BIG BANG Inspiring the next generation
ROUNDABOUT FESTIVAL LEARNING & PARTICIPATION WORKSHOPS CHRISTMAS SHOW PROJECTS BEHIND THE SCENES
LEARNING & PARTICIPATION NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2017 / EDITION 6 01202 280000 www.lighthousepoole.co.uk IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
INTRODUCTION Welcome back. Over the summer we have been hard at work creating this new season for you. There are so many highlights and shows I am proud to present. What you will also see are the beginnings of shows we are coproducing and making ourselves. In the coming season Lighthouse are producing or are involved in the creation of six of these which I bring to your attention, partly because we are proud to be making the work and, indeed, of the work itself, and also as work that might be of interest to you and your students. We bring to Dorset a huge variety of work each year and you will see across our programming, comedy, live music and new plays, which we try to balance with themes and content styles. In the coming months we are co-producing Judith by Howard Barker with REND productions, Great Odds, by Esther McAuley, with Mac’s Arcadian in the Sherling Studio. In the Theatre we are a commissioning partner on The Wedding by Gecko Theatre and there is a trio of new plays from Paines Plough in our pop up venue, The Roundabout, which you can see in Poole Park in October. Away from theatre and drama, we will be leading a new cohort of Young Producers and Young Technicians through all stages of creating their own event starting this autumn, culminating in the spring - apply by 30 September for Young Producers and indicate interest in Young Technicians by 31 October via www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/learning-and-participation/ learning/young-programmers. We also have creative writing and science outreach projects connected with our pantomime, Cinderella, and our Studio Christmas show, 3 Little Pigs, engaging many schools, thanks to funding from the Cultural Hub. Some of the professional jazz musicians coming as part of our Studio Jazz Season will visit schools to inspire young musicians (see p.8). Finally, we have a big choir-building project starting this autumn, in partnership with SoundStorm, Armonico Consort and six schools, which will lead to a gala concert in January - more about that in the next issue. We look forward to welcoming you!
Stephen Wrentmore, Artistic Producer
INTRODUCING PERDIE BARGH OUR NEW LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION INTERN Joining Lighthouse as a recent Film and Literature graduate from Warwick University, Perdie has relocated to Dorset after spending some time working for an arts and heritage charity in Stratford upon Avon. Perdie grew up and was educated in Dorset, often visiting Lighthouse as a student and curious spectator. She is excited to be working in and contributing to the arts offer in Dorset and will help to inspire the young creative minds of her home county. Bringing with her enthusiasm and a passion for the arts, she will support and expand upon our capacity to reach and communicate across the learning opportunities we offer.
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CONTENTS WHAT’S COMING UP Roundabout 4 Great Odds
5
LEARNING & PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP FOR SCHOOLS Shakespeare 6 National Theatre Live On The Big Screen Drama
6 6–7
Dance And Physical Theatre
7
Contemporary Circus
7
Music 7
WORKSHOPS Company Led Workshops
8
Workshops At Lighthouse
8
Studio Jazz Season: Workshops And School Concerts
8
LIGHTHOUSE LED LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES Christmas Show Projects
9
BEHIND THE SCENES Pre Show Talks
10
Post Show Talks
10
Meet And Greet After The Show
10
YOUNG PRODUCERS AND YOUNG TECHNICIANS Young Producers
11
Young Technicians
11
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WHAT’S COMING UP Roundabout Festival
Black Mountain
Working in association with Paines Plough and Activate, we are once again bringing The Roundabout Festival to Poole Park. From 12th – 15th October Paines Plough’s spectacular and ingenuous popup theatre in-the-round will be host to three World Premieres, as well as a range of specially programmed performances and workshops.
A psychological thriller about betrayal and forgiveness.
By Brad Birch
Age Guidance 14+
Out Of Love
Collaborating with Paines Plough and Activate on this project has been exciting and stimulating. We are thrilled with the opportunities it presents. The plays are all enjoying great success at the Edinburgh Festival right now. The first show, Out of Love by the winner of the George Devine Award for most promising playwright in 2013, Elinor Cook creates a tale of love, friendship and rivalry. It’s appropriate for ages 14+ for language.
By Elinor Cook A tale of friendship,love and rivalry over 30 years.
