Newly established performing arts company Full Circle Productions, specialising in youth theatre, staged its first camp for children aged six to 12 throughout July.

The brainchild of aspiring musical theatre composer Alexandra Toupikov, who spent the last few summers working at the French Woods theatre camp in upstate New York, it offered young performers an unforgettable experience filled with creativity, confidence-building, and teamwork.

Campers enjoyed theatre games and gained experience in acting, singing, dancing and prop making, guided by a team of counsellors (Abigail Richards, Oneil Britton, Beckham Toupikov, Scarlett Toupikov) who each led a different aspect of the camp’s daily routine (arts and crafts, sports, and child care, respectively).

Held at St Michael’s Seminary for seven hours a day, the camp provided a fun, inclusive, supportive environment where children of all abilities had the opportunity to shine, learn new skills, and make new friends. 

“In New York, I witnessed firsthand how transformative access to performing arts education can be for children. It inspired me to share some of what I learned and to add to the youth arts landscape here in Jamaica. So,” Alexandra Toupikov explained, “I founded Full Circle Productions, and put on the Kingston Performing Arts Camp. I believe children deserve a space where they can safely explore, create and come into their own, and that is what I’m in the business of doing.” 

The camp ended with a final show on July 29. An enthusiastic audience of families, friends and special guests –  35 children from three corporate area children’s homes – packed into the Shortwood Teachers’ College auditorium to watch a rendition of ‘101 Dalmations’.

Colourful sets built by Dmitri Toupikov and designed by Richards, full lighting expertly coordinated by Daniel Harrison, along with clever costumes, and catchy songs amplified by Toupikov’s live piano accompaniment, helped the energetic, focused cast of young performers bring the beloved classic to life. From the mischievous Cruella De Vil to the brave pups, each camper brought heart and humour to the stage, earning big laughs and even bigger applause.

“Seeing the progress the children made on the choreography from the very first rehearsal to show day was not only inspirational, but also heartwarming,” added choreographer and co-director Maria Greenland. 

“Being able to teach them musical theatre as a dance genre, create choreography that showcased their skills, and watch them explore their imaginations with different exercises and dance therapy techniques was a gift that I will cherish forever. My ‘glad bag truly buss.’ I could not be more proud of each and every one of them.”  

Most typical musical theatre productions for kids involve at least eight to 12 weeks of rehearsals with multiple sessions per week. The exact time varies depending on the show’s length, the number of songs, the complexity of the choreography, and the age of the cast. Yet, parents, counsellors and campers alike were thrilled by the progress made after only 19 actual show rehearsals over four weeks under Toupikov and Greenland’s direction with support from Christopher Madden. Having grown up in theatre and understanding firsthand the positive impact of the performing arts, all three jumped at the opportunity to share their love of the stage and stagecraft with the next generation.

“The Kingston Performing Arts Camp was a wonderful experience for my two daughters!” exclaimed parent, Gail Moss-Solomon. “The variety of craft activities, active play and the full theatre experience kept them engaged and motivated. The counsellors were warm and welcoming. The camp really had that family feel, which made the children feel at ease. The quality of the show was also excellent, especially considering the short time frame and the young ages of the cast. It was so amazing to see them shine so confidently on stage.”