Friday, 13 July, 2018 - Your Local Wagga Weekly
page 11
Theatre for life LIVING WELL
Jacob Saggers
THEATRE can provide children with more than just acting skills, confidence and improved speech. Depending on the subject, theatre can help them explore kindness, humility, greed, conflict, friendship, bravery, poverty versus wealth, honesty, ambition, failure and success, all within the safety of role play. These are concepts that children are innately aware of, and are themes present throughout Roald Dahl’s book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Local theatre aficionado, Louise Blackett, has her troupe finely tuned for her latest play based on the popular children’s classic. She understands the importance of theatre, seeing firsthand how it has changed the lives of those who have participated. “Theatre is great for children’s confidence. It’s not only lots of fun, they must also be very disciplined. And I’ve seen that confidence and discipline develop both on and off the stage,” Louise explained. As a young adult Louise studied professional theatre for three-and-a-half years at the National Theatre in Melbourne and went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and at Trinity College London - Drama and Speech. Louise would eventually find herself in Wagga, and in 1961 opened the Louise Montgomery School of Speech and Drama. “I’ve been teaching theatre for more than 50 years and children’s theatre has always been my passion. I love working with kids, they are so out there, rowdy and
fabulous,” Louise said. Today her school is known as the Theatre Workshop and her students put on multiple productions each year. Louise understands that acting as a profession may not be the most suitable path to follow. “I don’t promote acting for a career. If you want to be the poorest paid person, well acting might be for you. But I do think that acting and theatre is an enormous help to children,” she said. Pupils at the Theatre Workshop say the classes have helped them gain confidence. “This is my second term here at the Theatre Workshop. In my first term I was
very nervous, but that is not a problem for me anymore. Being in these plays has helped me project my voice, which I now do confidently at school. I’m no longer nervous when I have to speak in front of the class,” Meg explained. “When I first started here at the Theatre Workshop, I was, believe it or not, quite shy. I would still talk to people, but I was nervous talking to those I didn’t know very well. Now I might just see a stranger on the street and start chatting with them,” Makenzie said. Louise was five years old when her pre-school teacher entered her into an eisteddfod.
“Those that have performed in eisteddfods understand how lonely and terribly starchy they can be. There is too much emphasis on winning. I couldn’t look at these beautiful children and give any one of them first prize. I think they’re all firsts. If somebody is judged like that, it can give them a complex,” Louise concluded. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will be performed at Wagga’s Basement Theatre until Sunday 15 July with sessions at 11.00am and 2.00pm each day expect Saturday and Sunday when the performance at 2.00pm only. Tickets can only be purchased at the door and are $8.00 for both adults and children.
Louise Blackett (left) with Theatre Workshop troupe.
Assisted Living for elderly residents Settlers Apartments have available luxury accommodation for elderly residents who may require some extra care and support in a safe, friendly, secure environment. Care and assistance is available 24/7 to assist residents with the hard tasks of living such as cooking, washing, laundry and cleaning. All our staff are fully qualified and you have peace of mind knowing someone is there to support you day and night.
care and independence...
Enjoy a coffee in our new conservatory room or participate in the many scheduled activities that are available each day. Settlers do have available a 1 week rental option as a “try before you buy” (bookings essential) Why not come out for a visit and see what Settlers has to offer! Give us a call to make a booking for a tour of our facility.
Phone: 69 236400 or email manager@settlersvillage.com.au 1 Franklin Dr, Estella, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650 T (02) 6923 6400 | F (02) 6923 6499 E manager@settlersvillage.com.au | W www.settlersvillage.com.au
Stephen McCrea Manager, Settlers Apartments
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