Age Guidance 14+
Black Mountain, a psychological thriller written by Brad Birch, follows Out Of Love. Brad is the recipient of this year’s Harold Pinter Commission and has previously received the Fringe First award. With his work being performed all over the world, The Scotsman said:” This is a real rarity: a psychological thriller that feels psychologically accurate – and it actually thrills too.” Again appropriate for ages 14+ for language and content. Of particular interest to schools and younger audiences is the third of the World Premieres, Sarah McDonald Hughes’ How To Be A Kid. Telling the story of Molly, a 12 year old with a lot of responsibility on her shoulders, How To Be A Kid asks if you can learn to be just that. Containing chocolate cake, dancing and an epic car chase, McDonald Hughes’ latest play promises to be full of fun. Suitable for 7+. Supporting all this, we have programmed the well renowned Comedy Club 4 Kids, described by The Guardian as “a highlight for children”. This show brings the UK’s best loved comedians to the Roundabout stage but leaves out the rude bits! (Saturday 14th October: 2pm). The Roundabout schedule is peppered throughout with workshops and events, co-developed by Lighthouse. For instance, on Thurs 12 Oct (3.30pm) working in partnership with Paines Plough, Stephen Wrentmore is delivering a masterclass on directing in unusual spaces (aimed at teachers and more advanced theatre students 16+….) . Lighthouse are also collaborating with Activate to put on a Youth Performance Platform (Sunday 15 Oct: 3.30pm). This project has engaged local young people, asking them to devise and perform their own Dance, Theatre and Music pieces.
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How To Be A Kid By Sarah McDonald-Hughes A larger than life story of family, friends and fitting in. Warning: Contains dancing, chocolate cake and an epic car chase.
Age Guidance 7+
‘Something strange and delightful has landed’ EVENING STANDARD
‘A taut psychological thriller’ ★★★★ BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE – BLACK MOUNTAIN
‘A stunning piece of new writing’ ★★★★★ BROADWAY BABY – OUT OF LOVE
‘Brilliant fast-paced production’ ★★★★★ EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FOR KIDS – HOW TO BE A KID
A SPECIAL PLAY FOR 6-11 YEAR OLDS AND THEIR FAMILIES Wednesday 18 October 2018
Great Odds By Esther McAuley 11am and 5pm (signed performances) One inspiring thing about working at Lighthouse is not simply the opportunity to play host to innovative performances, but to develop and support those of our own. The chance to contribute to the wonderful selection of shows on offer is truly exciting, as are the hurdles, learning curves and challenges we face along the way! Our latest adventure is really special. On Wednesday 18 October in partnership with Mac’s Arcadian, Lighthouse is bringing Esther McAuley’s inspired new play, Great Odds, to The Sherling Studio. It’s a story of identity, of who we are and what we need to be in order to achieve our dreams. The performance follows the trials, tribulations and aspirations of Marco, Jewels and Grouch – the trio who make up the ‘Great Odds’, a rag-tag theatre group with aspirations of making it big. The show is an audio-visual treat incorporating storytelling, British Sign Language, live music, sound and puppetry – fun and moving at the same time. We invite the audience to shape the play too, through participation and improvisation.
“Lighthouse have been a great source of nurture and encouragement. Great Odds is my first full scale production and Mac’s Arcadian is less than a year old; I’ve dived in head first and it’s been an extraordinary and wonderful journey so far – but to have this scale of holistic support from a theatre with such awesome resources and staff has been invaluable.” ESTHER MCAULEY ARTIST DIRECTOR MAC’S ARCADIAN
Our journey examines what it means to not fit in and how to follow your dreams when it seems the odds are stacked against you. Along the way, we discover what happens when these dreams change shape in unexpected ways and success is found through surprising means. One important thing we have taken away from this creative process is that you shouldn’t (and never do) stop learning. By using a variety of mediums to tell a story, we have stumbled across an exciting way to diversify and make theatre more accessible. Phone Box Office on 01202 280000 or go to www.lighthousepoole.co.uk for more details including ticket prices.
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LEARNING & PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP FOR SCHOOLS As ever, Lighthouse is offering a wide variety of activities to see or get involved in. Check out the Lighthouse programme or website for a full list of shows and events, as there are additional shows that may be of interest beyond what is listed here. Many shows have discounts for students/school groups. We also run a ‘Live for £5’ scheme for 14-25 year olds, which allows entry to many shows for only £5 if signed up. Phone Box Office on 01202 280000 or visit www.lighthousepoole.co.uk for ticket details.
Saturday 30tSeptember
The Sooty Show Straight from CITV, Sooty, Sweep and Soo head into town accompanied by TV’s Richard Cadell. Expect magic, music and mayhem – plus a chance to meet Sooty and the gang after the show! THEATRE
‘Works like a dream - your children will love it’ THE GUARDIAN
SHAKESPEARE Tuesday 10 & Wednesday 11 October
Bilmankhwe Arts present The Tempest Powerful and magical take on a well-known tale, this production uses contemporary African choreography, an original soundtrack and live music to present the Bard’s last play.
NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE ON THE BIG SCREEN Tuesday 19 & Wednesday 27 September
Yerma (Encore) Billie Piper stars in an award-winning production of Lorca’s masterpiece.
‘A shatteringly powerful reinvention of a familiar classic’ THE INDEPENDENT
DRAMA Thursday 28 September REND Productions and Lighthouse present a co-production of
Judith by Howard Barker This production offers a rare opportunity to see a performance described by audiences as “one of the best things on the London stage”. Coronation Street actress Catherine Cusack stars in a powerful one act play that reimagines the apocryphal legend of Judith. Contains adult themes and language so we have an age recommendation of 15+ SHERLING STUDIO
Wednesday 18 October Mac’s Arcadian and Lighthouse present
Great Odds (see feature on page 5) THE SHERLING STUDIO
Wednesday 25 October
Crafty’s Creepy Castle Come along and find out what Crafty the Cow and Sally the Scarecrow are doing in a haunted castle! Bring your scariest Halloween costume and your best singing voice for a fun filled extravaganza. Meet and ‘Treat’ after the show THEATRE
Tuesday 21 – Saturday 25 November Frantic Assembly and State Theatre present
Things I Know To Be True Co-directed by Tony and Oliver Award nominated Artistic Director Scott Graham, this is a complex study of a family and a marriage through the eyes of four grown siblings as they prepare to fly the nest. Audio Described Performance on Thursday 23 Captioned Performance Saturday 25 Also post show talk Thursday 23 THEATRE
Thursday 14 & Friday 15 December Rabbit Theatre present
A Christmas Carol Join Ebenezer Scrooge on a transformative, humorous and grim journey through the streets of Victorian London in this oneman performance of Dicken’s timeless Christmas classic. Age Guidance Suitable for children 8+ SHERLING STUDIO
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Booking Fees: Prices quoted are for tickets booked in person at the Ticket Office. Tickets booked via telephone or online are subject to a booking fee of up to £1.75 per ticket.
Friday 8 December – Saturday 6 January
Cinderella
CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS Saturday 20 January
This Christmas, Cinderella is coming to the Lighthouse for a spectacular fun-filled family pantomime! Come along for a riotous performance of laughter and plenty of audience participation.
Gandini Juggling present Spring
Audio Described, Captioned and Relaxed Performances are running on certain dates THEATRE
THEATRE
Saturday 9 – Sunday 24 December
A reflection on colour and how we perceive it, Spring combines dizzying circus skills, stunning choreography and a vibrant score.
MUSIC Wednesday 4 October – Monday 1 January
Three Little Pigs
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Chock full of puppets, music, comedy and thrills, Stuff and Nonsense present a Christmas show for younger children that promises to be a real delight.
(mainly Wednesdays), generally fortnightly, everything from Beethoven to Brahms, plus some seasonal specials including The Snowman and the Nutcracker (Tuesday 19th December); Mini BSO for younger audiences (28th October)
SHERLING STUDIO
DANCE AND PHYSICAL THEATRE Tuesday 3 October Gecko present
The Wedding A Lighthouse co-commission this piece is inspired by the complexities of human nature. This provocative, spectacular production explores our obligations as individuals to one another and to society. Post Show Talk in the Bar THEATRE
Saturday 7 October
Tap Factory Described by The Birmingham Post as ‘exhilarating’, this is a high energy performance, featuring urban tap dance, percussion, comedy and acrobatics. This is a show not to be missed. THEATRE
Saturday 7 October
Factory Girl From South Korea, a charming and beautifully crafted dance piece inspired by the story of a young factory girl as she navigates working in the industrial boom of 1930’s. SHERLING STUDIO
Friday 6 October Armonico Consort present
Monteverdi – Vespers of 1610 Celebrate the 450th anniversary of Monteverdi’s birth by experiencing his most famous work in this dramatic and fresh recital. CONCERT HALL
Saturday 7 October – Friday 4 May
Metropolitan Opera Live A rare and exciting opportunity to engage with the world class productions put on by the Metropolitan Opera, here in Dorset. Running generally fortnightly. CINEMA
September – January
Studio Jazz series MODERN JAZZ – FRIDAY EVENINGS 22nd September – John Law’s Re-Creations (innovative and accessible Jazz with a twist), 6th October – Josh Kemp Quartet (innovative and improvised compositions), 20th October – Liane Carroll Trio (vocal led, critically acclaimed Jazz), 3rd November – Fletch’s Brew (funky, energetic Jazz), 17th November - Julia Biel Quartet (blends of Jazz, soul and funk), 1st December – Gilad Atzmon Orient House Ensemble (Coltrane inspired ballads), 26th January – Arun Ghosh Quintet Plus Thokozile Collective (psychedelic Jazz)
Wednesday 24 January – Sunday 28 January
Saint Petersburg Classic Ballet With an air of magic, the Saint Petersburg Classic Ballet perform two of the best-loved Russian ballets, complemented by a full orchestra and outstanding soloists. See Giselle and/or Swan Lake brought to life in these exquisite performances. THEATRE
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WORKSHOPS Several visiting companies are offering workshops in tandem with their shows. Costs and fees range from free to £700 depending on the nature and funding of the workshop.
