Schools play it right

Students in schools across the city are expressing themselves through theatre in a big way. If it’s not a large production every year, it’s the smaller ones in school that keeps them busy. Not only are they dedicated to this art form but they consider it as a great stress buster too.

Says Reshma Varghese, 17, from Sophias School, “I wanted to be on stage and am largely motivated by movies. Just getting up on stage, that adrenalin rush, is awesome.”

Inventure Academy also encourages theatre as part of their curriculum. Explains Principal Nooraine Fazal, “We do try to put up one big production every year. Last year it was Beauty and the Beast, the year before it was something the students scripted, directed and produced. This way our students get to showcase their talents.”


Beauty and the Beast
Eleven-year-old Sahana Ramprasad of Inventure Academy played one of the lead roles in Beauty and the Beast. She says it was stressful initially, “But once we got into the groove, it was great. The drama class that I enrolled in encouraged me to audition for the role. It was great to be involved all the way,” she adds.

Mallya Aditi recently staged a play Twelve dancing Princesses which had a majority of high schoolers participating. The director Judith Bidapa reveals, “Working together as a team with all the stresses involved in a production, raises the bar for the participants. Students produce the best as there is no ego involved and they take it to another level.”

And the students agree wholeheartedly. High schooler Aditya S is into art, costume design and stage setting apart from acting. “I also designed the brochure cover for this play.” Priya Mannering, 16, says it was a great to work with so many people at one go. Seventeen-year-old Ananya Menon says, “I have been active in school plays and have been inspired by my friends.”

Inventure Academy’s drama teacher Poornima Sukumar adds, “Character sketching by the students makes them more involved with the production. Apart from this, they are also involved in stage setting, dialogues etc.”

In the larger context, the creative arts have always been important in our culture. Adds Principal Satish Jayarajan of Mallya Aditi, “Theatre is demanding. We have seen children who are inhibited, blossom. It’s not just that everyone is good at theatre but doing theatre provides an opportunity to grow in other areas.”

Who said school is only about books?

August 29th, 2009
By Our Correspondent
Deccan Chronicle