Workshop curtain call

Amateur and experienced actors are set to bring the stage to life at the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam in Segaiya on Friday for the finale of a 40-day drama workshop.

The workshop, for adults, was held under the guidance of South Indian theatre and film actor Jijoy P R, on the sidelines of a summer camp for children which ends on August 26.

Manoharan P K, entertainment secretary of the club, said: “This is the first time that we are staging such a workshop. Drama has always been an integral part of the club. There are 35 participants, aged 15 to 55 – amateurs and professionals with one thing in common – a love for drama.”

Mr Jijoy led the actors in a series of theatre games to help mould them into better performers.

He said: “The group had several individuals who have been involved with professional and commercial drama as well as those new to the field. They attended the camp as a means of attaining a scientific approach to acting.

“I introduced several theatre games, which are practical-oriented procedures to help develop three vital tools to become a good actor – body, mind and voice. These games help culture their skills and provides an exercise for flexibility, allowing them to adapt to any type of character.

“We also discussed several acting styles – both Indian and international, which helps in the basic awareness of the act. We conducted group improvisation sessions and enacted with different situations and subjects.”

Mr Jijoy, 34, has appeared in several Malayalam movies, but drama has always been his passion. He has been part of a 20-member drama troupe where he played Oberon and Theseus in the Shakespearean play A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Tim Supple.

Since April 2006 this play has been performed in 22 cities in six countries – England, Italy, India, Australia, Canada, and the US under the auspices of British Council and Dash Arts, London, for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Mr Jijoy said: “I have travelled to many places around the world and met so many different kinds of people. The Samajam is the only place I have seen that has such a huge infrastructure for the Keralite community. All the participants of the workshop are very enthusiastic – many of them rushing to the club after they finish work so they don’t miss a session. This has been a good experience for me.”

Participant Hareesh Menon, 40, an art director from Manama, said: “This is the first time that I am participating in such a detailed and long drama workshop. It was very interesting and Mr Jijoy made it more enjoyable with his many exercises and role-play which allowed everyone to shed their inhibitions and any signs of stage fright they may have had.”

The finale will be held from 7.30pm onwards at the club premises where the participants will group into three and perform three skits each.