Masks: Making and Using in Drama Class
by Kim Flintoff

This article is an attempt to condense and share some of the work I have been undertaking recently in developing the use of mask in Drama. It was my hope at the outset that I would be able to isolate some simple and effective construction techniques that could be followed by students to create the masks they will use in class. I firmly believe that a sense of ownership is very important when it comes to the use of mask. 

 I thoroughly recommend that you visit Dave Riley's Mask Making resource - he has taken the basic ideas I experimented with here and has developed them into a commercial artform. Additionally he also has one of the best Mask sites in Australia and moderates an international discussion forum on Masks and Puppets.  

The photograph (left) was taken in the very first class that I took in the the use of mask. I really did not know what to expect and found that the process of making simple plaster bandage "life masks" took considerably longer than I had anticipated.

I expected that students would create their masks in two periods - it took eight! This was partly due to poor planning, rambunctious students and limited facilities.

To begin with, let me suggest an excellent text for teachers - unfortunately I have not been able to find it in Australia but have located it via Amazon.com and have a link to it at Drama Books.The book is called Mask Improvisation for Actor Training and Performance by Sears A. Eldridge. (ISBN 0-8101-1365-1). 

The rest of this material is available as indicated below - essentially it is a set of instructions on how to make masks like the ones pictured on the left. I spent several weeks and several hundred dollars on materials to develop a quick and inexpensive technique to make masks in school.

The results are shown and these masks cost about $1.00 each to make.

Download a zipped version here.

There is a great selection of mask resources available on the web - check the Mask Links Page.

 

I mentioned these masks a few weeks back and suggested that they were no longer available.   Well, I'm pleased to say that at the Brisbane conference I had the pleasure of reacquainting myself with Mr Tony Kishawi from Transient Theatre Company.  Tony has purchased the blanks from the original designer, Steve Novac, and the masks are once again available for sale via his website ( http://www.transienttheatre.com/masks/ ).  He's happy to sell to anyone, anywhere - so you deprived folk outside of Australia are able to get these quality masks as well.  Please, if you do contact Tony, mention where you heard about him and that Kim Flintoff kept his word and made mention of the masks. Tony is also offering a brilliant collection of workshops, activities and other resources via Transient, so check out everything they have to offer.