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Theatre and technique

Aspire to be an actor? Register for The MetroPlus Theatre Festival workshop on August 7-8

USEFUL TIPS A glimpse of the theatre workshop conducted last year

Do you pretend your shampoo bottle is an Oscar, and make teary `But-most-of-all-I-thank-my-mom' speeches in front of your fogged up bathroom mirror? Do you hysterically bang your head against a wall when you don't like dinner? Do you feel like booting out the lead actress and taking over every time you watch a play?

Then maybe you should sign up for this workshop. (At least it'll channel your energy so you don't spend quite so much time in la la land.)

As part of The Hindu MetroPlus Theatre Festival 2006, two day-long workshops dealing with various aspects of theatre are being organised on August 7 and August 8, 2006. The workshops will give participants a basic orientation on live theatre and deconstruct the madness behind the magic. In other words, it'll introduce you to a bunch of seasoned theatre professionals who'll explain how much more there is to acting, besides bowing prettily and accepting bouquets in tune to a standing ovation.

Mark Waite, Artistic Director of Escape Theatre from Singapore, will be taking one part of the workshop. Mark won the Best Actor Award at the Straits Times Life Theatre Awards for his role in Sarah Phelp's "Modern Dance for Beginners," for which he performed the gruelling task of playing six different characters through the production. He will be discussing acting and explaining how to perform in front of an audience. His talk, targeted at beginners, will include tips on voice and body language, besides teaching you how to interpret your characters, and convincingly work your new theatrical persona on stage.

Evam participation

Sunill Vishnu K and Karthik Kumar of city theatre group, Evam, will also be part of the workshop, discussing scripts, in a talk on text and sub-text. After all, as Sunill says, "An actor needs to get into the character. There may be three things about the person he's playing in the script, but he will need to work out the other 24 to make himself into a 360 degree character."

That fabrication — necessary to understand the person you're playing — involves skilful interpretation and imagination and that's what Evam will be guiding you through. "You need to take words that are on paper," says Sunil, "and make them come alive."

Finally, you will discuss the big picture. Always an essential part of any workshop. While the team will not be going into the nitty-gritty of lights and sound, they will talk about stage design and the design of a play. After all, every actor needs to know more than just his lines if he wants to be successful in the theatre circuit. "You need to know the full story to design your role," says Sunill.

The workshop will, of course, involve interactive activities and fun games, just like it did last year. There'll be exercises on teambuilding and focus, which don't involve wading into reams of theory.

Last year's workshop drew participants of all age groups, none of whom had any prior theatre experience. This year too, the workshop intends to whet your curiosity, as well as give hard facts on what real theatre is, while discussing why it's so addictive. In keeping with tradition, it will end with practical tips on how to join city theatre groups, all of whom are always on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers.

So, if you are above 16 years old, this workshop could be right up your alley. No prior experience is required. People interested in applying need to register their names at the Music Academy on August 6 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The registration fee is Rs. 100, and 50 participants will be taken — for each day — on a first-come-first-served basis.

The workshops will be held at the British Council (737, Anna Salai) between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Call 98402 22363 for more details.

SHONALI MUTHALALY

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