Theatre is more than memorizing scripts, wearing costumes and role play. Augusto Boal said, “Theatre is the art of looking at ourselves.”
Christian Bale says, “Theatre has got to do with putting yourself in other people’s shoes and seeing how far you can come to truly understand them. I like the empathy that comes from acting.”
We at youthLEADarts say, theatre allows us to play, to connect, to interact, to suspend disbelief, to take risks, to communicate, to embrace our fears and insecurities, to become more self-aware and to craft our voices and thoughts so that they can tell stories that make us feel, laugh and love deeper.
Youth in youthLEADarts programs across Canada love the process of creating theatre! They love improvisation, the silliness and the seriousness of it. Time and time again, the shy come out of their shells and the quiet speak with emotion and authority. The process, whether it be creating a machine using their bodies and voices, playing a game of ‘Freeze’ or making up scenes that reflect elements of the Medicine Wheel, helps young people find their light and let it shine.
After engaging in youthLEADarts’ theatre program, youth have said:
“I got interested in new ideas and got excited for learning more.”
“I learned the power of positivity.”
“I gained confidence.”
“I learned to collaborate and work together to get an excellent product.”
“It took negativity out of my day.”
“I learned to speak louder and that our words have a ripple effect.”
“I learned that even when you don’t think you can work with people, you can.”
“Making art is joyful.”
“I achieved perseverance.”
“I learned to look at things from different perspectives.”
“Using teamwork helps to get the job done.”
“If you don’t communicate, it makes it a lot harder to achieve your goals.”
“We are all in the same canoe, we have to paddle together.”
World Theatre Day is an international celebration and has taken place every year on March 27th since 1962. YouthLEADarts is just getting started empowering kids across Canada with the power of theatre! Join us! www.youthLEADarts.com