Carousel Players PLAYLINKS
What is Playlinks?
The Playlinks program is a two part arts education program, developed originally by the late Dr. Debra McLauchlan of Brock University’s Faculty of Education.
Through the Playlinks program, Carousel Players has been enhancing students’ experience of live theatre since 2014. Playlinks provides artist-in-the-classroom enrichment activities that deepen the experience of Carousel Players’ theatre presentations for children and youth.
The pre-performance workshops introduce central concepts of the play in the classroom, while the post-performance workshops continue students’ participation in the play through drama activities encouraging peer interaction and collaborative creativity. Pre-production workshops are held in regular classrooms, are 10 to 15 minutes long, and occur 2-3 days before the performance.
Post-production workshops require space for students to move freely (a classroom cleared of desks, or a multi-purpose room), are 45-50 minutes in duration, and are best scheduled 2-3 days after the performance.
When students have this opportunity to deepen their engagement with a theatrical performance, they are better able to absorb the themes and concepts and to embody their own creative response.
The workshops have been an incredible success, deepening the students understanding of the story and its themes by exploring curriculum connections in meaningful ways that can be touched upon all year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many classes can have workshops?
We can accomodate 4-5 classes for pre-show or post-show playlinks workshops.
Where do the workshops happen?
Playlinks workshops take place right in your classroom. If your class’s desks are not easily moveable, we may request a mid-sized room free from furniture so students can move around during workshop activities.
Can I combine multiple classes to participate in Playlinks?
Provided there are no more than 32 students in the workshop at once, and there is enough space in the room to freely move about, yes, classes could be combined.
Can I book multiple playlinks sessions so more classes can participate?
Absolutely you can! However, the second session of Playlinks may come at a cost as our funded spots are limited and we want to ensure as many schools as possible get the opportunity to participate in Playlinks workshops.
Fully Funded Workshops
Playlinks provides artist-in-the-classroom enrichment activities that deepen the experience of Carousel Players’ theatre performances for children and youth.
Getting the most out of your performance
Playlinks Connects
Workshop activities aid in connecting curriculum matter to the subject matter and themes explored in the play.
Playlinks Expands
Workshops expand on pre-show and post-show concepts included in the study guide to deepen student’s understanding and engagement levels.
Playlinks Inspires
Workshops inspire students with new creative tools to engage with and explore the world around them.
Playlinks Encourages
Workshops encourage students to be courageous in trying new things and sharing ideas.