Shelly Walker, Richmond Community Theatre's director, plays an acting game with kids to show them theatre concepts and methods during the Young People's Theatre.

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There are no mistakes in theatre, said Richmond County Theatre Director Shelly Walker Monday during the first session of Young People’s Theatre in Rockingham.

“Drama is about a heightened sense of awareness,” said Walker during an acting game she used to warm up the group and introduce acting concepts.

“Today is about getting to know each other,” said Walker. “This group will write their own play. They will develop their own style.”

The camp is split into two groups this year, with the first group having six kids and the second seven.

Walker started off with a game in which everyone stands in a circle. The game is called “Zip, zap, zop.” The words remain in that order, as the first person pointed to another and said, “zip” and that person pointed and said “zap” and so on.

“You want to engage the whole body,” said Walker, as she clapped and pointed with her hand, arm and shoulder at another youngster in the ring. “Every game we’re going to play in this camp has to do with acting. Be big with your body. Be loud. Don’t be afraid. There are no mistakes in theatre.”

Walker and her students discussed improvising, communicating effectively and the importance of enunciating.

Walker expressed enthusiasm for her students, and the smile on her face soon spread around the room. She encouraged the students for staying active, keeping a high energy level and making things interesting.

The students learned that acting in theatre has layers — character, lines, body language, to name a few — and Walker said she would be isolating these layers in games.

Over the next two weeks, these groups will develop characters, lines and confidence as they learn to project their voices from the stage to keep the audience engaged.

— Staff Writer Dawn M. Kurry can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 15, or by email at dkurry@heartlandpublications.com.