To celebrate World Theatre Day on March 27, Tsinglan School Theatre Group has prepared a series of themed theatre events centered around embracing diversity and creating brilliance. We welcome all students and teachers to dive into our world of theatre, explore boundless imagination, and together, create our own brilliance!
The Charisma of Improvisation:
Marvels of Collaboration and Listening
Theatre is not merely about dazzling performances on stage; it's a journey into the depths of our souls! From Monday to Wednesday, Clear Tranquility Mountain Theatre Group has arranged four sessions of improvisational theatre workshops. With no scripts and no rehearsals, everything is sparked by our inner inspirations and the skills of improvisation.
In improvisational games, children portray various characters, crafting their own splendid stories! Some become superheroes, battling evil villains; others turn into brave adventurers, exploring unknown jungles. Imagination becomes the stage for students, where they showcase themselves without any constraints!
Through improvisational creation and performance, students deeply understand the importance of listening and cooperation. Only through saying "yes! and!" to each other, cooperating and responding, can they create hilarious jokes and profoundly touching emotions.
Exploring the Art of Theatrical Production — Mask Making
Masks play a significant role in theatre, not just as decorations, but as symbols carrying the emotions of characters and the themes of stories. They hold multiple meanings and values:
Identity and Expression: Masks represent characters, helping the audience quickly recognize their identities and personality traits. Through mask design and expression, actors vividly express the emotions and inner worlds of characters.
Emotional Expression and Atmosphere Setting: Masks assist actors in better expressing the emotions of characters, especially in scenes where emphasizing a certain emotion or atmosphere is necessary. The design, color, and expression of masks can enhance the atmosphere, strengthening the emotional impact and expressiveness of the theatre.
Symbolism of Story Themes: Masks often symbolize specific themes or symbolic meanings in theatre. They can represent characters' identities, social status, or inner worlds, or symbolize abstract concepts or symbolic roles in the drama.
Cultural Inheritance and Historical Heritage: In some theatrical forms, specific mask designs and production techniques carry rich cultural connotations and historical legacies. Through the use of masks, theatre can inherit and showcase the values, traditional customs, and historical stories of specific cultures, allowing the audience to gain a deeper understanding and experience of the charm of different cultures.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, through workshops on Eastern and Western theatrical masks, we explored various theatrical forms from around the world. This workshop was not only a cultural experience but also an adventure full of creativity and imagination.
In the workshop, students meticulously crafted masks, as if they were on ancient theatrical stages. While making masks, they discussed the emotions expressed by the masks, designed stories behind the mask wearers, and their creative concepts.
The participating students designed and made unique masks with their imagination and creativity.
Tribute to the Heroes Behind the Stage
Theatre Trivia:
Behind every performance in theatre, there are countless unknown efforts and sacrifices. Stage crew members are responsible for building sets, arranging props, managing lighting and sound, makeup, and costumes, creating the perfect stage effects for each performance. Although their work may not be at the center of the stage, they are the crucial support for the entire performance.
Those working in the performing arts technical departments, or as stage crew members, usually dress in all black. Why? Because their job is to disappear into the darkness backstage, allowing the performers to shine under the spotlight. It can be said that stage crew members are the Batman of the entertainment industry — disappearing into the shadows.
As Theatre Week draws to a close, everyone is encouraged to wear black on Friday, as a sign of respect and gratitude to stage crew members around the world. They are the unsung heroes behind every theatrical feast, silently laboring for every performance. Today, we redirect the spotlight onto them and applaud their efforts.
We express gratitude for their silent dedication; it is through their hard work that every performance can proceed smoothly and as scheduled. Their efforts create a magical and surprising world of theatre for us, making our performances more vivid and moving.
Thank you for adding endless brilliance and splendor to our theatrical journey!
Theatre Tidbit：
Special Greetings for World Theatre Day 2024
"World Theatre Day" is a commemorative day established by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) to raise awareness of theatre arts worldwide, celebrated annually on March 27th.
In 1961, the International Theatre Institute designated March 27th as World Theatre Day and began celebrating it in 1962. On this day, many countries hold corresponding theatre celebrations, and the International Theatre Institute invites a renowned playwright or internationally known figure to write a "World Theatre Day Message" around the cultural theme of theatre and peace, which is then distributed through the International Theatre Institute's network. The purpose of this activity is to raise awareness of theatre arts and share the spiritual wealth that theatre arts bring to humanity.
This year, we are fortunate to receive a special address titled "Art is Peace" from Norwegian playwright and 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, Jon Fosse. His blessings and reflections will undoubtedly inspire and move us infinitely!
The above is the broadcast of activities during Tsinglan School Theatre Week. On April 10, students from various grades in the elementary div will showcase their splendid performances, allowing us to co-create our own theatrical legend in this imaginative and dream-filled Tsinglan!
