Dyslexic theatre master to mentor youngsters
Peter has been breathing new creative life into the schools.
Amanzimtoti-based actor, dancer, director, writer, teacher and puppet master, Peter Court has been appointed as creative arts implementation partner for five schools in KwaDukuza under the wing of MRP Foundation.
He dreams of more hours in his day as he rehearses for his role in KickstArt’s delicious year-end family panto, Sleeping Beauty, while at the same time overseeing the creative arts programme for the five schools.
“The creative arts make creative thinkers; it teaches us to think, listen and co-operate.
It teaches young people to wrestle with problems and develop problem-solving skills and the solutions to the challenges they face now and in the future.
It can be applied to so many other areas of our lives and work,” said Peter, who oversees creative arts at Aldinville Senior Primary School, Kearsney Primary School, Nyakana Combined Primary School, Zilungisele Primary School and St Christophers Primary School.
With his years of worldwide theatre experience and invaluable teaching skills, he’s been breathing new creative life into the schools, helping to build confidence with teachers and impart life skills to pupils.
Peter is also in rehearsal for KickstArt’s much-anticipated contribution to the festive season, the traditional sumptuous family pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, which runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on the UKZN campus from 2 to 8 January. Inspired by the Disney musical fantasy film, Frozen, this magical tale unfolds in a chilly Scandinavian country: All Gothic towers, wreathed with snow, crystal and ice.
Peter plays Princess Rose’s (Haylea Hounsom) lugubrious, hard-of-hearing father, King Frotho the Frosty, married to the long-suffering anxiety-ridden mother, Queen Dot (Carol Trench), in a production written and directed by Steven Stead and designed by Greg King.
The talented Toti master of all theatrical trades has won many Durban Theatre Awards for various productions, including the prestigious Fleur De Cape Theatre Award.
However, one of his greatest achievements is hearing how much his past pupils enjoyed his drama lessons, something he hopes to see happen in the MRP Foundation schools.
“My biggest hurdle as a child was my dyslexia.
I always find it ironic that I continually return to the education sector when as a child, I couldn’t wait to get out of school.
I vowed that if I ever went back into schools, it would be to make learning and education fun and that’s my greatest challenge.”
The theatre master is in charge of overseeing the creative arts branch of the holistic education model to stimulate greater pupil and teacher development.
Peter has been developing and implementing a new school arts curriculum for grade R to grade 9.
His role will also be vital in transferring his years of expertise to teachers, assisting them to deepen their visual and performing arts skills, so that this knowledge can filter down to the pupils.
“Over the next year we are planning workshops and training sessions for teachers to work with some of the top creative arts people and gain valuable experience, insights and motivation to be more creative.”
His drama initiatives are already shining through in the MRP Foundation annual school plays, where pupils have been performing their hearts out in original productions.
Written, performed and organised by the pupils themselves with the help of a few teachers, the plays are a testament to the pupils’ incredible talents and enthusiasm.
And with the added guidance from Peter, drama is sure to continue to thrive in the MRP Foundation schools.
Sleeping Beauty performances at the Sneddon Theatre are at 2.30pm Tuesday to Sunday, and 7pm on Friday. There are no performances on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day.
Book for all 2016 shows at Computicket: www.computicket.co.za. For block bookings, call Ailsa Windsor of Going Places on 083-250-2690 or email editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com.
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