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The Art of Facilitating Drama Activities is a hands-on course designed to prime you to confidently conduct drama activities while helping you reflect on and structure your programmes more effectively.
Through this course, you will explore over 35 drama games and activities, build facilitation skills, and learn about adaptation for different objectives and groups.
Developed and facilitated by experienced applied drama practitioner Michael Cheng, this course is ideal for both beginners and those looking to refine their facilitation techniques.
Why Take This Course?
- Be Ready to Facilitate – Learn practical skills to confidently lead drama activities.
- Reflect & Improve Your Programmes – Develop a structured approach to planning and refining drama sessions.
- Experience 35+ Drama Activities – Hands-on experience with games/activities that foster teamwork, creativity, and social engagement.
- Enhance Your Facilitation Skills – Learn techniques to engage different groups and achieve clear objectives.
- Boost Your Presence & Communication – Improve body language, voice projection, and confidence as a facilitator.
About
Course Objectives:
- Expose participants to a variety of drama activities in an applied drama context
- Understand how drama activities can be used for developing executive functions, building community, and as part of group processes
- Understand principles of facilitation related to drama activities
- Recognise and understand individual needs in a group setting
- Incorporate reflexivity into the practice of facilitation
What You’ll Learn:
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:
- Gain more confidence in conducting drama activities in various settings.
- Structure and refine your programs for clearer learning and engagement outcomes.
- Use drama as a tool to foster teamwork, confidence, and creative expression.
- Gain insights into adapting activities for different groups in social service, education, and community work.
- Develop a reflective practice to continuously improve your facilitation approach.
Who Should Attend?
This course is highly recommended for:
- Social service professionals – Caseworkers, therapists, community outreach staff, and facilitators.
- Allied healthcare workers – Those who work in mental health, rehabilitation, and therapy settings.
- Arts and drama practitioners – Professionals using drama for community engagement.
- Educators & Trainers – Teachers, trainers, and those leading group-based learning.
- Anyone looking to improve group facilitation and engagement skills.
Pre-requisites:
Participants must be at least 18 years old. Some prior experience with drama activities is recommended, but not required.
Course Schedule
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Date
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Time
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Module(s)
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Venue
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22 May 2025 (Thu)
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10am - 5.30pm
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Introduction to aims and impact of drama activities
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Introduction to Drama Facilitation
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Principles of Improvisation in Facilitation
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Goodman Arts Centre
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23 May 2025 (Fri)
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10am - 5.30pm
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Recognising and Understanding Individual needs in a group setting
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Reflexivity in Drama Facilitation Practice
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Mock Facilitation & Feedback
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Goodman Arts Centre
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29 May 2025 (Thu)
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10am - 5.30pm
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Goodman Arts Centre
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30 May 2025 (Fri)
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10am - 5.30pm
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Goodman Arts Centre
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*Includes 1.5-hour lunch break
About The Facilitator
Michael Cheng is an applied drama practitioner and educator. He works extensively with people with disabilities and youth, and has experience across a wide spectrum of communities, from seniors, married couples, people with HIV, to vulnerable populations and people-at-risk.
He has initiated, led or facilitated community theatre projects, with themes of heritage, integration, intergenerational communication, active ageing, social support, support for people in medical settings, and domestic abuse.
He was most recently resident artist (as part of SEED Collective) in a National Arts Council (NAC) Community Arts Residency (Silver Arts). The project investigated stories from senior residents in Ang Mo Kio, and included elements of community artmaking and online participatory theatre.
As an Accredited Playback Theatre Trainer (APTT), he has taught internationally at all levels of Playback, both in online and in-person settings. He is the immediate past-Chair of the Board of Directors at the Centre for Playback Theatre. He is Artistic Director of Tapestry Playback Theatre, and a Practitioner Member of the International Playback Theatre Network (IPTN). He is also a member of the Singapore Drama Educators Association (SDEA).
Michael is an adjunct lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic, imparting skills in applied drama to young and adult students. He is also an artist-educator who trains teachers and works with students in special schools. The schools he has worked with include Grace Orchard School, Fernvale Gardens School, Metta School, Rainbow Gardens, and AWWA School.
