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LIFE&FAMILY
76
Jun-Jul15
By Brooke Chenoweth
As CLARISSA EVANS puts it, every child has their own
“lovely uniqueness” – some just need more help than others
to show it to the world.
O
n meeting Clarissa Evans
at the head office of Starlit
Voice, the creative arts
organisation she founded
two years ago, I was so impressed by
what she has achieved that I was ready
to hand over both of my children – and
if they had classes for adults, I would’ve
signed up for those too!
Starlit Voice was created by Clarissa
and Nicci Corrado in 2013. She freely
admits that in the early days they worked
out of the back of taxis on the way to
venues. The initial model offered drama
and communication classes in schools
as an extra-curricular activity (ECA).
It has grown exponentially since then
and now includes up to 20 local and
international schools as well as in-house
classes at their head office in Central
and workshops throughout the year at
various venues. Rather than being just
another run-of-the-mill ECA provider,
Starlit Voice has a team of professional
practitioners who help students develop
essential communication skills in the
best way possible – by letting kids be
themselves.
In 2015, Starlit Voice founded Drama
School HK – the first vocational training
programme in Hong Kong for young
performing artists aged between 10
and 18. Together they form a creative
hub that provides a pathway from
childhood through to young adulthood
– a journey that can be started at any
point, whether it’s at an ECA, private
tutoring for LAMDA exams, workshops
or at Drama School HK.
Clarissa is the sole authorised
representative of LAMDA (London
Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) in
Hong Kong, working with them to bring
examiners to Hong Kong throughout
the year. They offer Communication
and Per formance examinations,
designed to develop language, literacy
communication and acting skills.
Children as young as four can take
the exams, but Clarissa stresses, “It’s
important that a child comes out smiling.
We never let them take an exam before
they’re ready, and we prepare them so
they get the best outcome.”
In a city where there’s so much
pressure to perform and succeed, this
approach is refreshing – and effective.
Children really blossom when they
achieve in this way. “Starlit Voice works
because it’smade up of a teamof trained
professional practitioners who each bring
something different but who all are able
to identify, mentor and nurture the needs
of each individual child”.
All classes are very inclusive, with
children of all needs and abilities
taking part. The LAMDA syllabus
crafts a creative pathway to inspire
spontaneity and draw out even the
shyest child eventually. Through the
study of dramatic techniques, the
classes teach children how to use
their voices properly, going into the
finer details of voice modulation and
expression. They learn the importance
of eye contact, facial expressions, and
body language, and how to get their
personalities across when talking to
people – universal skills that they can
take beyond school and into the world.
How often do we hear of otherwise
outgoing children struggling through
school entrance interviews? I only have
to watch my own children squirm their
way through interactions with adults to
be reminded that the ability to really
engage with others doesn’t often
come naturally. Clarissa saw a need
for classes that helped build not only
communication skills, but confidence
as well. Whether a child is reserved or
really outgoing, the set work is tailored
for each child to allow their personalities
and individuality to come through.
This type of teaching encourages
self-awareness and reflective thinking,
allowing children to develop their own
special qualities.
As the children grow in confidence,
they are given the opportunity to share
what they’ve learned by running a “class”
themselves at the end of term. “The
students just love showing that they
understand what we’ve been working
on all term.”