Welcome to the winter 2014 schools newsletter! It’s packed with exclusive offers, educational resources including workshops, talks, tours, resource packs and more, all to help support your learning needs! Our Creative Learning department provides learning and arts activities, events and projects, inspired by and often in conjunction with the productions on our stage, with the aim to provide schools with a variety of ways of engaging with professional theatre.
Don’t forget if you book as a school group you receive huge savings on many shows, no deposit or booking fees to pay, reserve now and pay later, pre-book interval refreshments and much more. So check out what’s coming up and book your tickets today!
Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs Fri 12 Dec 14 – Sun 4 Jan 15 (performance times vary). LEA SCHOOLS & ACADEMIES 10+: Best available £8.50 or £10 (inc ice cream), plus 1 teacher free with every 10 pupils (matinee and morning performances on 12 & 16 - 19 Dec). Get set to travel deep into the magical forest on a very special pantomime adventure this festive season, as we present Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Star of stage and screen Su Pollard takes on the dastardly role of the Wicked Queen, alongside children’s TV favourite Andrew Agnew (PC Plum - Balamory) as the side-splitting Muddles the Jester and TV heart-throb Matt Lapinskas (Eastenders, Dancing on Ice) as the handsome Prince. Delivered throughout December, pantomime workshops are fun, engaging and perfectly complement a visit to the show! • ‘Mirror Mirror’ Confidence Workshop Suitable for most groups. Develop communication skills and improve confidence, with a fun workshop based around the theme of the Wicked Queen’s mirror – a great activity for team building! • History of Panto Workshop Perfect for education groups or ESOL groups looking to learn about British culture and the tales behind the traditions of pantomime. • Re-writing Fairy Tales Workshop (Creative Writing or Drama Based) Participants will get creative and remake new modern versions of fairy tales. Lead by our in-house Creative Learning practitioners, workshops are priced at £6pp and include a FREE Access all Areas Tour, followed by refreshments!
Your Chance to be Part of the Magic! Sunderland Empire is inviting schools to design a puzzle game to be included in the pantomime programme which is sold at all performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Simply get your students to design a game based on the story of Snow White, send your class entries (with pupils names, school, class and teacher contact on the back of each entry) altogether in one envelope to:
Groups (10+) 0844 871 3042
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Marketing Department, Sunderland Empire, High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 3EX by 12 noon on Friday 23 October. The winner will be notified w/c 10 November and will see their winning game printed in the Snow White panto programme. The winner also receives a family ticket to see the show (date TBC), together with refreshments, a panto programme and meet and greet with the cast!
SunderlandGroups@theambassadors.com
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www.atgtickets.com/Sunderland
BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Thu 6 – Sat 8 Nov (Thu & Fri eves – 7.30pm, Fri mat 2pm & Sat mat 2.30pm)
OPERA AND BALLET INTERNATIONAL PRESENTS
RIVERDANCE
Sun 9 Nov – 7.30pm
Mon 10 - Sat 15 Nov Mon – Sat eves 8pm, Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm
MADAMA BUTTERFLY
LEA SCHOOLS & ACADEMIES 10+: All seats £8.50, plus 1 teacher free with every 10 students (Price bands B & C). Sung in Italian with English surtitles. Back by overwhelming public demand, this award winning opera returns with exquisite sets, a spectacular Japanese garden, fabulous costumes including antique wedding kimonos from Japan and the unforgettable arias One Fine Day and Love Duet. Opera can be fun, breathtaking, magical and dramatic and this classic and timeless production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly may be of particular interest to students studying drama, languages or music.
LEA SCHOOLS & ACADEMIES 10+: All seats £15, plus 1 teacher free with every 10 students. Tue & Wed perfs. With an incredible two decades of global success since the show first burst into the public’s heart at the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1994, this is an unmissable chance for UK audiences to reconnect with what the Irish Times rightly described as ‘The Original. The Best.’ This 20th Anniversary UK Tour, gives Riverdance fans old and new, the opportunity to celebrate an incredible milestone for an incredible show. Twenty years after it took its first steps, a truly phenomenal piece of theatrical entertainment is back by popular demand. Don’t miss this anniversary tour!
LEA SCHOOLS & ACADEMIES 10+: All seats £6, plus 1 teacher free with every 10 students (Fri 2pm only. Price bands B & C).
