File picture of mime artiste Moinul Haque performing at Rabindra Bhawan

July 15: In keeping with the interest that youngsters have shown in mime, the city-based Mime Academy is conducting two workshops in the city.

The workshops are being held at Surrya Club at Chenikuthi and Maharishi Vidya Mandir School at Silphukhuri.

Over 500 schoolchildren have taken to the art this summer vacation.

In order to make mime art as popular as drama, the academy is also organising shows in different parts of the city.

“We were surprised when more than 500 schoolchildren expressed their willingness to learn the art this summer. The summer vacations is the only period when children get time to indulge in extra-curricular activities, thus we thought of arranging the workshops at this time. Recently, we finished one workshop on mime at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra. Currently we are busy conducting two workshops, both morning and evening,” said an instructor of the academy.

“The trend is quite encouraging. I am quite happy that more and more youngsters are now keen on learning the art. A few years back, we had to invite the audiences to bring them to my shows. Now, whenever we enact a mime play it is always a packed auditorium,” he added.

The academy till date has provided the much-needed platform for students to take part in various production activities.

Pantomimes have been used to promote various social causes and create awareness regarding issues such as HIV/AIDS and women’s empowerment.