Drama Team Handbook

My wife and I direct our church's Drama Team, which puts on one 5-10 minute sketch every month, in support of the pastor's sermon. It's tough to find quality resources for Christian drama - sketches that raise key issues, but aren't preachy, advice on how to do quality drama with players of a wide variety of skill levels, and help in keeping the focus of the team on ministry rather than self-aggrandizement. The Drama Team Handbook is a key resource for us. We have read it through, and used parts of it with our team. Alison Siewert and her skilled team have put together a solid tool for anyone interested in quality drama, and especially for people producing Christian drama. And the handbook goes deeper still - probing the philosophy, theology, and theory behind drama. The only thing that keeps me from giving it five stars is Siewert's sometimes breathless and over-emotional writing style, which is sometimes tedious to read. Otherwise, it's a great piece of work, and is highly recommended from this Drama Team leader.

I have relied on this handbook over the past 18 months as my husband and I started a drama team at our church. My knowledge of drama technique and skills is limited - but better than my knowledge about how to start a drama team! This handbook helped me to think through the purpose, mission, vision, logistics and other elements of forming a ministry. It also answered my first question, "where do I get good scripts?" Our ministry is off to a great start and I believe this handbook was a critical resource. I recommend it whole-heartedly. My one regret is that the book does not contain drama games or activities - but there are other resources for that. As a ministry handbook it is very thorough and addresses great theological/philosophical questions for Christian actors as well.