“What a Show!” Wembley Middle School excel on the stage.

On Friday, 9 September 2022, the Wembley Middle School performed, “What a Knight” to a hall full of enthusiasic parents, friends and teachers.

Have you ever been part of a show? The energy and excitement around putting on a production is palpable. Whether your child is a main character, part of the ensemble, or a crew member, theatre productions have such a positive impact on scholars.

There is substantial research about the positive influence children glean from being a part of a  theatre production. Beyond what the studies have shown, it is what we as teachers and parents can see with our own eyes every time a student immerses themselves in the theatre arts. Here are just a few of the positive influences we saw here at Wembley College when we practiced for our show ‘What a Knight’.

Performing in front of an audience shows young scholars how they can trust their skills, talents, and creative ideas. Even if your child gets “butterflies in their tummy” on show night, they grow from overcoming that fear and completing the task they set out to do.

Many parents and teachers remark that being a part of a theatre performance helps their child learn to concentrate more. Long hours are put into practicing blocking, memorizing lines, and arranging props. All of this work helps young scholars focus their minds.

Taking on a role of someone in a play or musical means you have to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes.” This is a form of empathy and a way that actors learn to connect with their character. In addition, being a part of a theatre group means a child learns how to work with people of different skills, abilities and backgrounds. This is a vital skill that will be needed later in life.

Not only is theatre a way to improve or strengthen a child’s empathy, confidence, and conscience, but many schools believe it is a ticket to learning. Memorizing lines, learning to play a character, understanding the flow of a production can help students in the classroom as well. Theatre brings to life the ideas that up-until-now have only been on the pages of books or plays. Education and theatre are therefore partners in learning and enhancing learning.

Wembley College gives our scholars this opportunity to not only perform in a show for their parents but also learn many useful skills that will aid them in their young lives and in their adult lives as well.

This is something  they will remember for the rest of their lives.