Learn the fundamentals of stagecraft on August 8 and 9 at the British Council

SUNILL "We're hoping the workshops will whet appetites"

Everyone has their own way of telling a story. Now you can find out what yours is.

As part of the MetroPlus Theatre festival, Evam will be organising theatre workshops at the British Council on August 8 and 9. Maybe you're a Shakespearean type, bursting with angst and fury; rhythm and rhyme. Or maybe you're more of a Neil Simon kind of guy: practising witty one-liners as you sneer at your cupboard in world-weary sort of way.

Big break

Either way, this could be your big break. Ok, so it's not Broadway. But then, neither is your bathroom mirror. And everyone has to start somewhere. Those bouquets of roses that appear at curtain calls aren't conjured out of thin air, you know!

So, if you think that somewhere deep inside (and for the shyer actors out there, it might just be deep, deep inside) of you, there's a brilliant actor just waiting to be cast, this could be one way of coaxing him out — into the stage lights.

The two workshops, each of which will take fifty people, are for those interested in understanding and participating in theatre. Sunill of Evam says they aim to teach young actors that "It's not only about performance, but also the kind of performance you give." The workshop, therefore, is divided into four modules, each of which will concentrate on a different aspect of what you require to be a relatively well-rounded actor.

Voice training

First, there's voice training by P. C. Ramakrishna, theatre personality and the voice behind many advertisements. His session will be followed by two hours on "Text and subtext: Interpretation and Understanding," which will be taught by Yamuna, well-known actor and member of the Madras Players. Once you understand how important it is to study your scripts for more than just "turn left and sneeze" directions, you will be ready for session three — "Acting (Performance and Body Language movement)", which will be taken by actor and director Balakrishnan, a graduate from the National School of Drama and a member of Theatre Nisha.

Finally, Krishna Kumar from Masquerade will teach "Sets and Lights" so that you understand how their role is just as important as the actors' in a play.

Sunill, discussing how they aim to teach participants about performance and how a play is created, says although this workshop "is too short to give a deep understanding of theatre," they are hoping it will "whet appetites".

"If there's someone out there who wants to know about theatre, this will give a basic, detailed understanding of all these aspects," he says. And then, people who complete it and discover that they are truly interested in theatre and all its processes can join one of the many theatre groups in the city and work on their talents.

Considering the fact that the people teaching at the workshops are some of the best-known names in theatre, there's also the possibility of being spotted. "It's not an objective but could certainly be a by-product of the workshop," says Sunill, adding that theatre groups in Chennai are constantly on the lookout for new talent— whether it is actors or technicians.

Although there are no auditions, people will be registered on a "first come, first served" basis. Registrations begin at 10.30 a.m. on August 8, Music Academy, and close once they hit a hundred.

SHONALI MUTHALALY