Teaching Innovations and Workshops
Wayang Kulit in the Classroom
As a drama teacher, I am always driven by a passion for learning, creativity, and collaboration. When I move to a new country, one of the first things I immerse myself in is its theatre traditions, culture, and stories. During my time in Jakarta, at the Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS), I discovered the beauty of Wayang Kulit—Indonesia’s traditional shadow puppet theatre - and instantly fell in love with it. As someone who thrives on inquiry and exploration, I was eager to expand my knowledge and practice, turning to platforms like Instagram to see how this ancient art form was evolving in the modern world. To my delight, I found contemporary creators blending Wayang Kulit with Western storytelling, an exciting fusion that I knew I wanted to bring into my own teaching.
In line with the IB Learner Profile, which emphasises being inquirers, open-minded, and creative thinkers, I encourage my students to engage deeply with both global and local traditions. I believe in creating unique learning experiences that bridge the gap between the familiar and the unfamiliar. In Jakarta, I crafted simple Star Wars shadow puppets inspired by Wayang Kulit, allowing students to explore both the rich heritage of the art form and their favourite pop culture stories. Moving to Malaysia, I took this idea further and developed my own series of Star Wars-themed Wayang Kulit puppets, inspired by the work of talented Instagram artists. This not only engaged students in learning an ancient art form but also sparked their creativity by connecting it to characters and stories they already loved.
What I love most about teaching drama is the opportunity to come up with fresh, creative ideas, often in collaboration with students, other teachers, and creatives. For this Wayang Kulit unit, I envision cross-curricular collaboration with the visual arts department, perhaps even inviting some of the Instagram artists who inspired me to run workshops with the students. This would give students greater ownership over their creations, empowering them to design their own whimsical or pop culture-inspired puppets and bring them to life in the performance space.
Commedia dell'Arte in the classroom
Above is a collection of Commedia dell'Arte masks I made using papier-mâché and my students posing for the camera in their Commedia personas. Faced with damaged school resources and a large cohort, I aimed to create something that would not only inspire my students but also show them the potential of hands-on creativity. In the future, I'd love to make these or similar designs with my students, a project I've successfully done in the past. At AISVN, I collaborated closely with the art teachers on a similar project, integrating drama and visual arts to create an enriching experience for the students. This is a process I’m eager to revisit, as it offers a unique opportunity to combine artistic skills with dramatic performance.
Teaching mask work as a staple in my drama classes has always been an incredibly rewarding experience. It offers students a powerful introduction to the mindfulness of physical theatre, helping them connect with their bodies in new and holistic ways. With Commedia dell'Arte, students are pushed to move beyond spoken language and rely on posture, gesture, and movement to convey emotion and character. This physicality fosters not only a deeper understanding of performance but also encourages them to be more present, aware, and connected to their own body language and that of others. Watching them transform through this process—both in their confidence and in their creative expression—has always been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my teaching.
Cootie Catcher Puppets in the Classroom
During the COVID lockdown, like many educators, I had to rethink how to engage students who were stuck at home with limited resources. I was determined to create a unique and meaningful experience for my young learners, even from a distance. That’s when I stumbled across an idea that would spark joy in both my students and their families—puppetry using simple cootie catchers.
While researching online, I came across a shark-themed cootie catcher puppet. I immediately knew this would be a fantastic way to engage my students in a hands-on, creative project that they could easily do at home. I adapted a lesson around making baby shark puppets, ensuring it was accessible for students with or without printers. Once they had their puppets, we launched into an online unit exploring the art of puppetry, giving students the chance to tell stories, express themselves, and have fun with their new creations.
Seeing the faces of both students and parents light up during these sessions was incredibly rewarding. Despite the challenges of remote learning, these simple puppets brought joy and creativity into their homes.
Inspired by the success of the baby shark puppets, I started designing my own collection of cootie catcher puppets that could be tied into classic children's stories, readers, and beyond. Over time, this collection has grown to include over 50 different designs, featuring fairy tales, Australian animals, Pokémon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and even Marvel characters. These puppets have become a core part of my drama lessons, offering a low-resource, high-engagement project for younger students. I also have a range of video lessons I have made to accompany these resources, thanks in part to COVID, and my own DIY at home film studio.
