The Benefits of Children’s Theatre
Article By ArtReach Children’s Theatre Plays

Working together for a common goal

Producing a play involves many different activities: memorizing lines, learning stage movement, and creating costumes, props and set pieces. Students get to experience the process of taking a project from inception to completion. By its very nature, drama is a collaborative art: students learn to cooperate in a group activity and enjoy the camaraderie of the experience.

Ability to Focus

When a child performs in a play there is the added element of being observed. Often, when you first begin rehearsals, the children will not concentrate on their roles. They may seem fidgety, interrupt, or not pay attention. Don’t be too concerned about this. In time, they will understand that they must concentrate on their part when others are watching and waiting for them to speak or perform an action. By the time the play is ready, you will notice a vast improvement in their ability to focus – not only on their parts, but on the other roles and the play in general.

Performance – The Joy of Learning

On the day or evening of the performance, as the audience enters and the play is about to begin, the children will sense the excitement that it’s show time. They may be a bit nervous, but they know that now all their diligent work will come together in something new and special. They rise to the occasion, create a whole new world of make-believe, take their bows, and beam in the applause that tells them they did a great job. They are proud to be there, they have a sense of accomplishment, and they are joyful that they learned and performed the play.