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Community / The show must go on as drama groups sign up to online workshops

WITH THE ongoing Covid-19 crisis set to prevent stage theatre productions for the foreseeable future, three local amateur drama groups have teamed up for a online training programme to be delivered over the winter.

A scene from last year’s panto with Iain Souter (left) and Robert Lowes. Photo: Malcolm Younger/Millgaet Media

A series of ten workshops, all delivered virtually via Zoom, will now give the members of Islesburgh Drama Group, Open Door Drama and Shetland County Drama a chance to develop their skills while the doors of the Garrison Theatre remain shut.

The programme of workshops has been curated by Sarah Osborne alongside a number of expert tutors.

Osborne is an experienced drama practitioner, director and writer who has been working within arts, training and education for 20 years. In addition to her freelance work she is artistic director of Yew Tree Arts Ltd and Yew Tree Youth Theatre in Wakefield.

Workshops will cover a range of skills that local participants will be able to utilise in future productions from ‘Building a character – how to improve your acting by creating believable characters’ through to ‘Top Tips for premier pantos’ and many more.

David Grieve, who is the president of Islesburgh Drama Group, said the show must go on despite the circumstances drama productions are faced with.

“This is a superb opportunity to bring people together from different drama groups and with different interests and experience. We can share ideas and learn new skills that will further enhance amateur dramatics in Shetland,” he said.

Programme curator Osborne added: “I am honoured to be able to collaborate with drama companies from Shetland on this valuable programme of high quality workshops.

“Our aim is to inspire and upskill the participants in a diverse range of performance disciplines, improving both the quality and enjoyment of Shetland performances in years to come.”

The first ten workshops commence weekly from 1 September, with a second series of ten workshops to be commissioned.

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