The very words “Arts Centre” may strike fear into the minds of some. One could imagine a bastion of upper middle-class people sipping Lapsang Souchong whilst discussing Dostoevsky, or long-haired Bohe-mians splashing paint onto room-sized canvases.
Well the Riverside certainly caters very well for such “grown-up” pursuits, but this ‘community’ centre for many hours a week buzzes to the sound of young people; from toddlers right up to late teenagers. A place where youngsters can learn a new skill, grow their own characters, learn to mix with others, to work as a team in their journey to adulthood and to achieve their full potential.
On Sunday afternoons the noise levels can be the extreme as the youngsters of Riverside Youth Theatre (RYT) rehearse for their bi-annual stage shows. Started in 1982 to provide opportunities for young people aged between 12 and 18 who have an interest in drama. It aims to encourage and develop skills and expe-rience in all aspects of theatre, through auditions, rehearsals, and the staging of real productions presented to live audiences. Run by a small committee of volunteers some of whom have been involved in profes-sional theatre, youngsters are trained in all aspects of the theatre including the technical teams where they learn about lighting, sound, and set building.
Although KH Dance Academy does have adult classes its main emphasis is on the youngsters. From 18 months old toddlers and their parents can join music and movement classes, instilling in them the basics of dance. As they get older, they can progress to all forms of dance from Tap to Ballet and including Contemporary and Street Dance and Musical Thea-tre. Classes run throughout the week and are all taken by fully licensed and DBS checked tutors. Accredited examinations are offered for pupils to access progress.
Maybe the child is more of an individual looking for one to one tuition in playing a musical instrument. We have a couple of highly qualified and skilled musicians offering teach-ing on piano, flute, saxophone, clarinet, as well as music theory. Both teachers can prepare their students to take official music exams, many of which are held at the Riverside.
Several times a year you will see anxious children, usually accompanied by their even more nervous parents, arriving in order to sit an exam set by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Musical awarding graded exams and diploma qualifications in music. Pupils come from a wide area to have their ability in any musical instrument imaginable, professionally assessed; from beginner upwards to the top levels for those hoping to make music their livelihood.
Children from as young as 7 can join the classes run by On-Stage Now which offers young people up to the age of 16 the chance to be trained in drama and the musical theatre. There are also possibilities to take LAMDA acting exams.
For children who like to get their hands dirty, a recent newcomer is our weekend pottery and ceramics class and we are hopeful that other similar classes may follow.
All of our child-based activities are supervised by properly licensed adults in a secure environment. The above is just a taster of the various opportunities available for the young people of Sunbury and you can find details of these plus all of the adult activates and events via our website www.riversidearts.co.uk.
Riverside Arts Centre, your place for education, interest and entertainment, run by volunteers for the community