Drama: Tableaux

Tableaux is a theatrical technique where the actors arrange themselves and freeze in place to create a still image. A tableaux and the participants can create a representation of a scene, an event, a theme, or an idea. Some important elements of a tableaux include: character, space, and relationships.

To do a tableaux students will be asked to get into a pose or create an image with their bodies in a group. The teacher can do this by providing prompts to describe a scene such as "you're investigators at a scene of a crime." Give the students some time to think and then give them a 3 count to get into their tableaux. The teacher and students can walk around the tableaux to see everything. This is the time where the teacher can take pictures or assess it as it is being held. You can find a video example of a tableaux in a classroom down below.

 I really like how flexible this activity can be for tackling any kind of subject or idea. For that reason using tableauxs is a great way of making cross-curricular connections with drama. This activity also helps to remove any anxiety students might have over speaking in front of the class as it is non-verbal. It is a great way of getting students of any grade up and moving and collaborating with each other.

Some accommodations to consider when doing a tableaux: provide written and oral instructions, change the time that students have to hold the tableaux, and use seated poses in tableaux.