As a performer, most of his work has been with Tapestry Playback Theate, tackling social issues in community performances. He has also performed with companies like Paper Monkey Theatre, The Necessary Stage, Drama Box, and In Source Theatre.
Discounts, Funding & Subsidies
Early Bird Discount [till 13 April 2025]
Non-SDEA Members enjoy a 5% early bird discount on the standard course fee till 13 April 2025.
SDEA Members enjoy a 25% early bird discount on the standard course fee till 13 April 2025.
SDEA Membership Discount
All SDEA Members enjoy 25% early bird discount (till 13 April 2025) or 20% off standard price (14 April 2025 onwards).
SDEA Membership is a 2-year renewable membership. A one-time fee of S$40.00 is required upon application. Membership renewal is based on engagement in SDEA activities (ie. participate in at least 1 SDEA event within the 2 year period.)*
*Membership renewal condition(s) are subjected to changes. Please contact SDEA for the lastest information.
Click to apply for SDEA Membership
Tina Sergeant Professional Development Initiative (TSPDI) [Open to SDEA Members only | Application closes 20 April 2025]
The Tina Sergeant Professional Development Initiative (TSPDI) is a funding initiative by the Singapore Drama Educators Association (SDEA) to support freelance practitioners and drama educators to make professional development a regular part of their lives.
Successful applicants will be awarded up to S$500 subsidies for this course.
Click here to find out more about the initiative.
Applicants must be: Associate or Ordinary members of SDEA
Application:
Click to apply for TSPDI
Application Deadline: Sunday, 20 April 2025, 11:59pm
Shortlisted candidates will be notified for an interview between 07 April to 30 April 2025.
Successful recipients will be notified by: Monday, 05 May 2025.
SkillsFuture Credit [Apply by 21 May 2025]
Singaporeans aged 25 and above who are eligible for SkillsFuture Credit can apply for a claim.
Please inform SDEA upon course registration your intent to utilise your SkillsFuture Credit in part or in full for the qualifying course fee to obtain the necessary supporting documents for the claim.
Visit MySkillsFuture to check your credit balance* and for more information on the claims process.
*Only the SkillsFuture Credit from the Opening Credit and One-off Credit Top-Up are claimable for this course. The Mid-Career Credit is not applicable.
Applicants sponsored by an organisation or request for school e-billing will not be eligible for a SkillsFuture Credit claim.
NAC-NICA Training Support
Self-employed arts educators can claim up to $500 in subsidies and training allowance.
Applicants must be:
- NICA Member (NTUC Union Members may convert their membership)
Application process:
- Apply for a Letter of Eligibility (LOE) from NICA
- Email the NICA-issued LOE to SDEA by 29 May 2025
More details and application here
NOTE:
- This funding is in the form of a reimbursement. Successful applicants will have to make full payment to SDEA first.
- Successful applicants will automatically be eligible for UTAP funding. No additional application is required for UTAP.
- This funding cannot be used in conjunction with the NSA Subsidy.
Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP)
NTUC Union members enjoy up to 50% unfunded course fee support, capped at $250 or $500 (aged 40 years old and above).
UTAP application must be submitted within 6 months after course completion via the NTUC UPortal. T&Cs can be found here.
NOTE:
- This funding is in the form of a reimbursement. Registrants will have to make full payment to SDEA first.
[NEW!] National Silver Academy (NSA) Subsidy [Apply by 21 May 2025]
Singaporeans aged 50 and above are eligible to a subsidised rate of $150.00.
Click to submit application
NOTE:
- This funding cannot be used in conjunction with the Early Bird Discount, SDEA Membership Discount, Tina Sergeant Professional Development Initiative and NAC-NICA Training Support.
- Seniors may utilized their credits from SkillsFuture Credits and Union Training Assistance Programme to pay the unfunded fee.
Please ensure that you have registered for the course before applying for funding.
If you require any support, please contact projects@sdea.org.sg.
