Wendy Whatmore Academy launches specialised drama unit

A new venture by the Wendy Whatmore Academy of Speech and Drama (WWA) will teach exam and non-exam oriented courses focused purely on drama for students from the age of seven upwards.

At the helm of the WWA since 1989, Wendy Whatmore’s daughter Wendy Holsinger and her husband Monte have steadily expanded the reach of the school, which now has 200 qualified teachers offering Speech and Drama, Spoken English and Effective Communication across the island. Now in its 77th year as an institution for arts education, the WWA is offering a new range of educational options aimed at enhancing professional potential and social skills in general, and increasing employment opportunities within the arts professions in particular.

Speaking on the importance of arts education in the overall personal development of children, Holsinger noted, “I think parents today are more aware of and more appreciative of the benefits of arts education, especially with relation to soft skills. In all areas of employment, we have seen a new emphasis placed on interpersonal skills, social intelligence and attitudes, the ability to work well with others and navigate any environment well. Today, it is all about how good a communicator you are, how emotionally intelligent and culturally sensitive you are. The benefits of arts education in relation to this has been well established now, and include high performance in problem solving, team building, confidence building, public speaking, improvisation and creative strategies. Such attributes are advantageous no matter what profession you choose to pursue.”

“There is a range of alternative career options that open up when you gain academic qualifications in Drama and Theatre,” Holsinger added. “We want to encourage and support those who have a passion for it, young people especially, in considering a career in the arts. The scope for it now, post-conflict, is tremendous. We feel there are too few institutions offering qualifications in this subject, and are opening this special unit to provide the opportunity for focused study and potential career paths.”

The Academy’s Vice Principal Tracy Holsinger Tennekoon will head the new drama unit and deliver the overall educational policy, which includes Sinhala and Tamil instruction and qualifications in the future. The drama unit teaching staff will comprise associates of Tracy’s Mind Adventures theatre company.

The new Performance Arts courses include classes for exams (competitive) and classes for skills development without exams (non-competitive). Those following exams will have the option of entering for Wendy Whatmore Academy and Trinity College, UK exams. In addition, students will be prepared for the local and international O and A Level examinations and for entering university.  

The course content is tailor made to suit various age groups and will focus on movement, voice, acting, improvisation, script writing, drama and theatre history, theories and practices from around the world such as Kolam, Commedia dell’Arte, devised, immersive and site specific theatre. Students will also study set, lighting, sound and costume design. Additionally, they will gain experience in production management, stage management, finance and administration, marketing and publicity.

Registrations are now open for a range of classes for varied age groups. Call the WWA on 112573912/3 or email [email protected] for more information.