VALUE OF DRAMA.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19670, 13 July 1929, Page 18

VALUE OF DRAMA.

AMATEURS* OWN PLATS. Cnox ova owjr coaaasrorazsr^ LONDON, May 18. Sir Francis Younghusband presided at a meeting in connexion with the Assembly of the Congregational Union, when a discussion took place on "The Value of Drama as a Means of Christian Education." Sir Francis said that his own experience in many lands had taught him that religion was the foundation of life, the most important thing in life, and also the most enjoyable. Beligion and drama were universal activities of the human race, and he thought that England, of all countries, should be the home of religious drama. The desire for it was manifest by the largo number of such plays which were produced. The movement was only just beginning, but it was of the greatest consequence.

Teh Eev. S. S. Shrubsole said that he understood that a very great number of churches up and down the country were taking part in some sort of dramatic plays. They ought not to look upon drama purely as an amusement and make use of it solely for the purposes of raising money. If the raising of funds was the only object, a good play could not be attempted owing to the large royalty which would have to be paid, and the cost of production. He did not think that anything could be done to have the royalties of prominent writers lowered, but they could at least encourage amateurs to write their own plays. Then, again, people were apt to embark upon a play without realising the amount of hard work that would be necessary. Those taking part should not be satisfied at getting through the final performance with only ten prompts, but they should know their words before they even started rehearsing.

Day Dreaming. He had been amazed to find how widespread were the sense of inferiority and the dangerous habit of daydreaming among the young people of to-day. They did all kinds of foolish things in trying to express their feelings, and he thought that acting might be a desirable outlet for them. Dramatic work trained their power of speech, it trained them to use their voices audibly and expressively. It was fine training in bodily "control, every movement or lack of movement having to be made intentionally, and it was good team-work. There was room in dramatic art, also, for the expression of other talents, such as carpentering, designing, and stage managing. Sir Francis Younghusband and others were meeting next week to form a council which would promote religion through drama, but he would like to impress upon them that if the movement was really to do good they must have trained producers who would be willing to give up a lot of their time and take trouble In their work. He thought that some churches should be able to find a man with some experience. The summer schools of the British Drama League taught a man a great deal in a fortnight. He thought this thing had come to stay, but they must not let it run away with them, and it should be a means of education rather than a means of making money.