Students learn to "act up"

Rainee Skinner with Year 4/5 students from Chevallum State School

STUDENTS from the Chevallum State School would be hard pressed to find a better teacher for developing their acting skills.

Actor and local resident Rainee Skinner, who appeared in the recent ABC children’s series The Wayne Manifesto, has spent two weeks at the school conducting workshops with children from every year level.

The classes will culminate in a performance at the school on August 1.

Rainee said the aim of the program was to awaken an interest in drama in the students.

"The children haven’t been involved with drama very much to date, but hopefully the workshops will encourage them to present a yearly performance at the school.

The students have been practising a series of plays based on the Wayne Manifesto, which featured the Wilson family with Rainee as the mother. Some of the children have also been writing their own plays to perform.

"A lot of the children saw the series and are really enjoying the drama work we’ve been doing," she said. "They are extremely enthusiastic and eager to learn."

Rainee said she normally taught older children, but was enjoying working with the younger students.

"It’s been good fun," she said. "And I hope it inspires an ongoing interest in drama in the children."