SIMONE Dowding, local actress and entertainer for several decades now, is urging parents and guardians to get their children’s involved in theatre arts, not only because of the drama aspect of it, but due to the myriad benefits it affords them.

Dowding was speaking in the context of her recently held ‘Emerge’ children’s show which was the culmination of her annual signature workshop that she conducts under her Purple Arts Productions company.

‘Emerge 10’ dubbed “a performance for children by children” was held at Theatre Guild in Kingston on the weekend before school reopened.

The children who attended the drama workshop during their July/August holiday from school, were the ones who wrote and performed the plays, thanks to the training they received in the six disciplines of drama: acting, directing, playwright, costume management, stage management and property management.

“It turned out very well. We had a decent crowd and the parents were excited and very appreciative of my efforts,” Dowding related to Buzz this week.

Her latest show featured performances from her 2012 and 2013 classes and University of Guyana past students gave their accounts of their involvement with the production.

This year, 15 students participated in the workshop, along with about nine past students.

Dowding, who has already started entertaining thoughts for her workshop and show next year, said she believes there should be more support for children in the performing arts.

“Allow your children to get involved and attend these shows; it builds their self-confidence, exposes them to the media, both print and electronic, gives them a reason to stay in school and study, among other benefits,” Dowding pointed out.
Meanwhile, the workshop, which usually caters for children between the ages of nine and 16, also exposes them to the art of listening, stage breathing and stage geography. The children would typically write and direct their own plays for the show at the end of the workshop.

“I am really proud of Purple Arts Productions because it really contributes to helping to mold the foundation of the children who have turned out very well in various professions,” Dowding had expressed.

Explaining how the workshop all got started, Dowding recalled that she wanted to do something in theatre after being trained for many years. She eventually formed her company with the introduction of the children’s workshop.