” A few years ago I was introduced to Homunculus theatre company through the Performers market at QPAC. I thought their work was very interesting and heard what work they had been involved with and wondered how it could fit into an Early Years setting. The options were endless. As a Manager of an Early Education Centre I was looking for something to bring the team work together and workshops that would allow the educators to find their inner child and bring back some playfulness into our environment. I was looking for different ways for the educators to explore their inner selves and reflect on their professionalism and daily work practices. I again remembered Homunculus theatre company and thought of their work and how that would be an interesting option for our team.
On our first session the team was just commencing an exploration of practices and working together as a team. It was really interesting as this was the first part of the journey to get team work, respect and reflection into our work environment. The first session really exposed and brought forward the different personalities and friendships of the group. It was an interesting session as we watched each person engage with the pieces that Clint directed and instructed us to do. We used the half masks this day and worked using one word (Shaun) and our body language. We worked together but not yet as one unit. It opened personalities and we got to see strengths and struggles of our fellow work mates. It was a confronting as well as being an exhilarating session and we spoke about for months and years later.
We have worked through many different areas over the past two years to explore many different areas of our working practices. Over the time we worked through other areas to create a holistic environment where the children, families and Educators could work and engage together. Two years later we asked to worked with Homunculus theatre company to explore how the training and everyday practices have remained the same or changed. WOW!! what a transformation we have achieved. Today we saw all our hard work and perseverance has paid off. The team performed some familiar exercises to warm up to the events of the day. The group performed together and there was an amazing sense of trust and respect for each other. We then got into the mask work. We used the full face masks. It is an amazing process as you find that you fall into character and allow yourself to work with your partner.
Clint lead the group on both occasions and really understood the body language and the willingness of each participant. The activities that Clint set for the sessions explored and engaged each participant in different ways. The activities were simple however what came out of it was extraordinary. It allowed each person to explore and create individually through performance. Each person gained something different yet we have all experienced the same.
We will be asking Homunculus theatre company to come back again within the next 12 months as it has been a very rewarding experience for everyone who attended. Homunculus theatre companies approach and philosophy reflects everything within the EYLF and Quality Areas.
I am so glad that we have met you Clint and these experiences have been well worth the participation as it has opened so much for the team. Thank you for being part of the journey and now you are part of our amazing team at Children @ Bay Terrace.”
Bex Swainson, Director, Children @ Bay Terrace, www.cabt.com.au, QLD
