Figure 1.--Here we see what looks like a drama production at a French school. We do not know what the play is, but it was staged in 1938.

Drama seems to be especially popular in American and British schools. I am not sure just why this is. Perhaps it reflects the strong tradition of theater in those countries. A great focus on extra-curricular activities may be another factor. British schools tend to stage many classic plays, but Americans plays (especially Broadway plays) are popular. We have little information on other countries. Here a limiting factor is that extra-curricular activities are often more limited in foreign schools. We hope to acquire more information as HBC develops. Nor do we know just what plays foreign schools stage.

America

Drama seems to be especially popular in American schools. We are not entirely sure why. Presumably it is in part due to the English tradition. A great focus on extra-curricular activities may be another factor. Schools put on a great range of plays. The classics are commonly produced. Musicals (especially Broadway plays) are also popular. Other types of productions were tableauxs and pageants. Theatricals are produced at every level of American education, including both primary and secondary schools. A closely related activity is oratory. We note who received an award for oratory.

England

Theatricals are also popular at English schools. I am not sure just why this is. Perhaps it reflects the strong tradition of theater in England. British schools tend to stage many classic plays. Drama is an important activity at many British schools. Here this varies greatly from school ti school. It seems to be an activity persued more at private than state schools. Much dependended on the interests and talents of the teachers involved. Drama can be persued both as a classroom activity or a subject in itself. Primary schools have the greatest flexibility here. Teachers might organize informal skits as part of a learning activity. Secondary teachers study Shakepere and other literature might also organize informal skits or readings. Some scondary schools have drama programs. Many schools also organize school plays as an important extra-curicular activity. Tese plays are very important events at some schools. One interesting aspect of school drama is that boys are often attracted by some of the rechnical aspects such as lighting, sound, as well as the media mechanics such as video recording. Schools put on Gilbert and Sullivan operattas. Since World war II, Broadway musicals have been popular.

France

We know very little about French theatricals. A factor here is the more limited extrac-curricular program at French schools.

Germany

We know very little about school theatricals in Germany. A factor here may also be the more limited approach to extra-curricular activities in German schools. We note some unidentified boys putting on a play during World Waar I, but we are not sureit is a school group.

Italy

Norway

We note Norwegigan children involved in a class skit. Norwegian children like children in other countries enjoy theatrials. Here there are a range of such productions from small classroom skits to important school plays. A reader sends us a scene from a Norwegian school play. The children are doing a skit based on the books of the Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren. These are popular throughout Scandinavia.

Created: 5:08 AM 12/5/2006
Last updated: 1:06 AM 11/8/2007