I have now integrated these whimsical characters into the curriculum, using them as tools to explore narrative, character development, and performance skills. Whether students were acting out scenes from familiar tales or creating their own stories, these puppets became a bridge between creativity and the learning objectives. For my ESL students, these activities have been particularly beneficial, helping them develop their enunciation and spoken language skills in a fun and engaging way.
The joy and creativity that puppetry brings to my classroom continues to inspire me. It’s a perfect example of how, even during challenging times, we can find innovative ways to connect with students and foster a love for learning. I look forward to continuing to build on this work, collaborating with students, teachers, and creatives to bring more unique and exciting ideas to life.
Mastering SketchUp: A Journey in Set Design and Education
When I first encountered SketchUp, it was a game-changer. My school provided me with a CAD floor plan, and I saw the potential to create a 3D scale model of our performance space. Teaching myself this architectural program became an immersive experience, where I could bring my ideas to life. I integrated set elements, allowing me to visualise and plan productions with precision. In the youtube link you will see my designs for my schools production of The Addams Family (2023).
This self-taught skill didn’t just benefit my own work; it became a crucial part of my teaching. I incorporated SketchUp into the HSC curriculum, particularly for students focusing on set design. It provided them with a professional tool to enhance their creativity and technical skills, bridging the gap between education and industry standards.
In 2024 I also gain a certification on linkedin learning for the program, as I continue to expand on my knowledge of the program, and will continue to be on the lookout for creative ways to integrate the platform into my teaching practice. Looking ahead, I’m excited to expand my expertise by learning lighting programs like Capture, which integrate with SketchUp. My goal is to offer workshops at a professional level, guiding students in the art of lighting design. This journey in technical theatre continues to shape my pedagogy, ensuring that I bring the latest industry practices into the classroom.
Exploring the Creative Power of Adobe
During my time at JIS in Jakarta I immersed myself in Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Illustrator, initially learning these tools for photography and later expanding their use into school productions and digital design. This particularly became a focus of mine during the challenges of COVID, allowing me that creative outlet whilst at home.
These programs quickly became essential in the arts and education, allowing me to create marketing materials for shows, freelance as a photographer, and design and build a series of puppets. The skills I developed through Adobe's Creative Suite have not only enhanced my contributions to theatre but have also become a key part of my teaching, that I continue to learn and up-skill my expertise.
Through these skills, I’ve been able to add significant value to my respective schools, not only in creative design and marketing for school shows but also in set, costume, and other aspects of design. My contributions have helped elevate the quality and professionalism of our productions, ensuring that every visual element aligns with the creative vision and enhances the overall experience for both performers and audiences.
Commedia dell'Arte Community Workshop
I have always found immense joy in giving back to the arts community, and one of the most fulfilling ways I've done this is by running free workshops for local theatre groups like the Saigon Players in Vietnam. These workshops gave me the opportunity to share my expertise with fellow performers and enthusiasts, while also learning from them in return. Leading these sessions, particularly on physical theatre and Commedia dell'Arte, was not only fun but also a way to contribute to the ongoing growth of the arts scene. It was rewarding to watch participants discover new techniques and deepen their understanding of the craft, and it felt great knowing that I could help foster creativity within the community.
With my background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and yoga, I bring a unique perspective to performance, focusing on the connection between body movement and storytelling. My passion for Commedia dell’Arte, with its rich physicality, ties seamlessly into my expertise in physical theatre, where improvisation and dynamic expression are key components. Commedia dell'Arte has always been a passion of mine, with its rich history and focus on stock characters, improvisation, and humor. In the workshops, I introduced participants to the vibrant world of Commedia, where they explored classic characters such as Arlecchino, Pantalone, and Il Dottore. We worked on mastering exaggerated movements and comedic timing, which are essential to embodying these larger-than-life roles. A key element was the use of masks, and I demonstrated how wearing a mask can amplify the performer’s physical expression, forcing them to rely solely on body language to convey emotions and intentions. Through these exercises, participants gained a deeper appreciation for the subtleties of physical storytelling, which is at the heart of Commedia.
Physical theatre is another area I love to teach, as it challenges performers to communicate without words and express meaning through movement. In the workshops, I emphasized the importance of being in tune with one’s body, as physical theatre often involves pushing the boundaries of how we normally move. I guided the participants through exercises that focused on precision, control, and dynamic physicality, encouraging them to use their entire bodies to convey narrative and emotion. This kind of training not only strengthens the performer’s craft but also opens up new possibilities for creative expression, making it a deeply rewarding form of theatre to both practice and teach.