WORKSHOPS AT LIGHTHOUSE
Workshop dates often have some flexibility beyond the dates of the show.
COMPANY LED WORKSHOPS Around 3 October
Gecko Suitable for students studying for GCSEs, BTECs and A Levels, Gecko offer full day or half day workshops. Aiming to improve participants social, physical and creative confidence, the workshops focus on developing performance and devising skills. Prices start at £300 plus VAT
Thursday 12 October
Directing In Unusual Spaces Taking place during the Roundabout Festival, Lighthouse and Paines Plough will lead a workshop on directing in unusual spaces. Specifically studying the challenge of theatre in-theround or in non-proscenium stages, this masterclass is open for students, teachers and practitioners. Joint ticket price for masterclass and performance of ‘Out of Love’. £8
Wednesday 8th November
The Weir A wonderful opportunity, accessible to both GCSE and A Level students. The workshop will give participants a deeper understanding of the production and its themes. Participants will be offered the rare chance to work with talented Assistant Director, Katie-Ann McDonough, who will lead them through practical storytelling and devising exercises. Free
Ideal time range: 21 – 25 November
Frantic Assembly Workshops can be delivered in schools for students aged 14+. The sessions focus on exploring how a professional company creates new material. Offers the chance for a group ranging between 10-14 students to be visited by a specialist Frantic Assembly practitioner, gaining new practical skills and confidence. Prices start from £250
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Wednesday 22 November Special Free Workshop for Teachers: Delivering Drama In Schools
Frantic Assembly Frantic Assembly, are running a Teacher Training workshop at Lighthouse, to assist the delivery of drama in schools. Free for teachers – but very a limited number of places so email learning@lighthousepoole.co.uk if interested. Frantic Assembly are recommended on many educational syllabuses. Their teacher training workshop explores the company’s trademark physical approach to creating theatre, helping to ensure that teachers are connected to the professional theatre industry. Described by previous attendees as “fun, energised and creative”, the workshop aims to; provide participants with an opportunity to develop new skills, increase physical confidence and offer innovative techniques for teachers to take back to the classroom. Also please note: tickets are still available to see the production of ‘Things I Know To Be True’, which features on many GCSE, BTEC, AS and A Level courses. 5-7pm
STUDIO JAZZ SEASON: WORKSHOPS AND SCHOOL CONCERTS Some workshops/pre-show school concerts are available to Bournemouth/Poole Schools from the visiting artists priced £150 - £400 depending on length of workshop and number of musicians involved. Contact dan.somogyi@lighthousepoole.co.uk to discuss options.
LIGHTHOUSE LED LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES As well as a plethora of learning opportunities on offer from visiting companies, we are also leading three projects of our own, two connected with our Christmas shows, one a choir building project.
CHRISTMAS SHOW PROJECTS Working in partnership with Bournemouth and Poole Cultural Hub, Lighthouse will be creating and facilitating workshops in schools throughout the local area, using the narratives from our Christmas shows as springboards to open up discussions on, and work based around, art, science, technology, architecture, literature etc…
Cinderella SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES Lighthouse is teaming up with Artful Scribe to deliver an inspiring and thought-provoking project, addressing issues of growing up and taking control of our dreams. Aimed at students in years four through to six, this project will use the mediums of art and creative writing to explore how the themes of Cinderella (which runs in the Theatre from 8 December – 7 January) resonate today, in the contemporary world of the students. Each participating school will be the host of two exciting halfday workshops, led by industry professionals. The project will begin with a creative writing session, exploring the themes highlighted in Cinderella, such as self-determination, familial relations and the magical transformation/escapism that fairy tales allow. Students will be encouraged to create and develop their own stories, poems and plays in response to these themes and ideas. Work will be displayed at Lighthouse throughout the run of Cinderella. We are currently fully booked for all the workshops but have a waiting list if you would like to be included do let us know.
