POLITICAL SATIRE WORKSHOP
Venue: Double Teaching Space, Drama Classroom, Studio, Theatre, Hall

Drawing from a rich history of political comedy, students explore how humour, parody, and exaggeration can challenge authority, amplify underrepresented voices, and interrogate injustice — all while making audiences laugh. From classic theatrical satire to sketch comedy, political memes, and contemporary stand-up, this workshop blends performance with analysis and encourages students to respond artistically to the world around them.

Australian Curriculum Links

Target Years: 7–12
This workshop supports learning across The Arts – Drama, English, Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS), and General Capabilities.

The Arts – Drama

Years 7–10 | Strands:

• Developing Understanding and Practices
  ➤ Use satire, parody, caricature, irony, and comedic structure to explore and critique social and political issues
  ➤ Develop characterisation and non-naturalistic performance skills to communicate powerful messages through humour
  (ACADRM043, ACADRM049)
• Responding and Interpreting
  ➤ Analyse how dramatic forms are used to make political commentary
  ➤ Reflect on how comedy challenges audience perception and provokes critical thinking
  (ACADRR046, ACADRR051)

Senior Secondary – Drama (Years 11–12):

• Explore satire as a non-naturalistic style within devised performance and scripted works
• Analyse historical and contemporary examples of political satire
• Create original scenes that use satire to reflect on real-world issues

English

Years 7–12 | Strands:

• Language for Interaction / Literature / Literacy
  ➤ Examine how satire uses tone, irony, bias, and rhetorical devices to influence audiences
  ➤ Develop and present satirical texts using comedic conventions, voice, timing, and structure
  (ACELA1553, ACELY1741, ACELT1635, ACELY1811)

Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)

• Investigate civics, government, and social justice issues through artistic interpretation
• Reflect on how satire critiques the use and abuse of power, policy, and privilege
  (ACHCK091, ACHCK094, ACDSEH121)

General Capabilities

Critical and Creative Thinking

• Analyse complex social and political issues
• Evaluate how humour can shift perspectives and empower voices
• Create original satirical responses using irony, exaggeration, and parody

Ethical Understanding

• Consider the ethics of satire: What’s fair game? What crosses the line?
• Understand and debate moral boundaries in comedic critique

Personal and Social Capability

• Build confidence and resilience in developing public voice
• Collaborate respectfully on sensitive and topical issues
• Encourage active citizenship through creative engagement

Core Workshop Components & Experiences

• What Is Satire?
  A crash course in satire’s history — from Aristophanes to Tina Fey, Shakespeare to Shaun Micallef
• Analysing Contemporary Issues:
  Identifying political and social issues that matter to students (e.g. climate policy, media bias, education, gender, inequality)
• Satirical Toolkit:
  Learning how to use exaggeration, parody, irony, juxtaposition, stereotypes, and comic timing
• Creating Satirical Scenes:
  Students devise their own short performances using guided prompts and provocations
• Subversive Voice:
  Exploring how comedy can express things that are difficult to say directly, and challenge the dominant narrative
• Styles of Satire Explored:
  – Political cartooning
  – Satirical sketch comedy
  – Theatrical satire (e.g. The Government Inspector, Utopia, The Chaser)
  – Modern stand-up and digital satire (TikTok, YouTube)
• Performance & Feedback:
  Students perform their satirical pieces in a supportive setting and give/receive constructive feedback from peers

Style and Form

• Non-Naturalism & Comedy – Brechtian influence, caricature, symbolic staging
• Satirical Sketch – short-form scenes with clear political focus
• Improvisation & Ensemble Work – generating rapid, responsive content
• Devised Theatre – student-led creation based on current events

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop, students will:

• Understand satire as a form of creative protest and social commentary
• Apply satire and parody techniques in original performance
• Strengthen their critical thinking and comedic voice
• Collaborate and debate complex issues through humour
• Build confidence and public voice by turning opinions into action through art

Workshop Adaptability

Perfect for:

• Drama units on non-naturalism, political theatre, or comedy
• English studies of satire and persuasive writing
• Civics & Citizenship modules
• Cross-disciplinary collaborations (e.g., HASS/English/Drama)

Adaptable for one-off intensives, in-residence programs, or performance-based assessments.

Devised by: Clint Bolster
Directed by: Clint Bolster