Imagery in Creative Drama

Abstract

The spontaneous imaginative play of the preschool-aged child appears to strengthen and influence learning and a wide range of behaviors. An essential component in imaginative play is the ability to transform one's imagery, mentally and physically. Creative drama, a field devoted to the conduct of drama activities with young people aged seven to fifteen, seems to be the next stage in the development of imagery processes. Mental imagery, seen as the connecting link between such fields as theatre, child development, education, and psychology, provides the focus for a framework for the field of creative drama. Termed the iii Framework, this conceptualization consists of three stages: image (i₁), imaging (i₂), and imagination (i₃). Each stage of the framework, as well as practical application to creative drama, is discussed.