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ONLINE WEEKLY NEWS MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 12, 2006 ISSUE

  
The "Not Too Big To Be Small Players" From Thorneloe University Put On Special Live Performance of 'A Christmas Version of Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs'
The Centre Court of the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre on a busy Saturday afternoon may seem an unlikely place to find a live theatre performance, but that is exactly what shoppers found on December 9, 2006 when students from the Thorneloe University Theatre Arts Program entertained children "of all ages" with their rendition of 'A Christmas Version of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs'. The performers, from left to right are: Tim Rapal, Sabrina Heydorn, Claudia Rossi, Elvin Etcubanez, David Shut, Nikki Hulskramer, Alysha Keir, Blythe Gerrie.
The performance was well received by the audience. Many stopped their shopping to take in the twenty minute play. Some of the youngest visitors to the shopping centre were curious and a bit leery about taking part in the 'interactive' performance. The little boy and his sister below are satisfied to watch from a distance.
Others, like the older children below, were quite eager to volunteer to become performers themselves.
They call themselves the "Not Too Big To Be Small Players" who have existed as part of the Thorneloe University Theatre Arts Program since 2003. 
Ulrich Sikora, shown to the left, is the professor of the Theatre In Education II course as well as the Introduction To Theatre course at Thorneloe. Students from both the first year and advanced programs take part in about 3 or 4 interactive children's plays such as this each year.

"This was the first time we have performed in a shopping centre, so it will be quite interesting to hear the feedback from the students. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but it was definitely a different experience for them," Sikora explained. 

Ulrich Sikora, a professional educator for the past 30 years has been with Thorneloe University for the past four years. During the course of his career, he has taught in places such Germany, Norway, Poland, Japan, the United States, and now, Ontario. He was born and raised in Germany and moved to Valley East in 1968. He now owns a home in Val Therese.

The students in the program perform for the Ontario Early Years Centres, of which there are some 20 locations, as well as for the Kids Share Program.

Thorneloe also puts on two main-stage performances each year. This year they put on Macbeth in November and are currently working on Molier's 'Tartuffe', a commentary on religious hypocrisy which be performed in March and will also be entered in the Quantas Northern Ontario Festival in Espanola.

Ulrich is also currently directing a play called 'Autobahn' which will be seen a the Market Square this coming summer. 

Sikora feels that there is a growing interest in dramatic arts and theatre programs such as the ones he teaches because so many people are discovering that the skills used in acting come in handy in many other areas of life. "The ability to communicate; to improvise and think on your feet; along with the self-confidence you gain by being on stage are all very important as you go through life"

 

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