Drama builds self-esteem in children
Louise Groenewald says that children build self-esteem when they are involved in drama. Photo: Supplied
POLOKWANE – When Louise Groenewald moved to Polokwane in 2010 she realised that there was a market for a drama school and opened the Polokwane Drama Akademie in May, 2010.
Being a well-known stage personality herself, Louise thought she would be able to give back to the community and help children be a part of the drama world. Born and raised in the Cape, she describes herself as a person who is a total extrovert and loves people.
Besides running the drama school, she is also a full-time financial manager at a motor dealership in the city.
She believes that having children involved in drama means that they build self-esteem. “Children learn to be more social and learn to listen better, they also learn to be creative and make use of their imagination,” Groenewald said.
She says the best thing is that children learn teamwork and this is a skill that helps them in their schoolwork and even long after graduating from school.
When it comes to doing a new stage piece Groenewald said that she thinks that the most challenging part is to make it work for the audience and the children playing their roles.
“It is something that must talk to the people who are looking and listening and it must send a message that can be easily understood. I prefer to do something new every year, something that we have never done before,” she said.
With her training in drama at the well-known Brümilda Acting Academy & Agency in Johannesburg, Groenewald gets involved in adding characters and scenes when the need arises. She also writes for the annual Bosveld Kunstefees and the Eisteddfod.
Her advice to people looking at a career in drama is that they need to take the chance even if they are shy. “I believe that people in the business of drama are people who work hard and play even harder.”
Something that she would like to see change in the country when it comes to drama is that more people should put money into drama.
‘Life in the drama business means hard work and it is not all sunshine and roses as people expect. You may enter an audition and find 10 people looking and sounding just like you, but there will be one with that something special, work on your something special,” she said.
