Self-Discovery In Creative Drama

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32283, 29 April 1970, Page 2

Self-Discovery In Creative Drama

Drama, to most people, is synonymous with theatre, but the creative drama Miss Kathleen Hilditch is introducing to Christchurch is aimed at personal discovery.

; “It is. in fact, as old as man. Through the creative approach you come to relate better to other people. You get more out of life, andtherefore put more back into it” she said yesterday. “Hopefully, there is the possibility of developing into a fullv-aware human being.” Miss Hilditch directs her classes in breathing and relaxation, movement to poetry and music, development of the senses and of awareness, and development of the imagination, intellect emotions, and speech through free and creative exercises in individual and group situations.

Theatre Company An Englishwoman, she came to Christchurch to join the now defunct Canterbury Theatre Company. after having worked extensively as a professional actress in Britain. Miss Hilditch is divorced from, but still maintains a good working relationship with the London creative drama expert Brian Way.

“I saw the advertisement for actors for New Zealand, and felt drawn to it. 1 was particularly interested in the ensemble idea—the no-star system—and thought the company had great possibilities. My two sons had left home and I was free, so I auditioned and was accepted,” she said.

To Miss Hilditch, the closing down of the Canterbury Theatre Company six months later, through lack of funds, was “quite the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my career.”

She returned t- England for 18 months to see her sons and sell her home (a boat on the Thames) and then made her way back to Christchurch. “1 liked New Zealand as soon as I first got here, and I knew I had not had enough of it. I came back last September, not knowing where I would start, but things have just built up ”

Miss Hilditch now teaches creative drama at Christchurch Teachers’ College, and takes other groups at Lincoln College, Linwood School, and Sumner. Starting on June 10, she will also conduct a course at the Canterbury W.E.A. Students always work at their own level in Miss Hilditch’s classes. Acting on the principle that every-one has something creative in them, but that not all realise it, she encourages them to find! full self-awareness.

“Creative art can also bring personal relaxation. We all need time to get away from routine. We have our own personal rhythm of thought patterns, but often during the day there is no time to see these through,” she said. “We need time away from the environment of working to another person’s pattern; we need to be able to expand a little more in a non-critical atmosphere.” Having been through the experience of a mother and a housewife, Miss Hilditch knows how important it is for a woman to have time to relax with her own thoughts. Relaxation Her class in creative drama at the W.E.A. will have quite a bit of emphasis on relaxation. Her work at the Teachers' College is a little different.

“It is important that student teachers should know that this thing exists so that, if they wish to, they will be able to use it in schools. Children should be brought up with a creative approach

and when they are ready, if they want to as young adults, they can apply it to the total theatre,” said Miss Hilditch. “To put young children on a stage and expect them to communicate to a big hall is putting them in a false environment.” Two classes Miss Hilditch has taken for creative drama at Christchurch Teachers’ College this term will give a demonstration for selected sixth forms tomorrow evening and another for the public on Sunday evening. “I have taught them the basic work and they have developed their own ideas. Each of the two groups is different," she said. The demonstrations will be held in the Howard Hall and will include all the principles of creative drama as taught by Miss Hilditch.