Drama and video-animation workshops with children and youth
Bring groups of children or youth together for 3-weeks consecutively. This allows times for them to identify and then develop their stories, dreams, ideas, into meaningful drama scenes, presentations, cartoon films. Children/ youth are always happy in our workshops… stress melts as they negotiate with their own creativity. They also have a possibility to get pretty good physical warm up. Together, they are learning good life skills and key competencies needed to out-of-the-box thinking.
Storytelling workshops with women
Was designed as a 4-day activity where women, in large groups, can take off their veils and tell their truths. Using the tools of drama and storytelling, women are in a safe environment to actively participate in sharing their experiences. Sadly, these stories are often unbearable but women find each other and discover they are not alone. In this alternative space, groups of women also find their laughter and often we “meet” the buffoon husbands and in-laws who have made life hell. The women’s program is growing in all kinds of directions: forums, performances, events, creative initiatives, films and podcasts….
Kids to Kids (Peer to Peer)
After the kids (children, adolescents) go through a 3-week drama workshop they have natural desire to make the whole story. For years, Ayyam Al Masrah has extended the workshop moving from the drama process to the performing experience. Kids stay on an extra 6 weeks to make and perform the play that began in the workshop. The power of this action can be seen on both sides of the stage as the young players, in full control and concentration, perform before a 100-120-person audience of their peers. It is then this audience that asks “where did this come from and when is it my turn?” The players are proud, self-assured, and beautiful with a theatre full of new fans and interested colleagues and teachers and parents. It’s quite a thing to see new teens in tears with a sense of accomplishment. These kids become the base of the theatre club.