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Theatre Orangeville’s games & workshops open to everyone

May 15, 2020   ·   0 Comments

By Constance Scrafield

In an effort to add the excitement of theatre arts to the down time of COVID-19, Theatre Orangeville is offering virtual entertainment. for youngsters aged 7 to 12 by bringing ongoing theatre games on Friday afternoons. 

For the older crowd, there are two workshops, each running once a week for four weeks. They are,  “How to write and perform a monologue,” with Daniel Reale, on four Wednesdays, beginning this week, and “Basics of playwriting” with Mark Crawford on the Thursdays.

Patricia Marcello, the recently appointed Programs Manager at Theatre Orangeville, made it clear, “I feel very lucky – I know how much theatre arts did for me and, so, this [appointment] made sense. Theatre was important in my life, specifically as a youth, but, usually, behind the scenes. I lived in Woodbridge. Theatre was so good, it really helped build my self-confidence, the aspect of team without playing sports. It was the confidence to go on stage and make, not only the cast members proud, but yourself proud.

“My thesis in my fourth year [at Ryerson University] was all about how theatre arts is as important for young people and children as hockey can be.” 

Ms. Marcello’s job in programming is usually very busy and, even with the current shut down, she told the Citizen, “We were stuck. We wanted to engage everyone. Emails from academy members [were coming in] that missed the programming. So, we designed some theatre games they could do with everyone, virtually, on Fridays at 2:00 pm. We’re bringing families together, for families in times of isolation. The games are done on Zoom.”

Explaining there is no fee, she mentioned, “Pay what you can or play for free. We’re are not setting any number – we just want everybody to get together and have some really energetic fun. People have to register online and, an hour before, I send out the links and everybody can join.

“Registration is open now for the rest of the month,” she said.

Telling us about the fun and the hosts, “So, Jo (Jordana Natale) and John (Daniel), they go with three or four of their favourite theatre games and we all play them, virtually, jumping in and out of the screen. Everyone gets to see everyone and they can invite their friends to join on Zoom too, so they see their friends and play. It’s really nice .

“We did one game, a pop in game. If you’re wearing a hoodie – if you have blacks socks – funny questions.

“Darling I love you is another. The goal is to try to make another person laugh – say it in your funniest voice – darling I love you – very cute.”

These games on Friday afternoons are for ages 7 to 12. 

“We have the workshops for the teens and older – the theatre games are a way for parents to let the kids blow off a little steam. Right now, we’re planned to the end of May. It’ll be great for the kids to come out, sing up and bring a friend – fun and games and laughter with your other friends virtually.”

For the teens (and there is no upper age limit), two workshops, four weeks, each beginning this week but the good news is, people can still register for the remaining three weeks for both or either of them. 

The first one on Wednesdays, starting this week and running each Wednesday until June 3. The time is in the afternoons from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. There is a fee for each of the workshops of $80 per person for all four sessions..

Daniel Reale explained his ideas and plans for the Monologue workshop: “A monologue is a speech by a character speaking, uninterrupted. Monologues happen through dialogue. The different thing that makes a monologue good, is there’s an engine in it that brings you to a point, a diving focus; good monologue that brings you toward something.

“I chose this subject. This was our first fun idea building. I pitched it to Patricia – for both our community in Orangeville, kids out of school, and post secondary students, who just lost their first term of school.”

Participants of the monologue workshop have homework: beginning with finding a monologue from a play, not a movie, to bring to the sessions.

“A lot of the things we offer at TOV are exciting for young artists. This is a class to offer. Every student will have time to perform the piece. Every week, we’ll be coming with a theme and based on actual monologues. 

“So, this is also a performance workshop, which will give everybody in the class some structure. Now, they’re reading plays because all the monologues are from plays.

“I like to encourage reading plays. When I went to theatre school, I regretted not having read plays. Exposure to plays and play writing is essential for anyone who wants to pursue theatre. “

The benefits of this workshop are “to continue to hone skills; something creative to do. It’s a relaxed way to ask questions; a good one on one experience. From doing all these zoom classes, there is also a different level of intimacy. You have to focus on one person at a time. You get to be at home and have the teacher, not the separation of having a lot of people around you.”

Mr. Daniel said, “It’ll be a relaxed, fun way to work on your skills. The writing itself will be an extension, a more personal experience. You might write about something that’s been frustrating during the lockdown. 

“Have some interaction, coaching, with the teacher during the week.”

Mark Crawford is directing the playwriting workshop, from Thursday, May 14, at 4 to 5:30 p.m.

“The idea is only four sessions. We can’t do a major play writing education,” he explained. “This is the basic principals about play writing. So, a little play writing exercise each week to get people putting words on paper, but not a central project.”

Saying, “If I can just give people tools, then, they can go on their merry way. It’’s great that some people have more time on their hands to write. We’re aware that we might be in this for a while; this is a chance to give people a kick in the butt.

“The first week is the idea of where do they get ideas and where do you start to conceptualize, whether it is the story of character for them, a mystery – how to sustain that idea. I think it’s different for each person: writers have a little antenna up and they’re listening and filing things away..”

Mr. Crawford defined: “For me, personally, there’s lots of things I’m interested in. Then, bring them together to make a play. It synthesizes. Takes a bit of time. Some people have flashes of inspiration. Project to project, play to play, they’re all different.

“Five plays, one a year, for five years,” he has written. “Not last year or next. That case, for me, is pretty prolific. Some writers will write a play every five years. Other will arite much more. I’m also an actor.”

There is commission work which imposes a deadline, “Deadlines are great but I do think taking time away from your writing, especially when you’re doing creative writing is important. Certain artists work no matter what but it is still work –

“The first session of the workshop, introduce yourselves and what our goal is . I am excited to do this workshop, really fun, people I don’t know, what a great idea. This allows me to articulate what I’ve learned; share what I know and to be able to reflect on what it is I do now. I think, if you’re interested in play writing, this is not a huge commitment. It will give some tools, knowledge and then inspiration has something to work with.” 

The play-writing workshop goes from 4 to 5 p.m. This four-week workshop ends June 4, every Thursday on Zoom. 

You can register now for the kids’ theatre games and Still to pick up on next week’s workshop sessions. Patricia Marcello does a weekly link, the day before. There has been response from other cities in Canada. Fun.

Here is the link for all of it: tickets.theatreorangeville.ca/TheatreManager/1/online?event=0

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