Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Young would-be thespians are getting the opportunity to be taught by some of industry professionals thanks to a collaboration offered through Canada’s newest theatre festival, The Foster Festival.
The Drama Club is an outreach program that sees actors and directors linked to the Foster Festival, currently staging its debut season at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines, team up with local youth organizations, giving them the chance to offer arts programming. The Drama Club has already hit the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara in two municipalities, and more recently the Niagara Children’s Centre.
Director Molly Atkinson led the six week program at the Niagara Children’s Centre through the month of June, practicing with the group of eight children for one hour each week.
“They were short and quick lessons, but they had a big impact,” she said, adding that many of the participants had never done any acting before. “They were awesome. It was rewarding to see them jump right in, they were very eager, open and creative. You could tell they were really having fun and having a good time.”
Atkinson said she did a number of dramatic exercises with the group, played some role-playing games and encouraged the kids to use their imaginations as much as possible. For the grand finale — a theatre production in front of NCC staff and the children’s parents — Atkinson had the students choose one of their favourite books and she adapted into a play for them. The kids ended up choosing The Dinosaur Who Lost His Roar by Russell Punter. The story follows Sid, a little dino who likes scaring his friends with his mighty roar until one day, he loses his voice.
“They really connected with the story,” said Atkinson, adding the young actors were excited to be a part of the production. “They never said ‘no’ or ‘I can’t’ and were instead, open to trying everything.”
Oksana Fisher, NCC chief executive officer, said participating in the Drama Club allowed the centre to expand on its arts programming, which falls within its recreational stream — an area of programming that usually tends to be more about physical activity, although there are drumming and music programs offered, too.
“Families have been asking for more arts options, so this was a natural fit,” she said, adding that the benefits of the programming extend far beyond just introducing drama to the children. “It’s an opportunity to practice public speaking and leadership skills while building confidence and self esteem.”
Fisher said while the program was capped at eight participants, there were more who applied but couldn’t be accommodated. Should the opportunity present itself, she said they’d like to offer the program on an ongoing basis.
“It’s been really well received,” she said.
Patricia Vanstone, artistic director with the Foster Festival said she and fellow co-founder Emily Oriold, who also acts as executive director, both came from small towns and as a result, know that drama enrichment programs aren’t always a priority.
“It wasn’t provided in my school system growing up, so I had to look elsewhere — like Emily,” she said. “But being in drama, it saved our lives as young emerging artists. It’s so important for youth organizations to allow kids to find a fun way to break away from their shyness and find more confidence.”
Thanks to sponsorship opportunities, the Foster Festival was able to offer the outreach program in its inaugural season, which kicked off its first run of three different productions in June at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre. Vanstone said as they soon as they received funding in January, the program hit the ground running with 12-week workshops offered through the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara. After two rounds of that, a six-week program was offered at the NCC. Next on the docket is a 12-week summer program offered through the Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre Niagara.
Vanstone said part of what has been making the program such a success is the fact they’re using local professionals to teach the workshops.
“We’re not bringing in people Toronto to do this,” she said, adding they’re working with people in the community — people who understand the community.
As an extension to the partnership, the Foster Festival also donated a portion of the proceeds of the July 2 matinee performance of On A First Name Basis to the NCC. One of the drama club participants John Emmett Wright even got a chance to try out his public speaking skills, by offering some opening remarks prior to the start performance.
For more information on The Drama Club and the Foster Festival in general, visit www.fosterfestival.com/outreach.
By Melinda Cheevers for www.niagarathisweek.com.
Photo: Members of the Drama Club practice The Dinosaur Who Lost His Roar at the Niagara Children’s Centre: Drew Jakobson as a T-Rex, Alex McKelvey, Vanessa Ravensbergen, John Emmett Wright and Madelin Ravensbergen.
2016-07-06
St. Catherines: Foster Festival brings Drama Club to Niagara’s youth