From mental health struggles, inflation, to climate crisis, today’s youths are navigating challenges that are unique to them. At a juncture between childhood and adulting, teenage years are often fraught with issues of self-perception and difficulties in relationships with peers and families. While youth can be the best of times, it can also often be the worst. Drama Box believes the arts have unique strengths when it comes to fostering expression, connection and collaboration, and youth engagement has been an important part of their work as a socially-engaged theatre company.

After a successful pilot edition in 2023, Drama Box is bringing their Camp-O programme back this December, with the aim of providing a supportive space where young people aged between 14 and 20 can learn tools for expression through drama, sound and music explorations, take time off their screens and hone their social-emotional skills.

The pilot edition in 2023 brought together a diverse group of youths, and saw the blossoming of many new friendships. At the end of five days, many participants shared sentiments of having learnt new mindsets and letting go of unhealthy self-expectations.

“It was a very safe space for me and allowed me a comfortable environment and atmosphere to be creative. I managed to forge a lot of strong bonds with people whom I never thought that I would meet in my life,” says participant Toh Yun Woon.

Just like before, Camp-O welcomes any youth between the ages of 14 and 20, with or without any prior experience in the arts, with all that’s required being an open mind. Participants can expect to make fun discoveries with drama, sound and movement, make friends with other young people who may come from different backgrounds, and learn something new about themselves.

Camp-O is the brainchild of theatre veteran Jalyn Han who also doubles up as an instructor, and Drama Box’s co-artistic directors Koh Hui Ling and Han Xuemei, all of whom are passionate and when put together have decades of experience in arts education and youth engagement. Although the camp’s programmes are rooted in drama, sound and movement explorations, and have on board acclaimed artists in Singapore – Chen Jiexiao, Julius Foo, Leslie Tay, Lynette Quek, Norhaizad Adam and Jalyn Han – to lead as camp instructors, the purpose of the camp is less about training actors, singers and dancers, than giving participants the creative tools and a new language for expression and connection.

Youth facilitators, comprising theatre students from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the pilot batch of Camp-O participants will assist the instructors while supporting the new participants. Registration for Camp-O 2024 is now open till 31st October.

Camp-O runs from 2nd to 6th December 2024 at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (this is a non-residential camp. Participants report at 9.30am daily). For participants aged 14 to 20. Register here, with more information available here