A Different Drummer

Now revised and updated, A Different Drummer presents a range of ideas and exercises for teachers and students of dramatic arts. David Kemp is the Head of the Drama Department at Queen's University, Kingston, and his book focuses on improvisation and the importance of encouraging students to experience characterization before attempting its expression. The first section describes class-work that should precede improvisation, relation and concentration exercises, sequences that stress movement alone, and sequences that stress voice alone. Then, these elements are combined in improvisation exercises for individuals, small groups, and large groups. Throughout the text both highly structured and free-form ideas are suggested to suit a variety of teaching needs. Exercise include music, props, and costumes. The text concludes with two anthology programs that can be used for class presentations.