Shanghai Theatre Art Education opens the door to internationalization, learning musicals from British mentors for children | musicals | theaters
Three artists from the UK, Duncan Walsh Atkins, Darren Royston, and Anne Guo, got together with their children. From July 22nd to 27th, the Oriental Art Center Youth Musical Masters Camp welcomed a ceiling of teaching staff. Three British artists who have been deeply involved in the musical industry for decades brought children a new artistic experience and cross-cultural exchange during a 6-day master camp, leading them to understand and learn the latest trends, professional standards, and creative skills in the international musical field.
Three musical mentors selected classic musical segments from "Matilda Matilda", "Annie Anne", and "Hairspray Hair Gel Star Dream" for musical singing, dancing, and performance training. They also customized and arranged a musical short play for campers to practice in the final performance. The campers gained a lot from the experience of fully English teaching training and immersive stage performances.
"Through these 6 days of learning, the children have struggled with learning 5 new English songs and balancing singing and dancing from the beginning, to finally standing in the spotlight with both singing and dancing skills. They have gained a more comprehensive understanding of stage art." Anne Guo, a music drama mentor and director at Goldsmith College, University of London, is the only Chinese American among the three foreign mentors, and she is better able to guide according to the characteristics of Chinese children.
Completing a 6-day training and professional stage performance is not only a learning experience for children, but also an artistic challenge of inspiration and creativity. Under the guidance of their mentors, the campers participate in the creation of musicals, learning about choreography, composition, script creation, and other related knowledge. They witness the behind the scenes work of lighting, sound effects, costumes, and other aspects in front and behind the scenes at the Oriental Art Center to support the purpose of a play. Mentors will impart professional knowledge, skills, and artistic styles of British musicals to Chinese teenagers, and explore ways to combine Chinese cultural elements with musicals with them.
Darren Royston from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London said, "We are really proud of these children. Every little actor is excellent, and I believe there will be shining musical stars among them in the future."
Zhou Bin, who collaborated with the British National Youth Music Troupe to create the "serious play" musical brand, said, "We are one of the first companies in Shanghai to introduce original musicals to young people. From the beginning, we hoped to allow Chinese children to experience authentic musical education. We constantly create opportunities for children to go out and receive more systematic stage training, and also strive to promote Chinese local musicals to the world."
Shanghai Oriental Art Center relies on its theater platform and resource advantages to comprehensively support the high-quality implementation of the "Social Art Education Plan". Its long-term cooperation with the "Serious Play" brand is precisely to lead the action of art education with professional strength. After the Musical Masters Camp, a British Musical Study Camp will also be organized in August, allowing campers to learn musicals with children from around the world and participate in performances at the Edinburgh Art Festival to stimulate children's creativity.
