Drama workshop excites budding actors
With cable television blaring from even the poorest homes and attractions like the cinema, bowling and casino gambling drawing the attention of the higher rollers, live theatre in Belize is not exactly enjoying a golden age. But if the excitement exhibited at the Bliss Institute this morning is any indication…things may be changing.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The Bliss Institute was buzzing as teachers and students exchanged views about how to design a play that would best dramatised the preservation of a particular custom in Belize. The exercise was part of a one-day workshop conducted by Trinidad and Tobago’s theatre and drama production expert, Rawle Gibbons.
Rawle Gibbons, Instructor, Theatre/Drama Workshop
“Now this is one of a series of workshops. We’ve done in Punta Gorda and other places and so one. And overall what we’re trying to do is introduce drama and theatre to the children and teachers, in a way that emphasises not just the theatre, not just people going on stage and being able to perform, but that will show the relevance and developmental uses of drama.”
Gibbons is in the country as part of a cultural exchange programme
to help future dramatists develop their skills. The participants were first taught that for them to better express themselves, they must learn to do some simple breathing exercises.
While some of the students have had some experience in theatre, others attended the workshop to simply discover their talent.
Ikuko Bradley, Student
“Well SCA did a theatre performance a couple years ago, and I really enjoyed the experience. So I was hoping to get more from this, more tips and stuff like that that you can do on stage when you are performing.”
Patrick Thompson, Leader, Wesley College Drama Club
“I’m a person who likes to do drama and stuff, and I feel like even though I like to do drama, I can learn more things that I haven’t learnt as yet, being that I’m a young person and this person holding this workshop has been in the business a long time. So, there is a lot that I believe that I can learn from him.”
The teachers who must produce plays at school say they will also benefit from the exercise.
Irvin Cassimiro, Teacher, St. John Vianney School
“The new curriculum that we have emphasises integration, so drama and music and all those things will be very, very important as something linking those things in the curriculum.”
Gibbons, who leaves the country on Friday, says he has been impressed with the participants who took part in the workshops. He says that both the very young and not so young came out to sharpen their skills and because so many different ethnic groups were involved, the session also became a rewarding social experience. Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.
Rawle Gibbons will appear tonight as a guest on Channel 5’s “One on One with Dickie Bradley”.
