Parents in Thanjavur will soon have opportunity to explore the potential of performing arts to help develop their children’s personality and communication skills through the Alchemy Kids Theatre franchise programme that has debuted at Kalpathru International Kids Club recently.
The Chennai-based Alchemy Kids Theatre, affiliated with Trinity College of London, specialises in training children from the age group of 4 to 14 years by using the concept of ‘developmental drama’, that equips them with skills in public speaking, narration, voice modulation, creative visualisation and leadership, among others.
Announcing the launch of the Thanjavur centre on Wednesday, Alchemy founder and CEO Vijay Viswanathan said, “Drama is an art form that caters to all aspects of human growth in terms of body language, communication and expression. Developmental drama is globally accepted and it is an educational pattern through which you can teach children the various aspects of social and personal skills.”
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The Thanjavur programme, Alchemy’s first centre outside Chennai, offers a year-long Grade 1 certificate course in theatre, with an intake of 30 children per batch.
“Children these days have more media exposure than our generation,” said Mr. P. Elavarman, founder-chairman Kalpatharu International School and Kids Club. “As I see it, schooling is more of a parenting job, and you need to give the children something more than just marks for studying.
Activities like developmental drama will have a positive effect on their academic results as well,” he added. The Kalpathru Kids Club offers courses in chess, archery and robotics.
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The Alchemy theatre programme will be conducted by Mr. Viswanathan and his team on a weekly basis in Thanjavur. Enrolment is under way.
There will be a free workshop for parents and children on July 5 between 10 a.m. and noon at Kalpathru International Kids Club, 8A, Selvam Nagar, Medical College Road, Thanjavur. For details contact 9940314444.