Feature Article January 15, 2004
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
Theatre Complete in performanceIt was a long road trip for students in the Theatre Complete program of the Limestone District School Board last Friday, as they trucked up from their base at QECVI in Kingston to the North Addington Education Centre (NAEC) in Cloyne.
The Theatre Complete Students performed two pieces, one on the subject of nutrition for students between Grades 4 and 8, and a piece on Alcohol and Foetal Alcohol Syndrome for Grades 7-12.
Theatre Complete is a Focus Program of the Limestone Board. It is a one-semester long intensive Theatre program that attracts students from throughout the school board. The students take an English course in the morning and take drama courses for the rest of the day, working on writing and performing short plays.
As well, the program receives requests from social agencies to put together shows on issues of public concern to bring to area schools.
The show about nutrition that was performed for younger students was structured in a fast-paced skit format, complete with a mock game show - a detective micro-drama about a town that has fallen under the spell of sugar, with a production number for a finale.
The
performance for the high school students had a more serious tone, and
some very effective theatrics were employed. The Theatre Complete
Troupe members were all dressed in black, and they explored different
scenarios involving alcohol. At times the entire troupe would freeze
in their spots while a single character talked to the audience. All in
all, the performance had an emotional impact in discussing teenage
drinking, foetal alcohol, and drinking and driving.
Theatre Complete consults with the Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Health Unit for much of their background information. It was Joan Kellar, the public Health Nurse with the Cloyne KFL&A office, who organized the performance at NAEC. The Land O Lakes Lions Club paid the transportation costs for the performance.
Theatre Complete is available to high school students. Interested students should talk to their guidance councillor.
