Drama for Kids - Youth Theatres and Acting Lessons

American Actress Stella Adler once said, ‘The word theatre comes from the Greeks. It means the seeing place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation.

The theatre is a special place that encompasses the dynamic interaction between literature, performing arts and human expression. Through understanding the life of a character, drama becomes a medium for empathetic creativity and for the imagination to run free. This is precisely why drama education has been so successful in building a child’s language abilities, aesthetic appreciation and self-confidence.

Drama has been used in a variety of contexts - as a language-teaching medium, as a kind of therapy, or as a form of art. Research shows that Drama and Theatre are an effective medium for the above purposes. Some researchers have also found that children in Hong Kong become more creative and acquire better storytelling skills after receiving drama training, compared to children who have received none. 

One of the most popular applications of drama education in Hong Kong is language learning. Drama allows children to learn English by having them become active participants in scenes created according to a screenplay. Learning language through drama puts English learning in context with scenes that mimic the social interactions of real life in a variety of situations. Moreover, drama also helps children master tone and rhythm of speech, two integral components of speech that drama students need to master in order to deliver dialogue with specific emotions.

Drama also has pedagogical value in training critical thinking. A study conducted in 2002 by Sharon Bailin, a professor at Simon Fraser University, suggested that the process of producing and refining a scene stimulates systematic and critical thinking. In her study, she required students to solve various problems of dramatic expression and to make aesthetic judgements for a dramatic product. The process of making this judgment includes drawing on their intellectual resources and logical reasoning, as well as a critical mindset. Her study shows that critical thinking encompasses an essential component of creativity that can be largely cultivated through drama performance. Similarly, throughout the process of preparing for a scene, most children are challenged to think about how their performance affects the message they are trying to bring to their audiences.

Last but not least, theatrical performances stem from a long and rich history of literature and art. Although a theatrical or musical performance may be regarded as a ‘cultured’ activity in Hong Kong, in fact during Shakespearean times, theatre was the only art form accessible to the general public. Shakespeare did not write his plays just for the royal family in England - instead he believed that the plays could create a platform through which all people could take part in aesthetic appreciation. Plays and drama have a transformative power that can teach your child to understand the history and culture of a particular period.

Have you ever wondered whether your child could be the next Fräulein Maria from ‘The Sound of Music’? Or whether they could perform in a theatre adaptation of Roald Dahl’s famous story Matilda? Look no further, as we are about to introduce some good musical and theatre classes in which your child can learn to shine on stage!

Dramatic English offers a wide range of performing arts training and experiences for children not only in Hong Kong, but also in Mainland China - including centers in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Dongguan. In addition, it also cooperates with around 100 schools in Hong Kong every year. Training and courses in drama and performing arts are offered in their 15 education centers in Hong Kong; these include acting and musical classes for children aged between 2 to 16 years old, charity musicals, as well as professional training for Trinity College London Certificates and Examinations in Speech and Drama. With English speaking and communication at its core, Dramatic English aims to develop creativity, confidence and comprehensive performance skills on stage.

 (Source: Dramatic English)

The Theatre Bus strives to educate and empower kids through fun and educational dramas. Located in Central, North Point and Fo Tan, the team offers live dramas, drama workshops for children, school play directing and professional acting development. Their goal is clear and simple – ‘to educate, empower and entertain’ through play to cultivate the next leaders of success. In additional to traditional theatre, their plays often incorporate cross-curricular subjects such as social sciences and maths. All their teachers and facilitators are native English speakers, so your child’s language abilities will definitely show improvement! In particular, they also hold fun-filled weekly drama classes over a span of 10 weeks in which their professionals would encourage your child to grow in confidence and perform a drama for you to watch.

Next up, we have Faust International Youth Theatre which has been around since 1999, bringing theatre, performing arts and creative thinking to the next level. Not only does Faust aim to develop creativity and expression whilst also valuing each child as an individual, it also aims to foster social skills, emotional intelligence and self-confidence in a positive and encouraging atmosphere. Is your child not so much of an actor, but has a wild imagination with not enough outlets? Faust also holds creative writing classes that would help translate your child’s amazing creativity on paper. Faust’s schedule is full all year long - with over 3 productions and over 5 creative writing camps annually, there should be something that would fit your child. Faust’s After School and Saturday Drama Workshops are now open for registration!

 (Source: Faust International Youth Theatre)

Is your child obsessed with Frozen or Moana? Does he/she break out into song whenever there is a chance? Musical Kidz Studio might be the perfect place for them! Miss Carol Lee and her team not only provides professional vocal and music training, but also holds annual concerts and musicals that can fulfill the dreams of children who love to sing and act at the same time.

Stage Right! Youth Theatre aims to enrich the hearts of Hong Kong youths through theatre, holding semester long workshops that are designed to help refine children’s performance skills, theatre techniques and stage performances. Too busy on regular school days? Stage Right also offers holiday programs for children aged 4 to 11, during which students go through an intensive week of theatre to put on a show that will push their individual creativity and courage.

Last but not least, The Hong Kong Children's Musical Theatre is one of the most large-scale art education non-profit organizations in Hong Kong. With around 700 members, Hong Kong Children’s Musical Theatre aims to develop children aged 2 to 15 in an all-rounded manner that includes singing, acting and dancing. Furthermore, classes and rehearsals also encourage children to fully express their emotions and increase their creativity and confidence while doing so. Lastly, they aim to provide a perspective through which children can gain an aesthetic sense that would serve them holistically in their development. Past productions have included both western plays such as Peter Pan and Romeo & Juliet, as well as local productions such as Wong Sze Ma’s My Boy the Musical. In addition, a large array of themes are also covered in their summer musical workshops including choices like Broadway or environmental protection.

In a practical society like Hong Kong, the value of art development is often forsaken in favour of traditional subjects such as Chinese, English and Math. However, drama education has proven to be a wholesome experience in which language, creativity, and social and emotional intelligence can be fully utilized and challenged. So, what are you waiting for?

Source:
https://whizpa.com/listings/theatre-bus
https://whizpa.com/listings/faust-world
http://www.faustworld.com/approach_Philosophy.asp
http://www.musicalkidz.org/
https://dramaticenglish.org/
https://www.stagerighthk.com/drama-programmes
https://www.cmt.org.hk/zh-hant