Members of Ardenne High's drama group go through the paces of a drama workshop conducted by Greg Banks, director of the Travelling Light Theatre Group in December. - Contributed
A SERIES of drama workshops and performances that have been put on by the visiting British Theatre group 'Travelling Light' during the month of December, is said to have benefited about 500 people. They include students and teachers from a number of institutions across the island.
According to Nicola Johnson, manager of the British Council which sponsored the group's Jamaican visit, the workshop participants were exposed to a number of storytelling techniques. In addition, she said that the drama teachers were also exposed to methods that will assist students to express themselves and to communicate with each other. She noted that voice training was also an aspect of some of the workshops.
Members of Ardenne High's drama group, which won seven prizes in the recently concluded Secondary School's Drama Festival, were among the participants in the workshop that attended a special performance of the Travelling Light's award-winning play, Into The West.
Also present at the performance were members of the Jamaica Association of Drama Educators (JADE), members of the Portmore Storytellers' Association, drama students of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts and 400 students from Glenmuir High School and surrounding areas in Clarendon.
One workshop participant from JADE, Ms. Suzan Beadle, who also is a drama tutor at Ardenne, lauded the visitors. "They taught us different styles. It was very interesting how three actors played so many different roles, yet we the audience, were never at a loss as to who the character being played at the time was. They put on a high-energy performance," emphasised Ms. Beadle.
Ms. Johnson also stated that Travelling Light is just one of the many groups that have been brought to Jamaica under the British Council's sponsorship. Among the others are The English Chamber Orchestra, The Phoenix Dance Company, The Tallawah Theatre, Black Voices, The Moray Music Group and others.
The process will not end there, as Ms. Johnson said that the British Council is working to bring groups from Scotland and Ireland. Also, the agenda for 2003 includes the Carl Campbell Dance Company.
