Their shouts are loud enough to wake the neighbours and their laughs contagious. One minute, they transform into roaring lions, and the next, they make sounds in tune with the rolling drum beats. Spending a few minutes in their company is sure to put anyone in good spirits.
Walking into the Children’s Theatre Workshop organised by the city-based Abhinaya Theatre Research Centre at Plathara, near here, on its penultimate day, one immediately senses the enthusiasm and excitement among the children, who are perfecting each scene of their play ‘Medini Vennilavu.’
The actors seem short of patience with the fluctuating lights in the room and distracted by frequent interruptions from visitors. Director of the Children’s Theatre wing Rajesh Chandran has a hard time keeping them still, what with the group bubbling with energy, even during lunch time.
Shedding inhibitions
“Many of the children were very shy and had their inhibitions when they joined the workshop. But these activities and sessions with experts from the field of theatre helped them shed their shyness,” Mr. Chandran says.
Sixteen-year-old Bharat Krishna can vouch for that. A week ago, when his uncle asked him to participate in the workshop, he had refused at once.
He even fought with his parents and thought of ideas to skip the class. But now, he hardly wants to go home.
“I am really enjoying the workshop. I have learnt a lot about theatre acting, and how one should adapt oneself to a character,” says Bharat.
Sharat Lal, who plays one of the leads in the play, is in awe of the various techniques that are used to perfect acting methods.
He recalls how he was blindfolded, sent into the nearby woods, and asked to return on his own.
“I realised that this is an excise which will help us concentrate on sounds and become keen listeners, an important quality in an actor. We also have yoga sessions to improve our concentration and health,” he says.
‘Medini Vennilavu’ was staged on Sunday.
