A DRAMA workshop aimed at equipping Guyana’s young people with skills in acting, playwriting and directing is giving aspiring performers an opportunity to develop their confidence while exploring issues affecting children, families and society.
The annual programme, hosted by Purple Arts Productions, culminates this year in “Emerge 2026”, a showcase featuring about 20 young performers between the ages of nine and 16. The production is scheduled for August 22 at 6 p.m. at the Theatre Guild Playhouse in Kingston, Georgetown.
Led by actress and director Simone Dowding, the workshop provides participants with practical, hands-on training in several areas of theatre, including acting, directing, playwriting, stage management and costume design.
Participants are also exposed to stage breathing, stage geography, effective listening, building confidence and drama therapy for children.
This year’s programme also includes University of Guyana Communication Studies interns Temika Rodney and Aquila, who are participating in the production.
The publication visited a rehearsal session at the Playhouse last week, where several participants spoke about how the programme has helped them develop both their theatrical skills and their ability to work with others.
For nine-year-old Kyrie Bourne, the workshop has already provided an opportunity to take on the responsibility of directing. Bourne, who has participated in the programme since 2024, is directing “Cry of A Child”, one of the plays being staged as part of this year’s production.
“The play that I’m directing is about children trying to find justice,” Bourne said.
The play depicts children appealing to adults to make better decisions and help bring an end to violence.
Bourne said one of the most rewarding aspects of directing was being able to develop the visual presentation of a production, including creating props and positioning actors to enhance the delivery of lines and the overall performance.
For 13-year-old Cassia Connelly, who is participating in the workshop for a second year, the programme has strengthened her desire to pursue acting.
“It’s been very helpful because I really want to be an actor and all the stuff that I’ve learned, it’s really paying off,” she said.
Connelly is directing “Man Whipped”, a production that addresses the often-overlooked issue of domestic violence against men.
She said the play seeks to encourage men experiencing abuse to speak out and seek help, while challenging the perception that domestic violence affects only women.
“It’s about a husband being abused by his wife,” Connelly explained, adding that the production highlights the importance of recognising abuse regardless of the gender of the victim.
She also said being given the opportunity to direct had allowed her to bring her own interpretation to the production while learning how to collaborate with people with different personalities and approaches.
Fifteen-year-old Ethan Archer, a member of the Theatre Guild, said participating in the workshop had been one of the most rewarding experiences of his life.
Archer initially joined with an interest in voice acting but said the programme exposed him to the wider possibilities of theatre, particularly the opportunity to step into complex characters and tell meaningful stories.
“What I really fell in love with is how you can also step out of being yourself while also being able to tell great stories behind very complex characters,” he said.
Archer has been cast in “Cry of A Child”, “In the Name of Love” and several other productions being staged as part of Emerge 2026.
He said the workshop had also strengthened the relationships among participants, allowing them to exchange ideas, analyse scripts and help each other develop their characters even outside formal rehearsal sessions.
According to Archer, participants regularly return to their scripts, make suggestions and examine the finer details of their characters and dialogue as they prepare for performances.
Beyond the stage, the programme provides young people with skills that can contribute to confidence, communication, teamwork and critical thinking. Its focus on issues such as violence and domestic abuse also gives participants a platform to explore difficult social concerns through creative expression.
Emerge was conceived by Dowding after she established Purple Arts Productions and has since become an annual showcase of the young talent emerging from the programme.
The 2026 production is being sponsored by North American Life, Fire and General Insurance Company Limited, Continental Agencies Limited, Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire and Life Insurance Company Limited, and Abby’s Touch of Magic (New York/Guyana).
Admission is $2,000 for adults and $1,000 for children.
For the young performers preparing to take the stage, however, the production represents more than an evening of entertainment. It is the culmination of weeks of training and an opportunity to demonstrate the confidence, discipline and creative skills they have developed while helping to shape the next generation of Guyanese theatre practitioners.