Theatresports should be prescribed to everyone.
May was a great month for me. I managed to be involved in the Dubai Theatresports League Competition at the Courtyard Playhouse in Al Quoz Dubai. Theatresports is something that all teenagers should be involved in. It helps to break down the 4th wall and also build confidence in kids and adults of any age. Coming from Australia, Theatresports is something that was offered to me at high school and is offered at many schools across the country. It is a form of improvisation that all parents should encourage their children to be involved in.
Theatresports is a Theatre format that involves teams of two, three or four people who improvise a scene based on an audience suggestions on topics or locations. A famous show that everyone would know and be able to relate to is 'Who's Line is it anyway'. Originally created by Keith Johnstone in Canada in the late 70's to inspire his university students. Theatresports has become a performance and learning tool around the world. It is now used in over 15 countries around the world and encourages confidence, creativity, team work, expression, positive attitudes, problem solving and performance skills.
It is a form of Theatre that encourages failure to be a good thing. That there is no such thing as a negative or failing and by that destroys the fear of failure. In a world where failure is frowned upon and sometimes its considered not acceptable. The way that we as humans grow is through learning from our failures. What if there was a way for failure to be completely acceptable. By teaching our children and teenagers all about Theatresports and getting them to partake in theatresports competitions. It forces us to come to terms with the idea of being able to fail at something and for it to be completely ok.
Over the last couple of weeks I had the pleasure of being involved in The Courtyard Playhouse Dubai Theatresports League Competition on Wednesday nights. It was free for anyone to attend the performances every Wednesday night. The competition nights were filled full of laughter and fun with a medieval theme. Every Wednesday night was the perfect opportunity for actors, comedians and improvisers to come to the stage at the play house and have the chance to update their craft, practice or simply just have some fun and jam on stage.
Most recently was the 12 hour Improvathon, I was apart of this juggernaut charity event. Raising money for the Nepal Earthquake Children of the Mountain fund. It was a day full of creativity, laughter, hard work and fun. With a constant rotational audience it meant that those who performed throughout the day were able to perform to a different audience each time. The day comprised of an inter-school Theatre sports competition, Maestro's, adult Theatresports, improvised musical and heaps more. The event was a success finishing off with an improvised musical that was nothing less than sheer brilliance and hilarity.
Theatresports is something to watch and enjoyed by all. Watch this space for when it comes back to Dubai.