Zurich-based theater and dance artist Manuela Runge is conducting a workshop for amateur actors in Tiruchi. , Photo Credit: M Murthy
On a Saturday morning, with cows lowing in the background, and the wind whistling through the trees in a field in a suburb of Tiruchi, a small group of amateur artists practice the art of mirror making under the leadership of Swiss theater and dance teacher Manuela Runge, and learn to copy each other’s movements without touching.
Manuela, a German national living in Zurich, has almost 20 years of experience teaching theatrical skills and dance to children, young adults and people with disabilities.
Currently on a private tour of Southern India, Manuela is conducting workshops for students in Tiruchi, Chennai, Tirunelveli and Dindigul.
Mirroring is one of many techniques that teacher-artists use to help actors hone their body language on stage.
She says that the performing arts, especially theatre, can be a powerful tool in helping children from troubled backgrounds find positive role models outside their familiar social circles. Manuela says, “I know this to be true because my father drank heavily and was violent. My parents separated when I was six. My mother raised me and my older brother. Theater was the only place where I could see different possibilities for the future.”
She says theater is also a place for family and bonding. “Often you can see other people here with similar problems. It’s a safe space where you don’t feel alone. And that gives you strength.”
learning curve
Manuela wanted to become an actor from an early age. She says, “But I was too shy to go to acting school. I got a job as a school teacher and that’s when I realized I could pursue my interest in performing arts by teaching theater to children.”
Delving deeper into theater pedagogy, he realized that drama should not be just about dialogues and exclamations. Manuela specializes in training people to feel physically comfortable when performing in front of an audience. She says, “Through acting, we can connect with each other, perform together and express ourselves through our actions, because not everyone can use speech in the same way.”
It is rewarding for a teacher to see their students gain confidence with each rehearsal. “In the beginning they doubt themselves. But after a while, acting empowers them and helps them find their voice. They learn that it’s okay to make mistakes and it makes them more open to others’ ideas.”
Currently she is helping actors understand the art of how to be in the moment during live performance. She says, “It’s a reaction-based activity like billiards or football. I teach students to study their co-actors to see how they can connect on stage.”
On sabbatical from full-time teaching in Switzerland for the next few months, Manuela is exploring the highs and lows of India’s theatrical traditions. “I am impressed by the purity of craft displayed by the youth on stage. Indian artistes are passionate about their art, be it dance or theatre.”
published – January 09, 2026 01:55 PM IST