LOCALS with intellectual and physical disabilities are invited to join drama classes that will culminate in the staging of an end-of-year performance at The Art House, Wyong.
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Experienced drama teacher Sophie Cook has hosted her Access Drama classes at several Sydney venues, including the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre at Penrith, for more than 10 years.
She hopes to replicate their success at Wyong having recently moved to the area.
The weekly two-hour classes will cater for people with a range of physical and intellectual disabilitites, including Down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy.
“The classes are just a beautiful thing,” Ms Cook said.
“It gives the participants a sense of identity. We play a lot of games in the classes that are fun and playful, and that gives them the freedom to be who they are.”
Ms Cook said participants had fun learning how to act, sing, dance, and generally entertain.
“It really is a magic moment when you see everybody in the class let go of their worries and feel free to be their character.”
She said the classes were regularly the catalyst for uplifting transformations by participants.
She cited the example of Michael.
“Michael could be a bit of a grumpy bum sometimes, but as soon as thing got a bit loud in the class, or a bit dangerous, he would step in with his leather jacket and he’d put on these dark sunglasses and he’d pretend that he was the Terminator. He’d tell people: ‘Sit down if you want to live!’,” she said.
It proved a surefire and funny way to restore order to the chaos that sometimes ensued from a random class exercise.
And then there are the many participants who are initially reluctant to get involved in the class exercises, but end up embracing their inner performer.
Ms Cook said once the required number of participants were enrolled in the course they would meet at The Art House on Thursday mornings for two-hour classes that would include a warm-up, games, movement and acting, stage exercises and morning tea.
The group would work towards the staging of a performance for their families and friends at The Art House in December, Ms Cook said.
Phone 0450 543656; email sophie_cook@y7mail.com