Where the workshops turn into a merry zoo
Michael Jenn obviously enjoys his work with the Sunera Foundation. The British actor with a sharp profile and quiet charisma loves to guide Sunera’s trainers and differently abled children, and watch these oft silent kids, “locked in themselves”, suddenly expand and express, becoming butterflies and unicorns, mermaids and dragons…
At the core of this training, says Michael, is developing the figurative mind and imagination. So the day which starts with warm ups and yoga actually gets going when it’s the ‘animal work’ hour. Mimicry of animals is where each child is given something to mull on: what happens when a dog meets a cat? Or when a dog meets a goldfish? Or when a shark meets a lady porpoise?

Training the trainers: Michael Jenn enjoying his work with Sunera Foundation
Supported by the British Council’s Connections Through Culture grant programme, the work with the Sunera Foundation for harnessing the power of performing arts to promote social integration of the disabled, involves trainers and children from 29 workshops spread across the island from Dehiwela to Galnewa. Titled the ‘Unified Stages: Inclusive Theatre Exchange’ it looks to provide transformative training in theatre and disability arts to Sunera Foundation trainers who conduct weekly performing arts workshops for the differently abled youth across Sri Lanka.
Michael, born in Sussex, is specialised in physical theatre, movement and mime. Having worked with Cheek by Jowl Theatre Company, Steven Berkoff, and Théâtre de Complicité, he has appeared in films such as Unleashed, World War Z, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc (where he was the Duke of Burgundy) and Disney’s Cinderella (2015) where he was the king’s doctor.
Most activities in the workshops involve little speech given the language barrier for Michael, but storytelling is part and parcel with translators, and Michael has been adventurous enough to incorporate the gamaralas and kapuruhamis of village lore.
The workshop turns into a merry zoo at times as Michael encourages each child to be his favourite animal. Then come up certain dilemmas – if I am a snake making a rotti (or riding a bicycle) how do I manage without arms and legs? This is where they build up the ‘imagination muscle’ and learn to negotiate with the world, says Michael.
Of course there are challenges. Children tend to wander off sometimes and retaining some 25 to 30 kids for three hours is daunting. Also, most can’t come for workshops each week, and some can’t afford the bus or three-wheeler fare to come, though training is free and the mothers bring along tea and snacks. Michael allows siblings of the participants to also join the fun freely.
There has been considerable progress, reveals Michael, though it takes time and each child progresses in his/her different way.
The most important thing he learned, says Michael, is “never to underestimate”. “In the western world we have these conceptions – like when it comes to the Paralympics, we expect the differently-abled not to run as fast, etc.” At first, Michael intended not to ask too much from them but then was amazed that “they set such a high bar”.
The exchange of resources is not just from Britain to Sri Lanka but the other way as well. Michael is confident he can take back to the UK much to enhance his teaching and theatre practice there.
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