Early in 2022, Creative Ireland Waterford awarded funding to 12 creative projects in Waterford City & County. One of these successful projects was the Amateur Drama Group Acting Workshops with Jenny Fennessy and Dylan Kennedy.
Jenny and Dylan from the Red ‘n Blue Theatre Company Waterford, set out to deliver acting workshops to amateur drama groups in Waterford City and County. They taught a wide variety of acting skills and techniques through 6 workshops where the participants worked on a great range of texts to practice their new skills. By the end of the workshop, participants performed with a greater level of skill and craft. The aim of the workshops was that the learned skills were passed from facilitators Jenny and Dylan to the participants and from them to future members of the drama group.
The amateur drama groups who participated included the Lismore Dramatics Society, the Ardmore Players, the Waterford Dramatic Society, Dungarvan Drama Circle and some Ballyduff Drama Group Members, the Brideview Tallow Drama Group and the Ballynoe/Ogham Players.
Jenny and Dylan believe this project will have a fruitful and long-lasting legacy in the participating drama groups. “It enabled those with an interest in performance to collaborate with artists of the highest standard. It equipped all participants with new skills and a rich, interactive learning experience.”
The structure of the workshops allowed Jenny and Dylan ample opportunity to monitor and evaluate the participants learning. The participants had time to explore the exercises individually, in pairs and in groups. On completion, each participant received handouts on the new techniques learnt so they could continue to use them for future projects.
“By the end of the workshop, it was clear to see participates were more skilled, confident and empowered.”
“The best workshop I’ve ever done. So informative and so much fun” – Tallow participant
“I wish there were more of these” – Participant from Admore workshop
“Really engaging and it felt like a really safe learning atmosphere” – Lismore participant
Featured images: Acting workshop with Brideview Tallow Drama group in St Patrick’s Hall, Tallow. Photos DGM Photography
