WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES
MIXED EMOTIONS
POST PRODUCTION GROUP WORK
ACTIVITY 1 -5 MINS
The World’s Greatest Sandwich
Group sit in a circle. One person begins by saying their name and then states the
ingredient that goes into the sandwich
‘My name is Andrea, and the World’s Greatest Sandwich has pickles.’
The next person in the circle announces their name and says Andrea’s ingredient as
well as their own.
‘My name is Peter and the World’s Greatest Sandwich has pickles and popcorn.’
As sandwich grows encourage the group to chant along to help with the list. When the
last filling is added highlight that everyone has a valid contribution and listing and
remembering names is really important for group dynamics.
ACTIVITY 2 – 5 MINS
Shake Your Buns!
Group are still in circle formation with the chairs.
Facilitator stands in the middle. The person in the middle has the clear objective of
securing a chair and to do this must find something in common with at least one other
person based on a common truth.
‘Shake your buns if you have brown hair’
Those with brown hair must stand up ‘shake their buns’ and move to another chair
while the person in the middle tries to find a chair.
Rules – You can’t return to the set you have just left, no chair hopping to seat next
door and SAFETY.
CHAIRS CAN NOW BE STACKED TO THE SIDE
ACTIVITY -3 5MINS
Pairs- A and B
A says 1, then B says 2, then A says 3, the sequence goes back and forward
Change 1 to a CLAP
Change 2 to a JUMP
Change 3 to a farmyard noise
ACTIVITY 4 -10 MINS
Line UP
Ask group to organise themselves in the following lines
-Order of height –smallest to the tallest
Order of age – Eldest to youngest
First name by Alphabetical order
Amount of time spent on the internet each day
Find a space. On the clap move around the room on command Freeze create groups
depending on the number shouted out 3 or 4 or 6
Try to rotate the people in your group
First to ten! – Good energiser – touch ten feet – once touched ten freeze with hand up
Continue with hands and then shoulders
ACTIVITY 5 -5 TO 10 MINS
STATUES
Move around the space
On the clap FREEZE
Ten seconds to create a statue relating to the word
Anger
Frustration
Fear
Trust
Excitement
Conflict
Love
ACTIVITY 6-FREEZE FRAMES- 20 MINS
Groups of 5/6
A freeze frame is a frozen picture that captures a moment in time
Demonstrate –Ten seconds to create it
Wedding
Dog show
Rock Band
Mixed Emotions – two stories running through the plot
1940’s and Present Day
Ruth’s story in 1940’s
Pick three moments where she faced PREJUDICE over her choice of partner
[Discuss – Factory, Shops, Church, Orange Order, Family]
Create three Freeze frames to represent the conflict
Create and perform
Discuss
Present day couple – 15 MINS
Pick three moments of the couples’ journey.
[Discuss Meeting on Holiday, Proposal, Introduction to families, Wedding –
Traditions]
Create and perform
Discuss –How were they different to the first three images?
ACTIVITY –Sound Collage –REF to start of the play in the pub when Steven tells his
friends he is engaged
This is a chorus of voices expressing individual internal thoughts
Marriage is ultimately the union of two people but as we can see from these stories
it’s the external influences, thoughts and opinions of others that make a huge impact
and cause conflict
Create a sound collage for the ladies in the shop when Ruth is buying her groceries
Voice their opinions
Create a sound collage for the opinions of Ruth’s family
Create a sound collage for Ciara’s family as she announces her engagement
Compare to the 1940’s family comments. Have the attitudes changed
ACTIVITY 7 - 10 MINS
Conscience Alley/Thought Tunnel
Groups of five
Ruth’s story
Key moment – The Letter to Pat calling it all off.
As she walks down the tunnel say out loud a thought in her head.
Repeat reflecting her thoughts when she bumps into Pat and she decides not to return
home and marry him.
As she walks down the tunnel say out loud a thought in her head.
ACTIVITY 8 –Reflection 10 MINS
In your groups with your sheet of paper discuss then write down four things that may
be an issue/ cause conflict or need compromise when entering a mixed marriage
Once you have recorded them – number them in order of importance
1 being the most important issue to resolve four being the least
Nominate a spokesperson to read out the list to the whole group
Discuss outcomes, common problems and numbers etc.
ACTIVITY 9 – Vote with your feet
Agree or disagree/Middle Not sure – PLAC CARDS ON LENGTH OF THE FLOOR
WITH AGREE/ DISAGREE AND NOT SURE
FOLLOWING STATEMENTS
A mixed marriage is no longer an issue in Northern Ireland
Children of mixed marriages face prejudice
Children from mixed marriages are more rounded citizens
The churches have made progress in their support of Mixed marriages
Mixed marriages are more common in Northern Ireland
ACTIVITY 10 – WIND UP ACTIVITY
Group circle – digging