Manófalva Kindergarten’s little theatre has opened its doors again.
The curtain has once again been raised in the theatre hall of the Újkerti Manófalva Kindergarten. The institution has created a “theatre hall” for the diverse implementation of its “Fairy Tales for a Healthy Child’s Soul” educational programme.
Last week, the theatre hall hosted its traditional Drama Festival. This is not the first encounter of the kindergarteners of Manófalva with theatrical experiences, as the children regularly attend the high-quality performances of the Vojtina Puppet Theatre. This experience was different, however. On the opening day of the programme, the kindergarten teachers dramatised the fairy tale The Wedding of the Cricket and the Mouse. The children squealed with joy when they recognised the kindergarten teachers dressed in costumes. The fairy tale performance not only provided an experience, but also inspired and motivated the children to express themselves and act in fairy tales.
Children could enter the magical world of theatre with an “Elf Village theatre pass”. The auditorium was filled with curious, excited preschoolers on weekdays. The groups performed separately, dramatising a jointly chosen fairy tale. They were able to experience every moment of theatre life. The children’s groups made the sets and props themselves, thus the kindergarten teachers fully involved them in the process of recreating the fairy tale. The groups that took to the stage became real “little actors” when they put on their costumes. The performers performed the fairy tales with great enthusiasm, getting into their roles, so the performances were a lasting fairy tale experience for both the audience and the “little actors”.
The goal of the fairy tale dramatization was not only to perform, but also to experience the community experience together. Introducing fairy tales in as many different ways as possible is an important part of the kindergarten program. Preparing for a theatrical event greatly contributes to the development of children’s communication, enriching their emotional lives, increasing their self-confidence, and dissolving their inhibitions. The performers’ well-deserved reward was the applause from the audience, which encourages them to try themselves again in the world of theatrical fairy tales.
Manófalva Kindergarten – Debrecen, Újkert
