any major presentation or meeting. This helps us not only know what we’re speaking about, but why we’re speaking about it, and how we feel about what we’re saying. This all sends a message to the audience that you are an expert and helps you to communicate with real impact. 

If you are interested in booking your place on the next Dramatic Resources Open Course, held in central London (UK), simply follow this link to get in touch! We would love to see you there.