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Answering the call of the stage

Photo: S. Gopakumar

Developing skills Claudia Bartholomeyczik (right)

Whatever is happening in the world happens here in a compressed manner,” says Claudia Bartholomeyczik, German drama pedagogue, referring to India. But she could very well have been talking about the theatre workshop she conducted in the city recently. For, in the session that lasted three hours at the Women’s College, the stage was indeed the world, with the 20-odd participants, transforming into vibrant actors playing varied roles. And Claudia was the all-powerful creator and director of this miniature world.

Organised by Goethe Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, the workshop was an example of how theatre can stimulate the process of foreign language learning.

As a foreign language teacher trained in the Waldorf system of education, Claudia discovered her passion for ‘speech art’ and acting. Later, this passion drove her to combine her penchant for language teaching and theatre training into drama pedagogy.

This method cannot replace teaching, says Claudia, but helps students to speak more. “Students get the feeling they’re able to use the language and end up using it much more…unlike in books, where it is artificial dialogue,” she explains.

Claudia feels that the most important skill developed through such workshops is one’s creativity. In this light, it was heartening to watch the various participants across different age groups, prancing around and communicating with each other, enjoying themselves thoroughly in the process.

However, such initiatives are not without challenges. Working with people who do not know each other can be difficult. Yet, it is perhaps her friendliness and openness to new culture that helps her break such barriers and make a team out of individuals.

A Berliner with a passion for travelling, Claudia finds India chaotic and noisy, but loves the action all the same. A fan of Indian restaurants even in Berlin, she likes everything she has tasted so far. Not surprising that she plans to stay on in India for some months.

For this drama pedagogue who finally “found her calling,” more exciting experiences lie in waiting. Indeed, the world’s her stage.

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