There are huge advantages to your child having the opportunity to perform on a stage to a live audience, here are 7 examples that you may not have thought of:
1. Self confidence: getting on stage in front of an audience is a great way to build confidence in children, even if they don't have lots of lines to remember the first couple of times, they still have to remember where to stand during acting and singing and what to do in their dance routines and children feel so proud of themselves for going out and giving it a go. It is not about the most talented child, it is something every child should have an opportunity to experience.2. Time management: as your child progresses through the ranks at stage school, they learn to follow the stage book backstage and organise themselves into the right costumes and be at stage door at the right time to go on.
3. Presenting your character: learning how to dress in character, this may be a full on Humpty Dumpty costume, or by reading a script and thinking about how your character would dress. This is the same as when you are giving a presentation or going for an interview, you think about how the audience would perceive you by the way you look.
4. Presentation Skills: An example of this is, what do you do when you go to give a presentation at school or even in your career if the technology you were relying on doesn't work? You learn skills like improvisation, to calmly get out of a situation and make light of it, and have the ability to present in an interesting manner without props.
5. Articulation: Learning to speak clearly in a way that everybody can understand you. As you work through a script and understand the character, you find that it develops articulation and tone of voice.
6. Team work: Working in harmony with each other and supporting each other on stage and backstage.
7. Posture: learning how to carry yourself and present on stage is vitally important to life skills and that final bow or curtsey just adds to the buzz of performing!
Sonnets Theatre Arts School (STAS) a performing arts school for 4 - 18 year olds, has a showcase on stage once a year and they are all inclusive (no matter what age or ability, your child will get to go on stage).
Throughout the school year children learn performance skills, both for on stage, in front of a camera and for radio. Taster classes are available to book online at www.sonnetstas.co.uk
STAS Director David Phaure trained at The Academy of Live and Recorded Art (ALRA) which is an accredited drama school. He has over 10 years teaching experience and also works in schools as a LAMDA Acting Coach. Email him direct for advice and information: david@sonnetstas.co.uk
