Educational Theatre in Western and Thai Societies

Abstract

Parallel educational theatre in America and England has started since 15th century. Later, Marxism and Theory of Natural Unfoldment had direct influences to the development of educational theatre. Academic institutions which aim at training teachers who can use drama in classroom effectively began in this era. The main purpose of educational theatre is that learners can develop their cognitive, mind, and body through drama process in classroom and consequently have direct experience in both elementary school and college level. Although educational theatre in each country has different specific outcomes but they stand on similar process and same methodology. In Thailand, educational theatre was initiated in the Department of Dramatic Arts, Chulalongkorn University. Since then, other institutions were followed suit and many drama troupes pop up in our society to produce a show for kids and youth as it could be seen nowadays.