Tamara Gordon

South Africa

Tamara Gordon attended Rhodes University where she completed an undergraduate degree in Drama and Psychology, graduating in 2004. In 2005 she completed her Honours, specialising in Drama in Education; Dance Culture and Education; Contemporary Performance; Theatre Studies and Physical Theatre. Whilst specialising in Drama in Education, under the supervision of Alexandra Sutherland, Tamara facilitated Process Drama workshops within a variety of Grahamstown’s private, government and township schools, at the Provost Prison and at the Kuyasa Shelter. These workshops combine dramatic and creative techniques within the curriculum to encourage participants to approach the learning experience from new and exciting perspectives.

On leaving Rhodes University, Tamara assumed a junior teaching position in the Drama Department at St Stithians Boys’ College in Johannesburg (January 2006 to December 2007). In this position she was responsible for the teaching of drama theory and practical for Grades 8 to 10, and formulating and facilitating physical theatre and movement courses for Grades 8 to 12. In addition to this Tamara structured and developed the Twananani Community Project at St Stithians Boys’ College. In her role as project co-ordinator she structured a weekly programme to encourage students from the Boys’ College to cross cultural and language barriers and connect with children from Twananani Pre-School through the mediums of art and drama.

In 2006 Tamara assumed a part-time position in the Dramatic Arts Division at the Wits School of Arts, where she lectured Process Drama, working to develop a network of schools for practical placements, facilitating these placements, and guiding the development of the students’ process drama practice. In 2008 Tamara’s lecturing extended into the Drama for Life programme and she co-ordinated Africa’s first Applied Drama and Theatre Conference.

Later in 2008 Tamara began her Masters in Drama and Movement Therapy (Sesame) at the Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. Having completed her Masters, Tamara has rejoined the Dramatic Arts Division and the Drama for Life programme.