Celebrate multicultural Canada with a series of theatre workshops next month, culminating in a performance at the ACT in Maple Ridge.
As part of its Welcoming Communities initiative, the Family Education and Support Centre will host the workshops for youth to explore themes of immigration, racism, and multiculturalism.
“Part of our work, connecting with people, is to explore and create dialogue about who they are,” says executive director Faye Luxemburg-Hyam. “Everyone looks at things differently, and youth, especially multicultural youth, are bursting to express what is precious and valuable in their culture in a novel way, while becoming a part of a new community and way of life. This project brings their stories, their voices into the public realm through the power of theatre.”
The centre provides awareness and education programs to the community through a variety of services to increase understanding of the rich cultural diversity that exists in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and the Katzie First Nations.
“In the workshops, we will explore and teach our youth participants various theatre techniques, such as improv, voice work, word play, and movement,” says instructor James Rowley. “These techniques will create a safe, trusting environment to bring out their stories, which we will use to create an original theatre piece, exploring ideas of immigration, multiculturalism, and racism.”
Rowley, an instructor with Immigration Services Society, will be running the workshops and play creation with his partner, Leanne Koehn, under the banner of their award-winning theatre company One Night Castle Projects.
• The first free workshop takes place Thursday, Nov. 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Greg Moore Youth Centre. To register, call the Welcoming Communities facilitator at 604-467-6055 ext. 110 or email diversity@familyed.bc.ca.
