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Paul Whitelock has recently gone back to school at the ripe old age of 70. Having left school over 50 years ago on completing his A-Levels, he continued to be in schools a lot, as a teacher for 15 years and then as a school inspector for another 15 before taking early retirement. Here he describes what has motivated him to go back to the classroom after having had a complete break since 2005…
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Well, I’m not so sure. I’m three weeks into an evening class and I’m learning plenty.
So what has motivated me to take up learning again in my twilight years? Let me explain. In September I saw a play in Ronda, which absolutely captivated me. “Novias”, written by local actresses Emma Cherry and Charo Carrasco, was a delightful little piece set in a wedding dress shop. Performed by just four female actors, including the two writers mentioned above, it had humour, songs, laughter and a few surprises. [Ed: you can read Paul’s review of the play here: www.secretserrania.com/2020/09/live-theatre-is-back/.
I was so taken that I carried out some research online and found that La Pequeña Compañía, the group that produced the play, is part of a drama project in Ronda called Proyecto Platea. Run by professional actor and rondeño, Marcos Marcell, it offers a range of classes to young and old alike. I made contact with Emma through a mutual friend and she, her husband and I enjoyed a lovely two-hour breakfast together in a bar in Benaoján, where the couple live. Emma and I had a lot in common, not least that she is a graduate of the same drama school in Kent as my son and daughter-in-law, Rose Bruford College in Sidcup, although they were there at different times.
As a result of this encounter I decided to give one of the evening classes a try. I’d done a lot of amateur acting, performing and singing when I was younger and I’ve been told I was pretty good back then!
Bah! Not a bit of it! I know nothing!
I was mesmerised by the two-hour session in Ronda. Breathing exercises, followed by vocal practice, and practising laughing and crying opened my eyes to what was possible. Then the other students, ranging in age from 30 to 70, presented in workshop form the scenes from plays by French playwright, Molière that they’d been working on over the last few weeks.
So I signed up straightaway and now I go on two evenings a week and am taking full part in the workshops, currently playing the role of Argan, the eponymous Imaginary Invalid (Le Malade Imaginaire), which coincidentally I had studied at school for my French A-level.
The courses not only teach the skills of acting, they also develop confidence, public speaking and self-expression, as well as spontaneity, imagination, teamwork, discipline, self-esteem, coordination, expression, diction, body language and empathy. I’m loving it. Maybe you would too? Now I’m looking forward to the upcoming masterclasses, to be taught by professional actors from all over Spain.
For information about Proyecto Platea click here: www.proyectoplatea.com/
Editor’s note: The play “Novias”, which Paul refers to in his article, is back by popular demand. You can see it on 13 and 14 November at the Teatro Espinel in Ronda. Tickets, priced at just 8€, are on sale at Intersport Cary on Carrer Espinel 92. As the seating is limited because of Covid-19 safety regulations, you are advised to get your tickets as soon as possible. For further information, click here.
