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Imagination takes centre stage at The UWI DCFA’s ‘Theatre for Children’

For Release Upon Receipt - May 1, 2015

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago – The Theatre Arts Unit of the Department of Creative and Festival Arts (DCFA) at The University of The West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine will host a student led production – “Theatre for Children” at 10am and 2pm on Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3, 2015 respectively at the Black Box, DCFA Agostini Street. Theatre Arts students will be directing the productions “Anne and the Tiger Raja” by David Eliet and “Sleeping Beauty” by Richard Shaw primarily for viewing by children ages 6 to 12.

Averil Ramchand, Lecturer/Coordinator of the event stressed the importance of exposing theatre to children, noting “The experience of the theatre is vital for children since it can stimulate the imagination and engage the emotions. Theatre for Children creates the possibility of dialogue and especially for audiences of children, vocal and physical interaction, which is not usually possible with film or television.” Mrs. Ramchand believes that the experience of live theatre is “rewarding and memorable.”

On Saturday May 2, the educational play “Anne and the Tiger Raja” by David Eliet will be showcased. The play is the story of a young girl called Anne who is bullied by two older girls on a playground. When she threatens to get her older brother to beat them up, she is overheard by Isaac who calms the children down. He then encourages the three girls to cooperate by involving them and two additional friends to help him tell a story. It is the story of Raja, the Sumatran tiger and the Mouse Deer of Borneo, who thwarts Raja's evil plans with his sharp thinking skills.

“Sleeping Beauty” by Richard Shaw will be shown on Sunday May 3.  This production is a unique take on the classic fairy tale featuring storytellers, fantasy characters, adventure, music and dance and a love story. This play is suitable for children of ages 6 to 12.

Seating is limited and reservations are only available for children; therefore parents can call to reserve tickets by contacting DCFA office at 663-2222 (direct line) or 662-2002 ext 82510/3792/3792 or email: maria.cruikshank@sta.uwi.edu.

 

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About The UWI

Since its inception in 1948, The University of the West Indies (UWI) has evolved from a fledgling college in Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged, regional University with well over 40,000 students. Today, UWI is the largest, most longstanding higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean, with four campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Open Campus. The UWI has faculty and students from more than 40 countries and collaborative links with 160 universities globally; it offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Food & Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology and Social Sciences. UWI’s seven priority focal areas are linked closely to the priorities identified by CARICOM and take into account such over-arching areas of concern to the region as environmental issues, health and wellness, gender equity and the critical importance of innovation. Website: www.uwi.edu

 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

 

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