Theatre for children

The basic aims of the theatre course, applying to all groups, are holistic and emphasise the importance of relaxed creation and mutual cooperation.

Main aims include:

• Encouraging relaxed creation and artistic expression in the company of peers.
• Creating a safe, supportive and trust-filled environment where children feel accepted.
• Developing imagination and creative thinking.
• Acquiring basic theatre skills, such as control of the body and voice, inhabiting characters, stage orientation and the ability to perform both in groups and individually.
• Creative problem-solving through games and theatre exercises.
• Strengthening group cohesion and cooperation among individuals.
• Overcoming stage fright and gaining valuable experience of public performance.
• Clearly expressing thoughts and formulating ideas.
• Developing various forms of communication – verbal and non-verbal.
• Having fun – an important element of the programme, since children gain new experiences through play.

Younger groups mainly learn by telling and constructing stories, which the leaders develop together with the children. The children suggest ideas, themes and characters themselves, which allows them to be more involved in the creative process. A key tool here is theatrical improvisation, which encourages participants to accept mistakes as a natural part of learning. Each group prepares at least one performance a year – usually one halfway through the year and another at the end of the school year – where they perform for parents, relatives and friends. This course is not only about having fun, it is also a way for children to build important social and personal skills.