Workshop helps students enhance skills in acting

By Peter TownsonStaff Reporter

Participants with Rada experts, Nona Shepphard and Christopher Heimann

Specialists from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (Rada) have been in Qatar this week to conduct an acting workshop entitled ‘From the page to the stage,’ as part of the ongoing partnership between Katara and British Council.The workshop sessions were attended by some 30 participants, varying in experience from seasoned actors to complete novices, and all were presented with certificates after completing the course.  Sessions focused on acting and improvisation, as well as storytelling and “bringing text to life,” and were led by associate director at Rada, Nona Shepphard and acting and improvisation teacher, Christopher Heimann. They explained that although working here had presented a number of challenges in the early stages, the process had been very rewarding and they are already looking forward to returning here for future projects.“I think people wanted to see if there is enough interest and enthusiasm for this kind of thing here, and the response to this has proven that there is,” explained Shepphard. She said  Rada would love to be involved in future workshops here in Qatar and the region, describing the work with the British Council as a “very interesting partnership.”“This was very exploratory, but it seems to have gone very well,” she noted.“Acting is about communication, which is an essential life skill,” said Heimann, adding “communicating effectively is a very valuable skill.”“We improvise in our lives all the time – this workshop teaches people how to deal with uncertainty and be more flexible and open to change,” he added. Ashiq Abdulraheem, 24, a locally based actor and screenwriter said that the workshop had assisted him in learning a lot about his trade, and fuelled his passion for acting.“It has really helped – they teach so professionally and this has helped me to be a better actor, which I want to be my career in the future,” he said, adding “it has definitely made me want to do more workshops as well.”Student Gaurri Akadam, 21, expressed her desire to work in theatre or film in the future, and said she felt the opportunity to learn from Rada experts was too good to miss.“This has definitely been one of the best experiences in learning about acting,” she said, “I have learnt a lot, including about body movement and how it affects characters on stage.”Graphic design student, Mohamed Jawad, 19 expressed similar sentiments, saying that he had enjoyed the opportunity to work on his confidence and combat his nerves.“This has been a wonderful experience – I wanted to come here to build up my confidence and help me beat my stage-fright for public speaking, and it has definitely done that,” he said, adding “I am ready to go on stage now!”British Council director, Simon Winetroube said: “It’s a pleasure to partner with Katara again, so soon after our successful Akram Khan dance performance. This is a different kind of event, but, once again, we have been able to bring a world renowned organisation to Qatar.“Capacity building workshops are an equally important component in our collaboration with Katara - they complement the eye-catching events and performances which capture the attention of the wider public by offering development opportunities for those who want to engage more closely with the arts and with UK expertise,” he stated, adding “together, the capacity building workshops and public performances develop an understanding and interest in these art forms in Qatar and build the relationship between the UK sector and the burgeoning arts scene here in Doha.”  Cultural affairs director at Katara, Emad Sultan said: “This is an excellent opportunity for young aspiring actors to learn the skills needed to become successful actors. Once again, we are proud to collaborate with the British Council and Rada to deliver these workshops which contribute to our wider vision of nurturing local talents, providing them with the tools they need to achieve their dreams.”