Class act by young

Sixty youngsters, aged six to 14, in Bahrain are presently honing their expressive skills through fun activities at the newly founded Dreamclub at the Dilmun Club in Saar. GulfWeekly had the privilege of sitting through one of the sessions. Anasuya Kesavan, right, reports

There was noise all around. Around 35 highly-excited young girls and boys seemed to be gesticulating, making faces and talking ... all at the same time.

Soon I realised that I was witnessing "organised chaos" engineered by their theatre instructor, Claire Prior.

"They are working on a scenario," she explained. "The youngsters have been divided into random groups and have been asked to enact a scene that best represents 'Tulip - a girl who is a compulsive liar'."

I understand that this was just their third hourly session and all the groups were given just 10-minutes to come up with a situation, agree the roles, work out dialogues, practise and perform in front of the entire group.

The first group began performing on a makeshift stage - a clear space with a couple of chairs lying around. They enacted a typical group of gossiping friends who have amongst them, 'Tulip', who desperately wants to make an impression.

The performance ends with a general conclusion that, "it is all in her dreams". Imitation of real-life scenarios liberal in the use of body language - fidgeting, speaking on the mobile phone and carefree gestures made the scene come alive and real.

The next group enacted a classroom scene. 'Tulip' was telling elaborate lies about why she could not complete her home work. And the teacher encouraged her and in the end called her bluff while her classmates were all ears. Like a true director, Claire interjected the performance with comments such as, "Good acting; project your voice; I like the way you respond and crowd like little witches in the back of the class."

Midway through to the next performance, Claire turned to her class and asks them what could be done to improve the presentation. And I am impressed at the intelligent comments made by the children - face the audience, use your space and respond to the other actors to which Claire adds - "be in control and project your body language."

As the kids break away for another brainstorming session I spoke to Norwegian Tone-Lise Gjersoe whose daughter Nikita, 11, is among the participants of the theatre workshop. "She enjoys being a drama queen, likes to talk a lot, do make up and look pretty. We send her to the workshops to have fun while learning the discipline of listening and memorising. I am very happy the way she is getting on," she said.

In the last situation, 'Tulip' is presented with humour and everyone in the room is reduced to fits of laughter. And somewhere between the performances Claire finds it appropriate to introduce the role of a narrator to her students.

She is all praise for the young group who have come up with various versions of Tulip - cocky; annoying; sensitive and emotional.

"Using various stimuli the students will learn performance skills and be introduced to different conventions and techniques," Claire added. "There are some children who are shy, a little afraid and self-conscious. Learning lines and being part of a performance will transform them."

Georgie Bradley, an A level drama and theatre student at St Christopher's School, who is helping Claire at the club, said: "Theatre boosts confidence levels. This is the first time I'm helping out in teaching theatre and I am constantly learning. I have performed in several productions."

l Dreamclub is a drama and expressive arts club for children aged six to 14 years. Activities are lead by founder Claire Prior, 41, a former head of performing arts faculty at a school in Yorkshire, UK.

Drama classes are held at the Dilmun Club on Sunday evenings and are run each term over 10-weeks at a time. For further details email dreamclub@hotmail.co.uk