Students from Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School, in the 4th, 5th, and 6th forms, were awarded Certificates of Completion in a ceremony on Sunday, November 7 in honour of their participation in a four-week Improv for Acting Workshop. The programme was led by guest Theatre Practitioner, Monique Robichaud, from New Hampshire in the United States. ALHCS Theatre Director, Ms. Treveen Queeley-Javois, and Principal Mrs. Rita Celestine-Carty, accepted Ms. Robichaud’s proposal to work with their students while she was visiting Anguilla as part of a sabbatical year from her teaching position at Holderness School, a high school in Holderness, New Hampshire.
The students performed in the school’s first Improv Showcase on Sunday for a small gathering of their family and friends. The programme, was opened by Ms. Trevreen Queeley-Javois, HoD of the Performing Arts Department. The performance provided the audience, with a window into the skills and knowledge the students acquired through the programme. This included students explaining concepts to the audience and performing improv activities and sketches that showcased the techniques they learned.
“Improv is no easy feat. It is considered one of the toughest aspects of theatre to master,” stated Ms. Queeley-Javois. “I am proud of these 15 students who committed to the workshop, and gave themselves a chance to develop their improv and acting skills”.
Michealanne Benjamin was the first student to address the audience – explaining that improvisation is the theatrical form where dialogue and action are made up on the spot. Improv is performed without any preparation or script.
Through experiential learning the students, who successfully completed the programme, gained an understanding of improvisational acting – and the skills essential for scene work through active participation in theatre exercises, activities, and comedy sketches. They learned improv concepts, terminology, and skills necessary to perform improv. Ms. Robichaud worked with the students on the campus of the school, and found the experience of working with them exceptionally rewarding.
“The students in the workshop were eager and willing to understand the improv concepts presented,” stated Ms. Robichaud, “It was such an incredible privilege to work with such creative and enthusiastic learners!”
Ms. Robichaud explained that improv helps students develop skills that can be used in many aspects of their lives – including better listening; facing their fear and developing confidence; collaboration skills as they work as a team; developing creative thinking and imagination; and leadership. The students learn how to lead and support. A student may be leading a scene one minute and then following another actor in the next. True leaders will lead with vision and goals, and at other times they will support the person with the new idea.
Ms. Queeley-Javois, further addressed the students: “To you, the students, please do not hide these skills under a bushel. Transfer them into the classroom and other subject areas – and your everyday life”.
Ms. Farrah Banks, the CXC External Examiner for Theatre Arts, was present in the audience to oversee and assess the students’ performance.
The following students received Certificate of Completion and Special Awards in the Improv for Acting Workshop: Jada Hodge (Advanced Creative Thinking Skills), Rayvia Hodge, Sapphire Laudat, Jarreen Liburd, Clayton Lloyd (Advanced Improv and Acting Skills), Deronique Smith, Michealanne Benjamin (Advanced Improv and Acting Skills), Rhaine Hodge (Advanced Creative Thinking Skills), Brielle Letang, J-nee Matthews (Best Overall Improv Performer), Tyjahnique Petty (Advanced Creative Leadership Skills), Genecia Richards, Patria Mardenborough (Advanced Creative Leadership Skills), Jonathan Babrow.
