Open to all abilities from age 7, we use imagination to encourage inspiration, expression, self-esteem, confidence and well-being. We meet at the Community Centre, Providence St, Kings Lynn. The Engaging Theatre Company was founded in October 2013 and hopes to achieve Charity Status in time.
It is taking one step at a time in it's journey and is guided by the young members in what they feel comfortable in doing and helping them to focus on their their abilities, not their disabilities in order to develop skills with the media we have. The team have professional support from qualified teachers and there is ongoing training available to volunteers. Once ETC feels established there will initially be small shows to parents/carers to showcase achievements and abilities. Fundraising and donations are a big part of the group too in order to sustain it into the future....and who knows what that might bring! We have many ideas for the youngsters lined up and there are many supporters already. They can join in all the wacky games, silly, weird, daft and nonsensical workshops without being judged, told that they are doing the ‘wrong’ thing or ignored. We use different media – a variety of props, instruments, materials and puppets so they can explore their imaginations and increase their confidence and generate a good feeling of well-being. In our Drama Workshops each week, they are given suggestions for themes and ideas so they can become creative and imaginative, thus devising their own little sketches and storylines gathering inspiration from each other. Some may derive from everyday life, others may be morals or very often, they are amusing in their own way. We have no right or wrong way of doing things. We work with compromise and agreement all round so no-one is the winner. If someone cannot do something or is not able for various reasons, there is always an alternative suggestion. Our workshops also contain sign language, singing, movement and acting. The material the group comes up with in workshops is noted and being written into forthcoming shows. So they group is writing its own material for their own sketches – we are not writing it for them! What they come up with is amazing and so we are going to ensure that they take all the credit as they work so hard each week, they deserve it! We have the scripts for our suggested show which we wish to showcase to parents/family/carers and by special invitation to local organisations only at present. If we feel that we can showcase this to the public at a later date, we hope to do so. Our shows will consist of the audience using their imagination too, as we do not propose to use expensive or a large range of props or backgrounds. Everyone can achieve something, and generally this group could be a starting stepping stone so youngsters can take a first taster of drama through expressions, ideas and communication, before moving on to larger groups who can teach and offer more on a higher level. We are a starting point for young people to discover the performing arts by having fun in workshops in our informal atmosphere. Since ETC started, there has been and still is as great sense of well-being in the group as they work as a team to achieve and most importantly have fun!
