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ITEC - a new resource for Theatre Arts

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An interesting new online tool aims to provide better access to high quality theatre performances for schools and other educational organisations.Kate McDonald introduces us to ITEC in this article.

I emerged into the sunshine; my sons chubby hand clutching mine, him big-eyed and silent, still wrapped in the enchantment of all he had just seen. We had spent the past 45 minutes watching wonderful theatre and entranced children literally creep closer and closer to the stage. In that special moment it occurred to me again what a tremendous job I have and how great is our goal. 

I work for ITEC: The Interactive Theatre and Education Catalogue; (www.theatre4youth.co.za), an online database, which provides schools or other centres of learning with access to a wide range of innovative, age-appropriate theatre performances and workshops while also allowing theatre companies to market high-quality theatre experiences for young people.

Recent studies have shown that arts experiences build specific cognitive, emotional, and psychomotor pathways in brain function: if young people are not exposed to arts from an early age, these neural pathways will atrophy possibly affecting later development. Which is why our aim is that every South African child sees at least one excellent theatrical production at school, every year, inculcating a love of theatre and developing an appreciative, knowledgeable and enthusiastic audience for theatre in the future, as well as future artists and arts advocates.

We intend that schools will use theatre as a true educational resource, for the teaching of every subject, and for the development of heart, mind, body and spirit in every child.  Why not ask your child’s teachers if they have put their schools on this free and very easy to join service? Any questions contact Kate on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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