Mental Health Awareness

Mental Health is something being talked about a lot, which is apt since we’ve just had Mental Health Awareness Week. It’s being talked about more openly, particularly with Children and Young Adults in a bid to rid the stigma attached to it.

One theme that keeps cropping up, for people of all ages but especially children, is how drama and in particular Drama Therapy helps them to tackle hard subjects and any mental anguish they are feeling.

It is often the freedom that kids feel, when acting out a scene or devising a piece of theatre that brings them out of their shell. They know they aren’t going to be judged and can let their imaginations run wild. During workshops, you often find subjects you wouldn’t normally tackle being talked about. I was running a class not so long ago when the subject of ‘Surrogacy’ was brought up by a 7-year-old. She devised a piece where her “Mum” didn’t have time for her as she was helping others by having a baby for them. It turned out that her Mum had been a surrogate on many occasions and the little girl went on to tell me about how she felt jealous of her Mum having another baby but didn’t want to say anything. I had a quiet word with the girls parents after the session and they were shocked as she’d never shown any signs of feeling left out. The following week the Mum told me that her Daughter had re-worked the 5 minute play and that now she played the lady who couldn’t have the baby and was excited when someone said they could help her. Perhaps if that particular little girl hadn’t had an output, such as drama, this issue may never have seen the light of day or perhaps even lead to an emotional problem later down the line.

It was astonishing that something of this nature was being presented to me by a child so young. We underestimate kids sometimes and often think they aren’t aware of things going on in our lives, so it’s important to make sure they fully understand any huge events going on and how it might affect them.

Drama isn’t always about wanting to become an actor, it’s a positive environment which allows children to be educated as well as letting them express themselves and explore subject matter they may never otherwise tackle.

Mental Health Awareness is SO important, seeing the signs and asking for help are imperative, so if you think that you, or someone you know, needs help in this area, make sure you seek help from your GP or click here for more information.

Written by Miss Nicole

Summer Holiday Stars

With the Summer term up and running, we’re into the thick of it and it is going fantastically! We have lots of new faces as well as returning students and so much exciting work is going on. We don’t like it when we get to the end of term as we enjoy it SO much.  Not to worry though because – GOOD NEWS – we’re running some workshops during the holidays – YAY!!!

The Holiday Stars workshops are proving really popular, so make sure you book up soon as spaces are limited.

Our first workshop is the morning of Tuesday 25th July in Worplesdon and will be around the theme of Pixie Hollow and will involve playing with Tinkerbell and friends.

The second workshop is Wednesday 26th July, again in Worplesdon from 9:30-12:30 and will be Moana themed.

The third and final workshop takes place on Thursday 27th July, in Worplesdon but is for the WHOLE day and will be ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

If you would like more information or want to book a place then you can either email camps@dynamicperformingarts.co.uk or click here

I look forward to seeing you all at one of these days in July!!

Miss Antonia

Musical Theatre Classes

The new term has kicked off and it’s lovely to see so many students returning.

Just a reminder of the Musical Theatre classes that Dynamic Performing Arts currently run:

We have a BRAND NEW class starting in Burpham on Tuesdays. If you’d like to take the opportunity of a free trial for your 5-12 year old, please click here to register your interest. Classes will be held at Sutherland Memorial Hall, Burpham from 16:00 – 18:00. Places are limited, so if this is of interest then get in contact ASAP.

On Thursdays, between 3:45 & 5:45, we also run a Musical Theatre class at Daniel Hall in Farnham. Like all of the other MT classes the students will work towards a theme and put together a short performance for parents as the end of term. The subject this term is ‘Beauty and the Beast’. If you would like to register your interest for this class please click here.

Our third class of the week is held on Saturday’s from 09:00 – 11:00am at Worplesdon Memorial Hall. This class is very popular so please do get in touch asap if you would like to join this class.

The cost for all of these classes is just £80 per child for the 10-week term!

DPA Musical Theatre Classes

Farnham Musical Theatre class with Teacher Emma Hough and Assistant Matt Hough

Last Thursday was the end of term performance for Dynamic Performing Arts Musical Theatre class in Farnham. The class currently has 15 fantastic 5-12 year olds and this term they were working towards the end of term production ‘Honk!’ which tells the story of the Ugly Duckling.

The children spent 10 weeks working on the themes of the show through workshops. Learning the songs, being taught choreography, developing the characters and back stories and even drawing pictures of the animals. Some of the key skills taught this term were; line learning, dance, listening and thinking and communication. All of these skills are really important in order to become an actor but were particularly important while putting ‘honk!’ together because of the theme of the show. When ‘Ugly’ is born he realises that he’s very different to his brothers and sisters, this provoked a long discussion about how it’s OK to be different and how everyone fits in somewhere. The children were really vocal and had lots of questions and suggestions on the subject and this really helped them to develop their characters.

Although there is a theme each term, which leads to the end of term show, the kids also spend the first hour of the session warming up and playing drama games, which allow them to work together as a whole group. They are also split into smaller groups and pairs, so that they can explore subjects in more detail. The 2-hour class also includes a cool down, where the children learn how to conserve energy, think, relax and sort of meditate to regain some focus – oddly, this always proves popular!!

For the last few terms the class has been taught by professional actor Emma Hough, who has really enjoyed developing techniques with the class and seeing them thrive. Emma sadly said goodbye last week but has been replaced by Nicole Connell, another professional who has many years of experience both in acting and producing musical theatre.

Next term the Farnham group will be looking at and performing excerpts from ‘Beauty and the Beast’, which the class is VERY excited about.

If you’d like more information on the Farnham class, then it all takes place on Thursdays from 3:45 – 5:45pm and a 10-week term is ONLY £80!!!!!!!!!!! You can go to Dynamic Performing Arts to get in touch and book your place, be quick though as there is limited availability!