Wonder is an everyday occurrence in drama class, it’s a place where curiosity and creativity meet constantly. Ms. Forsch, our Drama Specialist, often finds herself laughing, not out of humour, but out of pure joy at the energy students bring into the room.
Students at River Valley School take on months-long drama projects. These projects don’t begin with construction but with Greek history. By grade 6, the children are using knowledge of technical theatre to learn in depth about greek theatre. Ms. Forsch introduces students to the roots of Greek theatre, explaining how so many storytelling elements we still use today like prologues, epilogues, choruses come directly from Greek drama. Students also look at some of the earliest Greek theatrical masks as well as more modern ones, discovering how these influences can shape their own creative choices.
Each year students can dive deeper into mask and puppet crafting and each year feels different, shaped by new knowledge, experiences, and emotions. Mask and puppet making becomes something they revisit with fresh eyes and gives them the opportunity to grow as storytellers and artists.
The materials used in these projects are extremely intentional and meant to be durable. Masks and puppets are crafted from masking tape, it’s clean, easy to manipulate, and ideal for creating strong forms. These pieces aren’t built to be static but to be used, performed with, and brought to life through movement and imagination.
However, drama at RVS doesn’t exist on its own. It naturally connects with other specialist classes, especially during major events like the Spring Concert. Drama, Music, and Early Learning Music come together to create performances that feel cohesive and collaborative. This year’s production, “Who Stole the Moon? An Astronomical Mystery,” grew out of a simple question given to students: Why would someone steal the moon? From there, they brainstormed suspects and motives, building a whole storyline. Our Music specialists then adapted lyrics and rehearsed songs to support the original storyline.
Through all of this, what matters most to Ms. Forsch is watching students grow. She loves seeing the transformation from the beginning of the year to the end, watching students discover that creativity belongs to everyone. Whether a child is extroverted or introverted, there are countless ways to find success in drama through vocals, movement, technical work, or performance. “It’s fun to see me explaining something and there’s a little bit of doubt and then when they start to realize ‘oh I can do this’ it’s fun to see that realization come to them.”
The broader RVS community also plays a huge role in nurturing this creative environment. Teachers bring their own passions and creative interests into the school, creating a culture where curiosity is encouraged and risks feel safe to take. It becomes a lifelong creative community, one where people relax, collaborate, try new things, and support each other’s ideas. This sense of shared creativity is something Ms. Forsch sees and appreciates every day.
At the end of the day, drama helps students figure out who they are and how they like to express their own wonder – whether through dance, singing, puppeteering, but all throughout they learn how to interact with others, get out of their comfort zone, create new projects or learn the elements of good storytelling.
