"This is Your Life" TV Show Format
Here's a drama "TV Show" idea that worked great for us and can be applied to MANY stories.
We're doing Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus, and we're using a "This Is Your Life" television show format in our drama workshop.
The format:
A TV show host welcomes Paul to sit on a couch in front of the camera and an audience as his life story is briefly told (or the part you want to retell). Then one by one, characters from his story join him with a story to tell about him.
Several important people from Saul's past go behind a screen one at a time and are "heard" saying something they remember about Saul from the story. Saul "remembers" their voice and there's a big reunion between Saul and the character to the sound of applause. The two sit on the couch together as the host asks them a few questions.
So tell me Stephen, where was Saul the first time you met him when you were being stoned? How did you feel about that Saul? etc etc.
People from Saul's past and story that appeared, included: Rabbi Gamaliel his teacher, Stephen (the first Christian martyr), Judas of Damascus who took blind Saul in. Ananias whom God sent to baptize Saul, a witness to his conversion the road, and a Pharisee who doesn't know what to make of it all.
Last of all, Jesus appeared on the show to explain why he called Saul.
Their "comments" that they shared on the show were discussed ahead of time with the group and turned into note cards. The "show host" welcomed them onto the stage to sit next to Saul/Paul and then interviewed them with questions that referred to their note cards. They stayed and made room for each new character.
It's been fun, and a different approach for us.
The only props we needed were a couch (row of chairs), a few costumes, and a paper covering a large book on which we wrote: This is Your Life Saul of Tarsus!
This TV show was a good "drama" to video record and watch again! (and ask a few more questions). Record with your cellphone and play it back on a large screen (using a cellphone to HDMI cable).
Idea originally submitted by Ken Wezeman and since expanded here by various volunteers!
