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Local Acting Enthusiasts Attend Theatre Workshops

SHARJAH - University students were encouraged to unleash the actor within and work in groups to create award-winning plays by professionals of UK’s National Youth Theatre Company last week.

The drama workshops with the theatre company were organised by the British Council for more than 75 students of the University of Sharjah and UAE University in Al Ain.

The initiative was part of the objective to foster intercultural dialogue and educational exchange between the UK and the UAE.

“Young people today live in an increasingly globally connected world,” Michel Bechara, assistant director, Projects, British Council, said. “Initiatives such as this one helps youth in the UK and the Middle East develop that cultural understanding required to live and work together in this global society.”

The National Youth Theatre is a registered UK-based charity committed to the creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts. It has been operating from the last 50 years with a membership of more than 4,000 people, aged 13 to 24. The organisation specialises in ‘ensemble theatre’ and the process of devising and giving students the chance to work collaboratively to explore character, story, theme, and style, resulting in the youth having a say in the content of work and the direction it takes.

The workshops explored how actors use their bodies and voices to create characters and develop their performance skills through a series of drama-related games and exercises. Students who participated in the workshops were aged 22-23, and were provided with an opportunity to learn and integrate new aspects of Drama in Education through these workshops.

“The expertise exhibited by the National Youth Theatre staff was the necessary catalyst that was needed for these students to approach their final projects with fresh concepts and innovative creative strategies,” Dr James Paul Mirrione, member of Drama and Theatre faculty, United Arab Emirates University, said.

afshan@khaleejtimes.com