Schools Activities 2015
Creative Learning
at the New Wolsey Theatre is for you, every season we have a series of standalone workshops, short projects, and touring productions designed to meet the needs of students, teachers and schools - with activity designed to support the English, Drama and PHSE curriculum. Thanks to our continued support from Suffolk County Council we’re able to keep charges to a minimum, so read on to find out more about the many ways you can get involved and get in touch. Rob Salmon / Associate Director
Backstage tours and ways to find out how the theatre works and how we make a production - from page to stage. A wide variety of in-school workshops and projects, which can be tailored to suit your needs. Opportunities throughout the year to meet creative teams, discover rehearsal techniques, explore creative processes and ask questions. Discounted tickets for schools.
Our brand new schools engagement programme now has more opportunities than ever before. We’ve updated our workshop offers, and are developing creative links between our productions, the people who make them and schools.
Read on for some fantastic opportunities for teachers and students alike… stated, unless otherwise All of our projects, ver, we understand that Howe last for one hour. so we will be s differently, and rk wo every school to timetabling. ible with regards as flexible as poss
Industry Days
Backstage Tour
£80 plus VAT At the theatre KS1-4 & Post 16 A class sized group
£2.50 per head At the theatre KS1-4 & Post 16 A class sized group
This half day visit to the theatre gives students the opportunity to find out first hand how a professional theatre operates. This includes a backstage tour of the theatre, a practical workshop and the chance to meet the staff.
Have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes in a busy producing theatre? Come and find out! Our extensive tour will take you from stage door to substage and everywhere in between. And who knows who you’ll meet along the way!
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Specialist Creative Development Drama Club
£350 / 6 Sessions At School / KS1-4 A class sized group A six week project for a class sized group to explore theatre as an artform. This introductory series develops students’ theatrical awareness and skills, and gives them the creative language to develop new stories, characters and ideas. The project culminates in a sharing of ideas or a short performance.
£25 per hour At School KS2-4 & Post 16 A class sized group We can offer an expert view on your creative projects for students and teachers alike. We will provide you with a professional theatre maker who will come in and give guidance for in-school productions or exam pieces, CPD opportunities or anything else which will enhance theatre making and creative practice within the school environment.
Audition Techniques
£60 plus VAT At School / Post 16 Up to 10 people A workshop for post 16 students wanting an insight into the audition process, what to expect, and how to prepare.
Staging Shakespeare’s Stories
£60 plus VAT At School KS2-3 A class sized group A lively and interactive workshop designed to engage young audiences with Shakespeare’s stories. Using their own creativity, students will explore narrative and characterisation to bring one of Shakespeare’s plays to life.
Shakespeare:
Breaking the Barriers £80 plus VAT At School KS3-4 & Post 16 A class sized group A two hour long workshop designed to engage young people with Shakespeare’s text and make it relevant to their modern day lives. Using a series of rehearsal techniques, students will learn how to unpick meaning within the language and present Shakespeare’s text using their own interpretations.
New for 2015
Spring Season… We’ve got plenty of opportunities to get involved, including quarterly Creative Learning Lounges, production specific workshops and shows programmed just for schools.
Read on…
to discover more about our upcoming events and find out how you can get involved…
New Year… New Lounge
Our Creative Learning Lounges are a chance to have a drink and some nibbles, chat to our team and meet the creative teams and companies behind some of our productions. Oh, and see a show…all for free! New for 2015, each session will also include a creative workshop led by or based around the practice of a leading industry Creative. These workshops will be designed to give insight into a variety of rehearsal processes, theatre techniques, or a specific company’s practice, and will give you invaluable tools for use in the classroom or rehearsal room.
Places for our are free but limlounges ited.
To book your plac e, please email sthomas@wolse ytheatre.co.uk or call 01473 29 5930
We look forward to welcoming you in 2015!
Dates for Spring 2015 season: Wed 21 January from 5.30pm
Thu 26 February from 5pm
Chat to Artistic Director
The METIS team will be
Peter Rowe about his creative practice – come armed with questions!
Hear a bit about METIS
and World Factory, a production which seeks to explore globalization and contemporary clothing manufacture.
back to showcase their brilliant interactive learning resources, which include an interactive shirt and a digital quilt! These will provide fantastic source material for the teaching of Geography, History, Business Studies, Media Studies, R.S. and Globalisation.
China Plate will be here
See Beauty and the Beast,
our brilliant Rock n’Roll Panto
to talk about Macbeth: Blood Will Have Blood. See overleaf for more information on their unforgettable production of Shakespeare’s classic, re-invented for young audiences.
See Sign of the Times by Tim Firth.
Talawa Theatre Day Thu 12 February Talawa Theatre Company are bringing their production of Arthur Miller’s All My Sons to New Wolsey Theatre in February. They’re offering some exciting participation opportunities including:
Theatre Day on 12th February,
for schools to meet the cast and creative team and take part in a workshop.
