Krazy Kevin's Kids Klub

Ole!  Ole!  Ole!  This week I’ve been so excited because we had tickets to see the last show in the “Spring of Culture” at Arad Fort; Brasil Brasilero.

I was really looking forward to it, but then my three-year-old daughter Hannah came down with a virus and we rushed her off to the doctor.
Her temperature had hit 40 degrees so the GP advised us to go to the American Mission Hospital in Manama for a second opinion from a paediatrician!  Thankfully talking to the doctor there allayed our fears. We were given some medication and gradually she improved.
But we had to cancel our evening out and so telephoned Hannah’s babysitter; the lovely Irene.  We were so sad to miss the show as we’d been so looking forward to. Then lo and behold, the heavens opened and the concert was postponed due to rain.
Happily Hannah got a lot better so off we went. What a great concert. The dancing was out of this world (especially the Capoeira martial arts section) with forward flips, back flips, and other incredible and indescribable movements and amazing contortions too. How their shoulders didn’t break I don’t know.  I thought that the band was brilliant too, but felt that the crooners were on too often for a little too long.
I hope everyone enjoyed the show as much as my wife Wendy and me. The energy and enthusiasm of the performers was electric and had us both smiling just about the whole time.
I must give a big thanks to Dalia and Aseel - I’m going to miss my early morning chats with them on the radio about the ‘Spring of Culture’.  Though, I’ll bet they won’t. Ha! Also, my thanks to all the people at the Economic Development Board for their excellent work in bringing some culture and brilliant acts to Bahrain. I can’t wait to see what they have lined up for next year.
Also this week, I dusted the golf clubs off and represented the ‘Krazy Gang’ at Riffa Views Golf Club in the week-day league. We won and are now top of the league. I’ll keep you posted on how we get on in the coming weeks.
For this week’s interview I toddled down the ‘Children’s House’ Montessori School to chat to some up-and-coming actors about their parts in the Titch Theatre production of The Low Show. 
The school’s director Dina Shaheen brings theatre productions and performers over to Bahrain, and this time the star arrival was Nick Pryor; artistic director, writer and performer for Titch (The International Theatre for Children). 
Nick’s background is in acting and he’s been in plays with Charlton Heston, films with Al Pacino and also been on the TV in The Bill.  Nick has been to Bahrain a few times and says he just loves the kingdom’s cultural diversity. 
I also chatted to Eman Shaheen, who is 17 years of age, and Ross Martin, who’s 14.
Eman first got into acting about six years ago in a previous production also organised by Dina Shaheen, and this year she will be assistant director which, she says is a “really nice and a cool opportunity.” 
What does an assistant director do? I asked. She explained: “Basically I help with the exercises; warm ups and giving tips here and there and helping out with parts too.
“Warm ups include shaking your body out and shouting and singing and doing all sorts of things to get you moving and feeling energised.”
Yes, sounds pretty cool, I thought.
Acting has been really good for Eman. She said: “I became less nervous, it helps you a lot. When I leave school I might like to do psychology, or maybe not, though it would be nice to get into acting. My favourite actor is Heath Ledger and my favourite actress is Judi Dench.”
Eman also said “it was really cool” being part of TITCH, adding: “We meet a lot of people, make friends from other schools and have a really great experience together.”
One of her roles is the ‘Queen of Mean’ and to get into the character she says that she thinks of “people I know and even arguments I’ve heard or had”. 
So watch out what you say when she’s around – or you might just hear yourself on stage!
Ross is a ‘first timer’ with TITCH, but has been involved in lots of
drama activities at school.  He really likes acting and also enjoys playing the drums. 
Ross heard about TITCH from family and friends and has found it to be different to what he usually does in drama at school. 
It’s “more fun” he says. He doesn’t have a favourite actor or actress but says he just likes watching movies. He also says he likes Scary Movie the most of all.
Ross is a butler in the Low Show and also performs some other roles too. He doesn’t like learning lines though and has to keep reading them over and over.
And I said I remember when I was in a school play and I played “Androcles” and had to learn my words. I did an audio tape of the show leaving gaps for my lines. It was the only way I could remember them at the right time. So I know how hard it is. I’m a much better ad-libber. The kids and I hope you will come and support them and see the Low Show which will be on this Friday 20 at 6.30pm or on Saturday 21 at 12am.
Nick says he loves working with kids and helping them to develop self-confidence, self-esteem and communication skills.
Keep on acting,
Krazy Kevin