STAGECRAFT
No Kiddin’
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ver the last few years, theatre in Chennai has undergone a revival of sorts, with a resurgence of interest in this oldest device for storytelling, communication and entertainment. Many youngsters are also willing to try out this performance medium, with quite a few young theatre groups springing up in recent times. This trend has resulted in a much greater awareness of theatre as a tool to achieve various ends. For example take theatre based training, workshops that aim to not only teach you how to act, but also how to become better at communication and even claim to better your personality. Many experts believe that theatre based games and exercises are potentially the best way to stimulate creative thinking and right brain development in very young children. In fact, in 2006, a study was commissioned by the Government
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of South Australia to study the impact of live theatre on school students. Julie Orchard, one of the key people involved in the study says, “Children learnt to think critically about what they saw and articulate their ideas and feelings. Children as young as 10 were using words like ‘curious’, ‘inquisitive’ and ‘amused’ to describe their theatre experience.” Ms Orchard also reports that improved social skills were an added benefit, “Students felt confident to reproduce art themselves, particularly by re-enacting performances in groups to their classmates.” A strong advocate of this method closer home is Shakila Arun, founder of Applause Theatric Activities. “Very young children from about two-and-a-half years old to about 8 years old go through a major phase of mental growth” she says, adding “At this stage, they need to have
APRIL 2010 | WWW.RITZCHENNAI.COM
From being a stage for the ‘mature and experienced’, theatre in the city has turned into the latest fascination for adults and children alike. Vijay Saravanan traces how theatre has become a tool for not just performance, but also learning amongst children today
unstructured learning opportunities through role play, games, etc. This is when the right brain or creative faculties of a child are honed and a child requires ‘soul nourishment’, as I like to call it.” Krishna Kumar, of Masquerade Theatre group agrees, saying “Given the current scenario, most young children lack suitable playmates or a comfortable space where they can engage in just playing. Because for very young kids most of their development and learning comes from the games they play. From just that point of view, I think theatre workshops offer fantastic opportunities for young kids to mingle together and play with other children, while also engaging their minds creatively.” Shakila elaborates, saying, “It is true that not only theatre, but any creative pursuit, like music or art is likely to benefit children. But theatre combines the best