University of Idaho isn’t just known for its theatre department full of undergraduate and graduate students trying to pursue a career in theatre. It’s also — for 60 years — been the home of a theatre camp introducing younger generations to the art of acting.
The child’s camp is led by Maggie Matteson, a former theatre education graduate student from the University of Idaho. Matteson said she has been running the camp since 2016. An additional four camp counselors are currently enrolled in UI’s theatre program.
The camp began July 9 and runs for three weeks.
“We, this year, are using curriculum from the Royal Shakespeare Company. On the first day we started off just by talking about William Shakespeare, what Elizabethan England was like and how that was an environment where theatre really flourished, what Shakespeare’s early life and his career life were like. We also played around with iambic pentameter a little bit,” Matteson said.
Matteson said the children are preparing to do a performance of Macbeth.
“Next week we’ll start working with the script we’ll be using and then cast the show so the last week will be a full rehearsal schedule.” Matteson said.
Counselor Conner Brown expressed what it’s like being involved with the camp as a counselor, “It’s fun. I like it. I didn’t realize going into it how much we would be teaching the kids and watching them study and figure out what the words mean themselves, it’s been so much fun. They’re all really smart kids, way smarter than I was at that age.” Brown said, “I’ve worked with kids a lot in past jobs and these kids are really fun because they’re doing what I love to do and it’s fun to watch them make similar discoveries like I made when I started working with Shakespeare and everything.”
Brown said he appreciates the chance to impart the art of theatre on future generations and hopes their experience will stick with them for a long time.
“I’m really happy to help these kids find out what they want to do for the rest of their lives.” Brown said.
Cecil Milliken can be reached at [email protected]