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Online PlayAct drama classes restore children’s wellbeing  

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PlayAct drama classes launch their national classes on Monday, March 22.

Online PlayAct drama classes restore children’s wellbeing  

Limerick native, Adrienne Lee, has developed a weekly live online Drama and Theatre experience where children and young people can socially interact, connect and enjoy learning to act, write, make or find props, engage with others and simply pretend.  

“At this time, children are missing out on a lot of social and emotional development,” says Adrienne. “Our PlayAct classes allow them to make up those losses. The shy students become leaders, the enthusiastic ones become team players and all of them get the headspace to be themselves. When I did national research, teachers and parents all over the country told me our children need to be able to relate to one another, express themselves and communicate with others, more than ever during the pandemic”.  


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Through PlayAct’s weekly sessions, students become more confident and self-aware. They are excited to see each other (virtually) each week. At the end of the sessions, they’re delighted with themselves. Parents report their children to feel good about themselves, less anxious, more energised and much easier to handle. And they’re able to ask for what they want and need.

“My child has been in drama for five years,” Louise said. “She has tried lots of other activities. This is the only one that stuck. I’m so pleased that Adrienne has taken her classes online.”    

“My daughter has attended weekly online PlayAct Drama classes since our first lockdown. They’ve been a godsend. She has loved every second of interacting with children her own age and making friends,” says Karen.  

Adrienne is a qualified Drama teacher. Online classes are deliberately kept small to ensure every child gets individual attention.  

Adrienne said, “Being originally from Moyross, I’d love to share this opportunity with my home county so that the children of Limerick can have fun, build confidence and develop the ever-important social skills that are not being learned while in lockdown, all from the safety of their own home. We will be launching our national classes on Monday, March 22.”  

“We have to ‘learn’ each child,” says Adrienne. “My tutors and I need to build on each child’s strengths and interests. For example, we might say to a talkative child – ‘today, Jenny, you’re the director. You need to think about all the things you need to make this play work. And fix any problems you see. Get a small group together to help you.’”  

Parents wanting to see what’s on offer can access a taster and sign up for a ‘PlayAct Taster’ via the PlayAct drama classes Facebook page. There is no fee and no obligation to sign up for regular online classes.  

   

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Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.