Before the rehearsals

Preparing a team and minds for theatre

It is a will that takes you to any action. Theatre will also start with the firm intention to do it. You start the team from yourself. If you have a strong will to do a theatre, you will find ways to do it. So be the first charged particle and enjoy being charged.

Are you doing theatre for children for the first time?

If you are doing theatre for children for the first time, It is the right decision on your part. Finding time from your routine and utilizing it for theatre for children will count as a service to humanity. Yes, Through theatre, you can bow seeds of good thoughts and start the change you expect. It will increase your friend list. All these smaller friends will always remember you for the time and ideas you shared with them.

Time to study

The period before the rehearsals is a critical phase in the process. Because there are very few occasions to meet students, it is the time for the writer and director/Children’s theatre practitioner to study and orient students towards theatre. We can achieve this orientation in various ways.

Call them at least once in a week for two-three hours and keep the candle of theatre thoughts burning. 

You can have a place to meet, convenient for all, equipped with musical instruments, levels, and big enough to accommodate 25 students at least.

Here you will accompany students and engage them in some creative and innovative activities. These meetings will make you aware of their capabilities and likings.

    Let them tell stories and enact them.
    Let them play the games they like.
    Read books to them.
    Let them sing poems together.
    Ask them to read aloud.
    Give them subjects and let them debate.
    You can study children about their behavior, their routine, and their thoughts.
    Keep children in touch with all art forms. 
    Take them to theatre festivals, drawing exhibitions, music concerts, etc.

 

Theatre on mind all the time

For children's theatre practitioners, it is helpful to have theatre- thoughts at the back of their minds.  

These thoughts may be about: 
     - the ideas used in the past performances, 
     - feedback from the audience,  
     - a few sentences by a fellow theatre person after seeing a performance, 
     - memories from the rehearsal days, and 
     - possibilities about the scripts in the future. 

Part of the mind may be busy :

      - in keeping notes about dramatic events in day to day happenings.                  - Reading about theatre may be the first choice for reading. It may be a              theater review in a newspaper or on the internet. 

      - To know about experiments in theatre around is like updating oneself.            - reading books about theatre and books for children too.

In search of a team

Theatre is teamwork, and you have to build that team to proceed further for theatre. To get each member of the team and keep the member connected is the skill of a leader.

The team is not only students but other backstage artists too. After a few initial productions, it seems easy on this front. Because of proper tuning among these members, we may rely on them in the next venture. But this may not always be the case. Musicians, singers, carpenters, tailors, light designers, set designers, painters, make up artists, and all other theatre people, you need to remind them about the production. You have to give them respect and keep talking to them even during the silent periods. Sometimes they come with ideas, and you need to discuss those with them.

S/he is in search of a team for a play to perform. S/he motivates students to take an interest in theatre. So s/he may have to visit places wherever the students are. S/he may watch them playing or play with them at a playground. S/he may read with them in a library. S/he may bf present a book to some child at the birthday party

Reading a book together, watching a movie together, a visit to a museum builds a team spirit. Older team members too, when they come together for some surprise performance or go for a small picnic, the bonds get reinforced.

Memory bonds

Whenever we meet our child artists, it is good to get the conversation directed towards memories of past productions. To share those beautiful moments again will help to boost the spirit of the artists. It also gives strength to us and the confidence that we require to start a new play.

Media connects

Having a theatre group on social media is quite helpful. It increases the possibilities to connect to them and spread the necessary information quickly. Sharing photographs of old productions, some exciting write-ups about the theatre will create a dialogue among them. Sharing of ideas do occur here.

I remember we had one of our play idea developed with the help of whats app chats among us.

Passion for theatre

Team-building is a continuous process, and all have to act silently and passionately and keep the theatre group intact and active. Small disputes need immediate solutions, and everybody must cooperate and work together for the theatre.

It is essential to create a long-lasting team of people who consistently work together for years. It is disheartening to see teams that come together for a particular play, dissolve soon afterward and not continue any theatre further.