The Cast of Beauty and the Beast (2018), directed by Ken MacDougall. (L-R) Heather Jones, Avery Kearse, Gabrielle Quesnel, Nate Meakins, Kai Evoy, Joy Chorolovski
The Arts: Training Youth for Success By Ken MacDougall
After
I left theatre school,
I started working in a series of part-time office jobs. I noticed that many of the required skills were similar to those I learned in school. The ability to communicate effectively, teamwork and empathy are the foundations of the rehearsal process in theatre, not just skills for the workplace. I also noticed that many of my classmates didn’t pursue theatre as a career, but ended up in a wide variety of other jobs and businesses. Theatre school has helped me as the Artistic Director of the Stirling Festival Theatre (SFT). I have carried my skills as an actor and director into the day-to-day running of this business. The takeaway is that participation in theatre teaches much more than just the basics of performing in front of a live audience. There are valuable lessons to be learned from the arts, both in life and on the job. Our SFT Young Company offers youth, ages 10 to 18, professional theatre experiences. Under the mentorship of professionals, youth have the opportunity to work on full-length musicals. Besides on-stage experience, they can also work backstage as assistant stage managers, or follow spot operators and costume assistants. Realistically, most won’t choose the
arts as a career (some will and already have) but they all obtain early training that they can apply to their future vocation. And some former members even return to the Young Company as professionals, which happened in our 2018 production of Beauty and the Beast. The Young Company’s next show is Shrek the Musical running from August 8 to 24. Summer also marks the SFT’s annual theatre camps: two weeks of song, dance and improvisation for 8 to 12 year olds in July and August. Each five-day camp winds up with a Family and Friends Showcase on the main stage. For those looking to try out a musical instrument, a new Musical Instrument Lending Library (MILL) opened on January 9. The Stirling MILL, located at the Stirling-Rawdon Public Library, has more than 40 instruments ready to lend. With an annual $30 membership fee, this is a great way to introduce youth to the magic of music. Local Yokels, a fundraiser for the MILL, will be held in the Burrell Hall at the Stirling Theatre on July 27, and features some of the area’s finest musicians, as well as young musicians who have benefited from this programme. stirlingfestivaltheatre.com | @stirlingfestivaltheatre on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Umbrella, Summer 2019 - 22
