Objects could be a piece of furniture, a building, a mode of transport, a dinosaur, items in a room.
Students in a groups scene can become the table and chairs for others place things (mime) on the table.
Working collaboratively in groups like this is a very creative way for students to interact using their bodies.
They need to agree as to how the configuration will fit together and what part each member of the group will play.
How Can We Use Configuration Mime?
You can experiment with ideas for configuration mime.
The teacher can help demonstrate first of all the idea of making a group configuration choosing 3/4 students to help.
Choose something simple – a table and chairs.
Your students can now go into groups of five.
Choose other easy configurations for them to make – a space rocket, a clock, a church, a pyramid, a bus etc
You can also make group configurations of living things – a snake, an eagle, a frog etc
Bring The Configurations To Life
Some configurations can “come to life”. For example a group could create the shape of a dinosaur and then once in position move along as that dinosaur.
Backed with good music, this simple technique can look very dramatic.
Use As Part of A Presentation
So you’re doing a presentation, an assembly, a short play perhaps and you want to show different techniques to shape the presentation and to provide variety and include everyone.
Beginning your presentation with a large group configuration is an excellent start up.
Suppose your theme is Space/Aliens. You can begin with a few static groups on the stage area in alien group configurations.
Play some great space music and slowly the aliens start to move around the area.
If you have access to lighting as well then this will also enhance.
Such a simple technique to put together but fun to do and eye catching to watch.
After moving around for a bit you can add a character/s in to the configuration to progress your presentation.
Your scene can end as it began, as a static configuration.
You can also add sound effects to your configurations.
SOME CONFIGURATIONS
There are loads of ways you can use this effective technique, particularly if you are exploring atmospheric themes. Here are a few that have worked well for us:
The Old Junkyard, Underwater Exploration, The Cave of Medusa, Moonscape, Spooky Forests, Fairground, Haunted Castle
If you have a theme and you want ideas for embedding configuration mime, give us a shout info@thedramastudio.com
