You might be surprised, then, to hear that I was a little nervous when I was asked to help with the library's drama club this summer. Although I was no stranger to the theatre, working with a group of actors who had not reached their tweens was a new and unfamiliar experience for me. I was unfazed by Shakespeare, Molière, and Aeschylus, but doing Hansel and Gretel with nine kids ranging in age from 3 to 7 petrified me.
For 8 weeks, there was a lot of trial and error with acting warm-ups and drama games. We learned to be flexible, however, letting the kids develop their own version of the classic story. The play was turned into Hanna and Gretel when a boy declined the role of Hansel and a girl wanted to play it. There was a Deer, a Dog, a Unicorn, and even a Super Dinosaur that came to Hanna and Gretel's aid. In a twist of fate, the Witch wanted Hanna and Gretel as guests for dinner, not as dinner. It may sound cliché, but it really was rewarding to see how the kids progressed.
What I started with trepidation and the potential for failure turned into a successful and positive experience. Despite their young ages, the kids came through, proving that they could follow directions and do more than what was expected of them. I learned not only what theatrical exercises worked with very young actors, but also how to be comfortable and actually enjoy doing theatre with kids. The kids must have enjoyed it as well since half of them asked if the library was going to do the drama club during the school year.
I suppose the lesson to be learned here is to be open to things outside of your comfort zone, because you can learn and have fun with something new.
Theatrically yours from the perch.
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