Birmingham Royal Ballet also deliver training packages to enhance teacher skills and confidence to deliver dance in the PE curriculum. If you are interested in finding out more about this, please contact Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Department for Learning on 0121 245 3500. Groups (10+) 0844 871 3042
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LEA SCHOOLS & ACADEMIES 10+: All seats £15, plus 1 teacher free with every 10 students. Wed mat only. The internationally acclaimed smash-hit, One Man Two Guvnors, is a glorious celebration of British comedy – a unique, laugh-outloud mix of satire, songs, slapstick and glittering one-liners. Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe. But Roscoe is really Rachel, posing as her own dead brother – who’s been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers. Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a job with one Stanley Stubbers – but to prevent discovery, he must keep his two Guvnors apart. Simple!
Commedia dell’Arte workshop A practical workshop exploring the Commedia dell’Arte roots of One Man, Two Guvnors, using mask, improvisation, physical comedy and slapstick. This workshop is led by NT learning associate Christopher Hawes and lasts 2 – 2.5 hours. Available on any day of the week by request at the venue (subject to space availability) or at a school/college within a 10 mile radius of the venue.
Alongside the ballet performances, Birmingham Royal Ballet is offering KS2 creative dance workshops based on Beauty and the Beast.
For a cost of £400 + VAT, you will receive a full day of workshops, free unlimited advice for teachers, free story guides for each pupil, teacher resources to help develop further work and display materials for your school. To book contact the Sunderland Empire Creative Learning department.
Mon 19 - Sat 24 Jan Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm, Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm
National Theatre offers a range of workshops, projects and online resources to enhance your visit to see One Man Two Guvnors.
DANCE SCHOOLS 10+: All seats £10 (Thu 7.30pm only. Price bands B & C).
Beastly Ballet An exciting opportunity to introduce children to ballet and creative dance. Artists from Birmingham Royal Ballet will visit schools in the week commencing 3 Nov to deliver fun and creative dance workshops based on Beauty and the Beast. A day with Birmingham Royal Ballet in your school could include three workshops with Yrs 4, 5, 6 (max 30 pupils per workshop) and a presentation/Q & A for workshop participants or the whole school. (Exact timetable for the day TBC).
ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS
JERSEY BOYS Tue 25 Nov – Sat 6 Dec Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm, Wed & Sat mats 2.30pm LEA SCHOOLS & ACADEMIES 10+: All seats £15 Mon – Wed perfs (Price bands B - D) The internationally acclaimed stage sensation, Jersey Boys tells the true life story of four boys from the wrong side of the tracks who wrote their own songs, invented their own unique sound, and sold 175 million records worldwide. Featuring hit after legendary hit including Beggin’, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Oh What A Night, Sherry, Walk Like A Man, Bye Bye Baby, Big Girls Don’t Cry and many more, Jersey Boys is a story full of heart, humour and ‘sheer musical razzmatazz’ (Sunday Express) you simply will never forget. VOCAL WORKSHOP Adding a retro barber shop twist to current songs – students will take a harmonious vocal journey with fun exercises guaranteed to have them engaged from beginning to end. Students will be taught techniques to strengthen the voice, projection and performance. Suitable for beginners and available to groups of up to 25 students. Priced £6pp – for bookings or more information contact the Sunderland Empire Creative Learning department. Teacher Resource Pack available.
SunderlandGroups@theambassadors.com
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www.atgtickets.com/Sunderland
Script to Stage workshop
SPAMALOT Mon 18 - Sat 23 May Mon – Sat eves 7.30pm, Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm LEA SCHOOLS & ACADEMIES 10+: All seats £9 Mon – Thu eves (Price bands B & C in Upper Circle) Following three excessively silly years in the West End, Monty Python’s Spamalot is unleashed (again) in 2015 on an unsuspecting nation with The Quest for the Holy Grail. Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy (or possibly a brace) of beautiful show girls, witch burnings (cancelled due to health and safety), not to mention cows, killer rabbits and French people. The show features fantastic tunes He Is Not Dead Yet, Knights of the Round Table, Find Your Grail and of course the nation’s favourite comedy song, Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life. Spamalot contains some sexual innuendos and violence and is recommended for children aged 12+ accompanied by an adult.
