All the World's a Stage
So, the drama project is now in full swing!As well as eating, unwinding and sleeping in Achinika Hotel, we are also working there! Each workshop, the hotel's wedding halls are taken overby stamping feet, clapping hands, thought-provoking discussions and ever-strengthening confident voices. Of course, as with any project, this one has not been without glitches. When wedding and coming-of-age ceremonies take over the space, it's time for Relocation, Relocation. Luckily, health and safety is not quite as vigilant as on our home turf... Our workshop spaces have taken the shape of car park / garage / building site- 'mam, our clothes are too dusty!' - with passing trucks and wide eyed school children forming background noise and spectators. As they say (and to throw in another cliched phrase) the show must go on!
Using the Emotional Health Survey report and teachers' discussions with the students as a stimulus, we have decided to focus our projects on the highly relevant social issues of Stereotyping, Alcoholism and their effects on individuals and communities.We have now worked with most of the students (our group total now being 150 young men and women , instead of the 25 we had originally proposed .. What was that cliched drama phrase again?!) and have been very enthused by their responses.
At the school, the students are only allowed to speak in English, and our drama projects (luckily for us) also follow this rule. To our relief, and some of the students' and teachers' surprise, drama really does have the ability to surpass language barriers and we have been able to carry out complex exercises exploring sensitive issues.
Despite some hiccups along the way, we are staying true to our 'applied theatre' roots: giving our participants the framework and tools to articulate their own voices, opinions and experiences. Our work with the students will lead on to another of their Service Projects, in which the students will take their performances into their villages and communities to promote awareness of the social issues.
Thus far, we have met and developed the characters Jasmine and Rishana... Stay tuned to meet the rest of the gang!
Tie Dye gals x