Drama, The Visual Language Part 6

Street Drama




My experience with street drama has been highly successful for many reasons. When performing street drama, pedestrians are not corralled by four walls and surrounded by people they don't know. In street drama everyone in the audience is a stranger to each other and everyone is on the same plateau. People stop because they want to and know that they can leave when they begin to feel uncomfortable, if they do at all. When you think about it, almost all of Jesus' ministry was done on the street or at least outside the temple. He spoke to the audience on the shore as he stood on the edge of a boat. Jesus wrote a message in the dirt in the middle of the street of Jerusalem. He spoke to a woman at a well outside of town. I believe that the ministry of the church is evolving into a more, "Jesus like", example. Taking the gospel message back to the streets is happening everywhere and drama is playing a great role. I encourage your drama team to develop

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material that is street ready and try it on a street corner or town square where there might be a good amount of pedestrian traffic. Lillenas Drama Publishing in Kansas City, Missouri has many books of short sketches that you can do on the street.

Here are some things to think about when planning a street drama ministry:



1. Prepare drama material that is short and moving.

A. Song interpretation / Dowel rods or sticks

B. Mime

C. Parable like stories



You do not need to prepare a huge number of sketches or pieces because your audience is usually always changing. Many times you can recycle the same songs.



2. Secure permits

A. Park or sidewalk permits

B. Private business owners permit (You might be set-up in front of a private business and will need permission)

C. Amplified sound permit



3. Power source

A. Provided by city receptacles (Not the case usually)

B. Battery powered CD players

C. Rent a gas powered mobile generator



4. Sound system

A. Rent a self contained board

B. Invest in a self contained board that folds up and can be carried easily



5. Flyers or handbills

A. Small business size handbills (Usually the best because people put them in their pocket, rather than on the ground)

B. Large 8 1/2 x 11 handbill (Great for posters of stuffing into local newspapers)



*The handbills or any advertisement should be an invitation to a crusade or special event.



6. Where?

A. Amphitheater

B. Street corner - choose big enough area so you won't block pedestrian traffic

C. Park

D. Community events

E. Local Christian concerts

F. Malls

7. Who?

A. Small cast for sidewalk events because you will not be able to take up too



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much room.

B. Larger cast for amphitheater or park

C. Youth usually have the energy, but by no means do you want to limit participation to an exclusive group. I don't usually go younger that 13 because of the attention span and the ability of younger kids to focus on an all day or multiple-day event. Street ministry can be very rewarding, but it is hard work. Street ministry is fun and can implement many people into the process. Not everyone involved with the street ministry will be in the drama. Some people prefer to hand out flyers. Others want to help in setting up the sound equipment. All of it is important. While ministering on the streets of San Francisco with our drama team, a few locals tried to get us frustrated by trying to steal the attention away from us. Without going into great detail, we were being made fun of. We just stayed focused and the intruder went on when they realized they weren't going to get upset. I share that story because even though street drama can very successful, it is vulnerable to whoever else is on the street, too. That's why it's always wise to have permits and fees paid so you can show you have the right to be where you are. My experience with doing drama in malls or even passing out flyers in malls has been…if you don't have permission, don't do it. There is nothing more embarrassing to you and your group than being asked to leave an area because you didn't get permission. That goes for every place you want to minister, not just malls. Malls can be a very good place for street drama, especially if you can reserve the food court area.



THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IN STREET MINISTRY IS SMILE!