Trying to learn a new language is hard, but for people learning French the Perth French Theatre Company is here to help.
They perform plays in French, many people in the cast are learning the language and so are people in the audience. But if you don’t speak a word of French you can still enjoy the show – there are sur-titles.
Their next production Tempête honours the life of deaf and blind woman Helen Keller through a combination of theatre and movement, dancers Ea Shulak and Alex Abbott are part of the cast, using movement to convey key parts of the story
Founder Stella Shulak started the company five years ago as a way for people to get better at speaking the language outside the traditional classroom.
“The first purpose was to give the opportunity to French learners, Australian people, to practice. Our first play was Lysistrata and we had twenty one people on stage.” Shuklak explained. “It was an amazing experience, fourteen of the people performing were Australians, I love to mix up French people and those who are learning.”
At each show it’s not just the actors who are being exposed to the language but also the audience. Shulak says its much better to hear French plays in French. “It’s not the same to hear the text in other language, things get lost in translation.”
For 67 year-old John Yeomans the decision to learn French came from a life long interest in languages and cultures. Having previously learned some Italian and German he’s enjoyed studying French for several years.
“I was learning French and I always thought these theatrical methods were a very good way to learn French, when Stella started up this course I thought ‘that’s for me'”.
“Learning a language gives you a window into another way of thinking, people see things different in other countries and particularly through language.” Yeomans said.
“It has helped my French, but also my English!” the actor said of his bilingual acting journey, “It’s given me a greater appreciation of my own language as well, and it’s also given me confidence in public speaking and expressing myself.”
Taking up a language is something Yeomans said had helped he keep mentally fit. “It’s great exercise for the brain, I like to keep myself physically well and trim – but that’s not enough, you need to keep yourself mentally fit – and learning a language will do that.”
While Yeomans joined the company to exercise his growing French speaking skills for Pierre Bessiere French is his first language and learning about acting was his attraction to joining to company.
“I started two years ago, I wanted to do acting but I thought it would be too hard for me to do it English.” Bessiere laughed. “I was going to go back to France but then my housemate told me about Stella and her company.”
The Parisian has lived in Perth for the last six years, having traveled the world he settled here when he met his partner.
Like all productions there’s the occasional moment when an actor forgets a line, and Pierre thinks it’s invaluable that the native French speakers are there to support those who have plunged into performing in another language.
“I think if it’s not your first language it’s going to be hard to improvise, I know I couldn’t improvise in English! We help each other out, and we’re a close team, we know how each other really well.”
Director Stella Shulak said the biggest challenge for the actors is not just memorising their lines in French but also recalling all the other things they have to do while performing.
“It’s not just remembering so many lines, they have remember how to act, how to pronounce things and how to feel!”
Tempête is playing at Locally Crafted from 29 May – 3 June. Find out more at www.perthfrenchtheatre.com
