A number of Year 8 students recently got to attend a clowning workshop after expressing a keen interest in Drama. The day focused on mask performance, with a professional instructor bringing his collection of weird and wonderful masks for the students to use.
They worked on using physicality to bring a performance to life, employing gesturing to amplify their story. As the group practiced the new skills, they discussed characterization and how, as performers, they can play on the universality of emotion to connect with their audience.
As they begin to flex their dramatic muscles, Mr Kite explained how mask work allows the students to gain confidence in front of an audience, getting laughs and practicing interaction, while not ‘being themselves’. The young performers will get a chance to put all of their new skills into practice as the pre-show at the Grimm Tales performance next week. Come along and see what they’ve learned!
