Making drama out of a holiday

Huang adds that the event was more about playing games, discussions and brainstorming. For example, when preparing for the performance of The Birds, a comedy dating back to 414 BC, both the children and the four participating parents worked on the lines and choreography. They not only performed, but also promoted the play by painting posters and distributing them to passers-by on the street.

In the performance, humans grow discontented and seek to build an ideal new homeland with the birds. Out of fear and distrust, the birds refuse at first, but eventually an accommodation is reached, and they begin a new life together sharing their most precious goods. The play tries to convey the idea of environmental protection and building a harmonious relationship between humans and nature. Indeed, modern day critics suggest it was one of the first plays to highlight environmental issues.

Education authorities in Greece have put the play on the school curriculum.

In the play performed by the visitors, the children played birds and the parents played the humans.

Wen Haoyu, 10, says he both liked and disliked the role of a bird.

"I liked it because I can be the lead actor again. However, I disliked that the birds were mean by spitting at the humans and refusing to cooperate with them, even though the humans promised not to steal their eggs or hunt them," he says.

Haoyu adds that he used to feel nervous talking to people, but overcame his fears. "It's challenging because everybody looks at you on stage."

His mother, Zhou Lianhong, says it really surprised her that he exceeded himself by approaching strangers on the street to encourage them to watch the play with his limited grasp of English, and he got a dozen people to turn up.

"I think it's more meaningful than a classroom education," she says.

Haoyu learned much about himself and his emotions, even before performing. Initially, he had no lines to say. He managed to keep his emotions in check, but lost his temper with his younger brother, also a participant, just 30 minutes before the play started. His mother suggested that he should tell the group about his frustration. He did, and was given lines to recite.

One of the functions of learning theater, Zhou says, is to help express oneself in multiple ways-facial expressions, eye contact, body movements and words.