Mind the Gap – Workshop

Mind the Gap was a two day intensive theatre workshop conducted at St. Agnes College (Autonomous) on the 30th and 31st of March 2022. St Agnes College Mangalore, explored a unique opportunity last week of being introduced to new and contemporary methods in theatre by Virginia Rodrigues, alumnus of the institution. She is also a theatre practitioner and film actor with over two decades of experience.  She works pan India performing and taking workshops for adults and children. Virginia is a scholar from ATSA (Arts Think South Asia) supported by the British Council and the Goethe Institute. She also holds what is possibly the largest independent archive of arts in India today with over several thousand plays, concerts, dance recitals, theatre processes and much more. 

The two day intensive workshop covered very critical areas from understanding ‘what is a play?’ to the basics of stage craft, voice, text and context, building a character, movement, mime, emotions, improvisation etc., Crunching many important aspects of theatre within the two day workshop was definitely a rigour. But the students were far  from being bothered by the pressure or the sweltering heat of the city and thoroughly indulged in the program. Students from St Aloysius College & Roshni Nilaya also participated and the old Auditorium of St Agnes College came to life with refreshed energy and enthusiasm post the quiet and dullness through the pandemic. Virginia hopes this enthusiasm and curiosity to explore theatre continues with the youth in her beloved hometown. Ms. Aysha Lalin the student co-ordinator for the workshop expressed much gratitude to Ms. Virginia Rodrigues and requested her to conduct many more such meaningful workshops in the future. The Principal Sr. Dr. M. Venissa A.C appreciated the activities conducted in the workshop and said that they can help students to improve their overall communication skills and performance abilities.

This workshop was organized by the Litwit and Western Dramatics Association which is an Extra Curricular Activity offered by the Department of English. Mrs. Geetanjali was the convenor of the same.