RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Theater and Performing Arts Commission is gearing up to introduce the Actor Training and Improvisation Program in three cities. The program’s sessions are scheduled to take place in Al-Ahsa from July 16 to 27, in Tabuk from Aug. 13 to 24, and in Hail from Sept. 25 to Oct. 5. Experienced and specialized trainers will be involved in this initiative, as part of the commission’s strategic Skills Development Program. It will be comprised of two training workshops spanning over a 10-day period, with each workshop allocated three hours per day. The first workshop concentrates on acting, while the second workshop emphasizes improvisation. The goal is to train 40 students in each workshop, resulting in a total of 80 trainees per city and 240 trainees overall. The training program is designed to achieve various objectives, including enhancing awareness of theatrical performance and providing trainees with a diverse set of skills. These skills encompass gaining a comprehensive grasp of theater-related language, vocabulary, acting techniques, improvisation, and a broader cultural understanding of these disciplines. The curriculum covers theater work mechanisms, including preparation, planning, invoking intention, and significant roles. Additionally, it focuses on the cognitive application of acting and improvisation fundamentals, such as text analysis, actor training, and the harmonization of different elements. The acting program begins with the exploration of the body, voice, and subtext on the first day, and progresses to include areas such as concentration and pressure, character development, group work dynamics, feedback techniques, costume rehearsals, and the practical application of theories. The curriculum concludes with a final performance. The improvisation curriculum begins with the skills of failure and the joy of taking risks, followed by accepting ideas and building upon them, spontaneity, speed, cooperation, environmental elements, tangible objects, body movement, scene formation, and the basics of storytelling. It also covers the components of creating a character naturally, escalating and changing emotions during a scene. The curriculum concludes on the 10th day with acting and showmanship (improvisation) skills. Through the program, the commission aims to stimulate continuous self-learning among trainees and promote the concept of collective theatrical performance. It also seeks to raise awareness about theater, solidify the value of new art while preserving cultural heritage, establish a database of performers, and contribute to their development.  These efforts align with the commission’s ongoing initiatives to empower theater practitioners in the Kingdom.