An analysis on Turkish children plays performed by state theatres (2007-2008/2008-2009)

Theatre is the art of showing the man both himself and the life, and of educating him through mind and heart. Theatre both makes the man think and educate with its components. The learner-centered education-instruction strategy, which has recently gained importance, has highlighted the use of theater and drama activities almost in all lessons.Children play games in the street, at home, or at school using their imagination during their game ages. During this process they also began a primitive version of theatre. Children regarded as the actors and audience of these plays transfer the advanced versions of these representations into the classroom dramas or plays at theatre stages. Thanks to the way paved by theatre, children gain self-confidence, and they experience changes in their viewpoints towards events.With the drama activities at school the child can learn by enjoying and have both cognitive and affective progress by using his creativity. Developing four language skills, i.e. reading, writing, listening, speaking, through drama activities at school, the individual can also get prepared to the social life.State Theatres is one of the institutions displaying plays for children. The children plays performed by State Theatres can be important for the development of the children as they are prepared professionally and eligibly.A total of 16 Turkish children theatre plays displayed by State Theaters during 2007-2008 / 2008-2009 seasons were examined from different aspects. The plays were evaluated in terms of ?Essence and Style?, ?Setting?, ?Time?, ?Characters and Functions?, ?Events?, ?Dialogs? and ?Messages?.The strategic cooperation between State Theatres and Ministry of National Education has helped these plays meet more audience. Integrating the university students studying at Turkish Language Teaching, Elementary Teaching, and Preschool Teaching departments at the faculty of education into this strategy is of great importance in helping the pre-service teachers embrace the instructional methods and enabling more children meet with theatre.