Bognor Regis drama school devises online summer programme

The success of its online lockdown classes means Bognor Regis’ Dramatis Community Drama School is now launching its online summer programme.
Dramatis principal Suzy DuxburyDramatis principal Suzy Duxbury
Dramatis principal Suzy Duxbury

Dramatis principal Suzy Duxbury said: “Having adapted our normal programme and moved online in response to COVID-19, Dramatis community drama school has now welcomed nearly 50 Sussex residents for virtual drama classes and courses over the last two months.

“While in-person classes will return once it is safe to do so, the incredible feedback from virtual students has led to Dramatis to launch an online summer programme to keep children, teenagers and adults entertained over the holidays.

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“Like many others, we were very worried about the impact lockdown would have on our community. We have always championed the benefits of drama, so we moved our classes online and introduced a number of free activities to help keep residents connected with other people and provide a much-needed space for escapism and laughter.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the responses of our students and so will be continuing to provide subsidised online courses and classes across the summer.

“The new online summer programme includes five-day workshops for children, three-day workshops for teenagers and four-day courses for adults. All of these classes are run over Zoom and include an element of working as a group, working alone and receiving individual, personalised tuition.

“They all culminate in a different type of filmed performance which is uploaded to The Dramatis Online Stage (a YouTube account) so participants can share with family and friends or use for future auditions.”

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Suzy explained: “Zoomaholiday is a five-day musical theatre workshop for children that will run twice over the summer. Designed for seven to 12 year-olds who are missing out on their normal family holiday, pupils go on a virtual adventure based around what happens when a glitch in the computer system means people can be uploaded to the internet and go anywhere they want! It offers a week of online games, acting, singing and dancing culminating in pupils creating and filming a pioneering group performance.

“Like the Pros is a three-day workshop for teenagers that will run twice over the summer. Ideal for young people who are missing their friends due to social distancing, this course helps pupils’ channel the monotony of lockdown as they work on two person-scenes from famous plays (His Dark Materials or The Jollies). Exploring techniques used by professional actors, they will create an exciting performance which is filmed. The resulting duologue can be used for future auditions.

“The Actor’s Toolbox is a four-day course for adults that will run twice over the summer. Each course explores a different British playwright (Oscar Wilde or Alan Ayckbourn). Participants will dissect the plays together, breaking down scenes to better understand the characters. The course culminates in participants pairing up to film duologues to camera.

“For adults who are completely new to acting or nervous about committing to a course, the Wine and Wilde weekly free play-reading group is a perfect alternative.

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“These 45-minute sessions take place over Zoom on Monday evenings. Participants are pre-assigned characters in scenes from an Oscar Wilde play (The Importance of Being Earnest) which they then read through as a small group.

“In keeping with the informal nature of the group, participants are encouraged to bring along a glass of wine or alternative beverage of choice.”

For more information, see: http://www.dramatis.co.uk.

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