Groups (10+) 0844 871 3042
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Led by the One Man, Two Guvnors Resident Director (Katie Lewis) this workshop will explore the rehearsal process, focussing on text and character analysis, acting techniques and staging. Available on Tuesdays or Wednesdays at the venue (subject to space availability) or at a school/college within a 10 mile radius of the venue. Both workshops are suitable for KS4 and KS5 students, HE students or adult groups. Maximum 25 per workshop and last 2 – 2.5 hours. Each workshop is priced £150 for maintained secondary schools and colleges and £200 for independent schools, HE and adult groups. To book email learning@nationaltheatre.org.uk A One Man, Two Guvnors background pack is available to download from www.onemantwoguvnors.com/learning
SunderlandGroups@theambassadors.com
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www.atgtickets.com/Sunderland
Additional Opportunities
Discounted tickets are available to LEA Schools & Academies booking 10+ tickets to shows with the icon below and often include a free teacher ticket with every 10 pupils. Call the Groups Department for further information.
Career and Industry Experience Gain an insight into the many careers available within the theatre industry with a variety of workshops: Careers Tour and Talk Discover the various career opportunities available within a receiving theatre including Venue Management, Backstage and Technical, Creative Learning, Box Office, Front of House and Marketing, and hear from the people who work within these positions. Talks are bespoke to your group depending on their interests.
2014
18 Sep – 1 Nov
Participatory Employability Workshops Develop confidence, communication skills and learn how to stand out in an interview. Workshops can be tailored to meet the needs of NEETS and alternative education groups.
The Lion King
6 – 8 Nov
Birmingham Royal Ballet – Beauty & the Beast
9 Nov
Madama Butterfly
10 – 15 Nov
16 Nov
Ha Ha Hood
17 Nov
West End Women
18 Nov
Stones in His Pockets
20 Nov
Vampires Rock
Interview and Audition Technique Workshops Allow students to practise in a safe, engaging and fun environment. Drama School / University hopefuls get in touch to discuss the audition experience, what to expect and practise those monologues!
Riverdance
25 Nov – 6 Dec
Jersey Boys
12 Dec – 4 Jan
Snow White
Workshops are priced from £5pp. Contact us to discuss a bespoke package.
Access All Areas Find out more about your favourite theatre with a backstage tour! Learn about the history of our beautiful Edwardian theatre, discover how it works and see the auditorium as the stars do... from the stage! Tours are available to LEA schools, academies and youth groups of 10-30 and are priced £3pp.
2015
19 – 24 Jan
One Man, Two Guvnors
27 Jan – 14 Feb
Dirty Dancing
17 – 21 Feb
Dance ‘til Dawn
23 – 28 Feb
The Full Monty
3 – 7 MAR
9 MAR
18 Mar
Sally Morgan
19 Mar
La Traviata
23 MAR
HALFWAY TO PARADISE
Education resource packs support teaching and learning in the classroom and are designed to complement your visit to the theatre, in line with the National Curriculum. Resources are available for most productions, contact us for details.
CALAMITY JANE
EMPIRE CONNECT FUND
SEX AND THE SUBURBS
Empire Connect is a charitable scheme set up by the Sunderland Empire Creative Learning department and supported by the Theatre Trust Board. Kind donations help remove barriers preventing groups to access the theatre and our Creative Learning opportunities. Funding is available towards travel, workshops, tours and more. For further information or to discuss the application criteria simply get in touch with us as below.
25 Mar Mercury – The Ultimate Queen Tribute
26 Mar
Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music
27 Mar
Bootleg Beatles
31 Mar – 25 Apr
Wicked
11 – 16 MAY
THE PRODUCERS
18 – 23 May
Spamalot
25 – 30 May
Derren Brown
11 Jul
10 – 15 Aug
CONTACT
Jimmy Carr The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Time
Please note; any offers stated are available on specific price levels, seats, performances, are subject to availability and may change without notice. Free teacher places are available on selected shows only.
Groups (10+) 0844 871 3042
Education Resource Packs
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For more information or to book for one of the opportunities featured in this newsletter, or to discuss your own bespoke group needs contact the Creative Learning department on 0191 566 1056 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm) or SunderlandEducation@theambassadors.com To book show tickets for your group call 0844 871 3042 (Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm) or email SunderlandGroups@theambassadors.com
Please note: large groups/specialist workshops may be subject to an additional fee to cover extra practitioner costs.
SunderlandGroups@theambassadors.com
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www.atgtickets.com/Sunderland
Disclaimer: All subject to terms and conditions and availability. Only one concession is applicable at any one time and is subject to change, restrictions and availability. All details are correct at going to print but management reserves the right to alter details without prior notification.
Winter Spring Diary