Three Little Pigs HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF Keeping up with what has become somewhat of a tradition at Lighthouse, we are again running an outreach programme that focuses on our Christmas play for younger children with our associate company Gobbledegook Theatre. This year the programme will be based on The Three Little Pigs (which runs in the Sherling Studio from 9th – 24th December) and will interlink science and the arts in various exciting and stimulating ways. The project will be aimed at students from years one and two, and will involve artist led outreach sessions, exploring the more scientific ideas that are discussed within the story. We will ask the students to consider the needs of the pigs to build and reside in a safe and comfortable home. Working with an artist in their own classroom, they will be lead in creative play, testing the different resistant, architectural and structural qualities of materials, in a hands on designing and building session. Bringing a selection of materials into each participating school, the artist and students will experiment with which serves as best protection for the pigs under wind pressure. The students will be encouraged to present their findings in an artistic, imaginative way, which will serve to establish an important link between science and art. The artworks created will be on display outside the Sherling Studio throughout the run of the play. We are currently fully booked for all the workshops but have a waiting list if you would like to be included do let us know.
Choir Creation Project In partnership with SoundStorm and Armonico Consort’s AC Academy Want to build a new choir in your school? We are running a choir creation project during autumn term, which will culminate in a fantastic performance at Lighthouse in January 2018 with 200 strong choir and professional band and will be followed by the opportunity to then go on to perform at Royal Albert Hall later in the year! It’s aimed at KS2, ideally years 5-6. Sessions will run on Mondays in term time in autumn term at your school. We are still looking for two remaining schools to sign up: it is free but you have to be a SoundStorm/Wave member school to be eligible. If you’re interested, please contact dan.somogyi@lighthousepoole.co.uk as soon as possible. STILL PLACES AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOLS ON OUR CHOIR BUILDING PROJECT
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BEHIND THE SCENES ‘Behind the Scenes’: Pre and Post Show talks with industry professionals. Want to know more about the thinking behind a production? Attend a FREE pre or post show talk and discover more
Here’s the full listing for the next few months:
PRE SHOW TALKS 7 November
The Weir (FUNCTION ROOM 2)
POST SHOW TALKS 12 September
Mr Darcy Loses the Plot THEATRE
3 October
The Wedding THEATRE
7 October
Factory Girl SHERLING STUDIO
13 October
Cockfight THEATRE
31 October
Ballet Black THEATRE
9 November
The Weir THEATRE
23 November
Things I Know To Be True THEATRE
MEET AND GREET AFTER THE SHOW 30th September
The Sooty Show FOYER
25th October
Crafty’s Creepy Castle FOYER
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Booking Fees: Prices quoted are for tickets booked in person at the Ticket Office. Tickets booked via telephone or online are subject to a booking fee of up to £1.75 per ticket.
YOUNG PRODUCERS AND YOUNG TECHNICIANS Open to young people wanting to get experience in the creative industries.
YOUNG TECHNICIANS
Lighthouse’s industry training opportunities for young people aged 16-18 (Young Producers) and 18-30 (Young Technicians) return this autumn and spring for their third run. These courses have received great feedback from previous participants. We want to give interested young people a taste of working in the creative industries and allow them the freedom (and budget) to put on their own production. The courses immerse them fully in the process of hosting or tech-ing an event, from concept through to concert.
Young Techs will run in spring 2018 and cover some or all of the following:
YOUNG PRODUCERS Young Producers will start with 2 days in autumn half term (23-24 October) and then run from Jan – March 2018 on Thursday evenings (6-8pm), culminating in a mini festival in March. If you’re 16-18, you can register your interest now, by emailing learning@lighthousepoole.co.uk. We will send you an application form, which you will need to return to us by 30 September 2017.
: Learning about Lighting, Sound and AV for theatre, concerts, cinema and live events : Working alongside our in-house technical team : Attend group demonstrations with the in-house technical team : Watch a diverse range of shows from backstage, including Dance, Drama, Music and Film : Lead on technical for Young Producers shows. However, we will only run Young Technicians if we get enough interest. Please email us by 31 October at learning@lighthousepoole.co.uk if you think you would like to take part. We will then get back in touch with you.
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DO YOU LOVE LIGHTHOUSE? SUPPORT THE ARTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Our mission at Lighthouse is to entertain, stimulate and inspire the people in our community, but we can’t do it without support.
PLAY YOUR PART As a registered charity, we rely heavily upon the individuals, companies and trusts who choose to help us. Their generosity enables us to provide life-enhancing opportunities for people to enjoy and participate in the arts, both at Lighthouse and out in the community. How would you like to join them?
COME AND JOIN US We rely, too, upon all who are involved with Lighthouse being part of our integrated approach to fundraising. Without this we would not be able to raise the money needed to fulfil our exciting mission.
01202 280000 www.lighthousepoole.co.uk