Is Timor-Leste the new NIDA?

If you want to be an actor don’t move to Hollywood, come to Timor-Leste!

The actors warm up with some vocal exercises

There's a thriving theatre scene here as NGOs look at innovative ways to get their message out to the people. For a nation lumped with rising unemployment, poverty and potentially Australia's refugee 'solution', making the choice to be an actor is a smart and viable option. But without a NIDA or even a high school drama curriculum, many youth never get the opportunity to express themselves in creative ways.

With the support of Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, local NGO Knua Buka Hatene (KBH) is running a twelve month creative arts training program for young, unemployed people living in Dili. Called the Expressional Arts Project, it begins with a six month introduction to theatre.

The facilitator of the project, Lena, is very excited about the program and being able to share her skills with her students.

Like many Timorese, Lena has an innate capacity for telling stories and a natural acting ability. She began acting in 2005 and some of her credits include a role in the film Balibo, being the face of a national family planning campaign, and touring countless performances about domestic violence, malaria, peace building, nutrition and human trafficking to remote areas of Timor-Leste. For Lena, another career path is unimaginable, "I would never want to work in an office because as an actor, I can be free".

Only weeks into the program, the KBH training centre is already abuzz as new, nervous faces wait on the outdoor benches, ready for classes to start. "When we start the warm-up games," Lena says, "they are very happy. They say to me that they find the activities difficult but they like doing them because it gives them lots of energy compared to when they are just sitting around, being lazy in their homes".

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's website (2009), the unemployment rate in Dili is estimated at 40% among those aged 15 to 29.

As a result, youth everywhere are signing up to lots of different extracurricular courses, anything that will give them an edge for the few jobs on offer.

But it's not just potential employment that brings students to KBH, many students are drawn to theatre because they like funny slap-stick style performances. It's basic humour but it works, Lena explains "It's important to start performances with something funny because then the audience will come". Once they have the audience's attention, the actors are then able to get to the tougher topics.

So why do Timorese like comedy so much? Well, that's also a pretty simple answer, "Because lots of people like laughing!" Lena says.

In Timor-Leste where access to entertainment or communication mediums such as TV or radio is limited - theatre can be an effective in educating people in ways that is both interesting and informative. Theatre is also an interactive and creative form of communication which helps when trying to get convey issues of importance.

Check out the team for yourself at:
KBH's Expressional Arts Project website.

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

Last Modified: Thursday, 07-Oct-2010 17:08:24 EST
This page: http://apheda.org.au/projects/easttimor/news/1286431090_20530.html