I AM JULIE DICKSON...

A TEACHER, ACTOR AND DRAMA PRACTITIONER IN THE GREATER CAPE TOWN AREA. I HAD FOR QUITE SOME TIME CONSIDERED THE IDEA OF STARTING A SMALL DRAMA AND MUSICAL THEATRE TRAINING FACILITY IN TABLE VIEW. FINDING MYSELF IN A NEW SEASON AT THE END OF 2015, AFTER A TEACHING CAREER SPANNING 35 YEARS, I STEPPED INTO A NEW ROLE AS MENTOR AND FOUNDER OF THE DRAMA LAB. ALL I HOPED AND PRAYED FOR WAS...

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"JUST 4 STUDENTS TO BEGIN WITH, PLEASE?"

 

GOING INTO IT'S 5TH YEAR, THE DRAMA LAB TRAINS 64 STUDENTS IN TOTAL. THESE STUDENTS RANGE IN AGE FROM 8-20 YEARS OLD.

 

THESE PRECIOUS YOUNG PEOPLE SPEND 2 HOURS A WEEK DEVELOPING THEIR SKILLS IN DRAMA AND MUSICAL THEATRE.  THE SPACE SERVES AS A DRAMA "LABORATORY" DEDICATED TO THE DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE "SERIOUS-MINDED YOUNG THESPIANS"... YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN WORD, MOVEMENT, SINGING AND PERFORMING.

 

THE MENTORS ARE TRAINED TO INSTRUCT EXTENSIVELY IN ALL ASPECTS OF PERFORMANCE. LESSONS INCLUDE AMONG OTHER THINGS, VOCAL DYNAMICS, PHYSICAL EXPRESSION, SINGING, IMPROVISATION, TEXTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND CHARACTERISATION. IN AN INTENTIONALLY CURRICULUM-FREE AND RELATIONAL STYLE OF MENTORING,  THE AGENDA IS SET BY EACH STUDENT,

WE CONSIDER IT A PRIVILEGE TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS AT THE DRAMA LAB FOR STUDENTS TO COME TO KNOW THEIR WORTH.

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ANNUAL PRODUCTIONS, PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES, EXAMINATIONS AND ONGOING DEVELOPMENT OF REPERTOIRE OFFER A RICH EXTRA-MURAL EXPERIENCE FOR DRAMA "LABSTERS".

 

IN THE WORDS OF MRS ANNA LEONOWENS IN THE KING AND I...

 

"IT'S A VERY ANCIENT SAYING AND A TRUE AND HONEST THOUGHT,

THAT WHEN YOU BECOME A TEACHER,

BY YOUR PUPILS YOU ARE TAUGHT."