"Drumming Up Stage Skill" Newham Recorder - 5th Nov 2000
The drums of Africa beat out in West Ham in an exciting stage performance from the IROKO Theatre Company that also featured local youngsters.
Backed by a £4,450 Millennium Festival Award, the Company held pre-show workshops for wannabe performers. These covered the mime, music, dance, mask-making and masquerade skills that would be utilised for the exhilarating stage show at the Hamilton Road Centre.
Artistic Director Alex Oma-Pius said the project was aimed at stimulating young people's interest in performing arts while offering them the unique opportunity for in-depth study of African theatre. A dozen young people from the Stratford area attended the two days of workshops and all got the chance to join the fun, many tasting stage life for the first time in their life.
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