Pre and post show workshops to explore the text
Online resources
Production based workshops
For a selection of our New Wolsey Theatre productions, you can now book a workshop for your students to be delivered after they have seen the show. The workshop will enhance their understanding of the production they have seen, give them insights into rehearsal techniques, as well as increase their theatre knowledge and skills. These workshops are just £2.50 per head, for a minimum of 20 participants. For our Spring 2015 season, you can choose from one of the following productions:
The Crucible Thu 16 to Sat 25 April
September 2015 Reinvented for young audiences, an accessible and unforgettable introduction to Shakespeare. Contender Charlie, China Plate and Warwick Arts Centre present
Macbeth – Blood Will Have Blood
A macabre porter invites us into Macbeth’s castle, taking us right into the dark heart of Shakespeare’s play. Razor sharp storytelling, a dramatic on-screen world and a heartstopping soundtrack take us on a break-neck journey through the blood-soaked world of Macbeth. Reinvented for children aged 9 to 13, Macbeth – Blood Will Have Blood is an accessible and unforgettable introduction to Shakespeare’s shocking story of ambition, greed and the abuse of power. Supported by Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton and funded by Arts Council England
For more information or to make a booking please contact: Feed the Beast Wed 6 to Sat 16 May
Find out more at: www.wolseytheatre.co.uk
Elise Golbourn E: groups@wolseytheatre.co.uk T: 01473 295902
Schools Touring Programme
Each year we produce two schools touring productions, one for primaries and one for secondaries. These are partly funded by Suffolk County Council, and include engagement opportunities such as post show discussions and workshops.
To book either of these productions, contact Marcus or Sian using the details on the back page. Read on to find out what is in store for 2015…
Spring 2015 Primary Schools Tour
Autumn 2015 Secondary Schools Tour
Mon 23 February – Fri 20th March
Mon 28 September – Fri 23 October
The New Wolsey Theatre presents
The New Wolsey Theatre presents
Charlie (who’s a boy) feels like he has to make choices all the time, what to watch, what to wear, when to get up, what does he want to eat… and he hates it. Charlie would really rather let his Mum or Dad make all his decisions for him. Charlie (who’s a girl) loves making decisions, so much so that she really likes making them for everyone around her. So when they’re both asked at school to think about what jobs they might like to do in the future Charlie (who’s a boy) goes into a flat spin, and Charlie (who’s a girl) knows exactly what to do! Or does she? WHEN I GROW UP? is not just about making the right choice it’s also about giving pupils an understanding that making choices isn’t always easy and that if they find it hard they’re not the only ones.
A 10 step guide to adult life: by teenagers
When I Grow Up?
£220 plus VAT include a post-show discussion
Frequently Asked Questions We want to start with a bit of a warning, a disclaimer – this isn’t a play, its ten plays. Ten short plays that set out to tackle some of the greatest questions about life, plus you’ve got the chance to win a pack of Union J stickers, a Zac Efron Key ring, sweatbands and much more. Don’t miss your chance to find out what loves got to do with it, why the fluff in your belly button always blue, and War – what is it good for?*
‘…there’s no doubt that these are a talented and articulate group who have a bright future ahead of them’ The Public Reviews ‘The four young performers had the audience engaged from opening scene to standing ovation.’ East Anglian Daily Times * Absolutely nothing, say it again y’all.
Free Production
but £100 for a devising or issues based workshop
Donate A Play Give us your texts!
We are constantly in search of old and new plays for our young people to delve into and be inspired by, and potentially make into a full scale production. It’s all hands on deck to make this happen - so can you help us grow our library? If you’ve got any old or new plays that are gathering dust, we’d be happy to receive them, no matter what the genre or quantity!
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Unlocking the Text
£60 plus VAT At School KS4 & Post 16 A class sized group This workshop explores the rehearsal process in breaking down a play, focusing on characterisation, intention, subtext and relationships within the text.
Forum Theatre
Exploring Issues through Drama £80 plus VAT At School KS3-4 & Post 16 A class sized group Using techniques made famous by practitioner Augusto Boal, students learn about his practice while exploring key issues within their lives through drama.
Play in a Day
£10 per head plus VAT At School or theatre KS1-4 & Post 16 A class sized group Immerse yourself in the creative process and spend an entire day responding to a classic text or devising a brand new piece of theatre. You choose the text, and we’ll take your students on the creative journey! We can also offer discounted tickets to stay on and see a production that evening, subject to availability.
Raising Aspirations
£350 / 6 sessions At School / KS1-4 / Up to 12 people A six week project for 6-12 students to develop their confidence and ambitions through a series of games and theatre exercises designed to motivate, challenge and inspire.
Stage Combat £80 plus VAT
(up to 15 participants)
£120 plus VAT
(up to 30 participants)
At School / KS3-4 Learn the techniques of unarmed stage fighting from trained professionals who will safely show you the tricks of the trade. Students will have the opportunity to choreograph a short unarmed fight sequence in connection to a piece of text.
Blood, Guts & Gore £80 plus VAT
(up to 15 participants)
£120 plus VAT
(up to 30 participants)
At School / KS3-4 A workshop in the art of gory theatrical effects for any age. Expect black eyes, bloody noses, terrified passers-by, suspicious looks and lots of fun!
Opportunities for children and young people Throughout the year, we run weekly workshops for young people aged 7-22, that are designed to increase participants’ theatre knowledge and experience, as well as developing confidence and social skills. We audition for these groups every January.
Drama Club
For primary school students aged 7-11 who want to learn about theatre and make new friends. Group meets weekly on Saturdays during term time.
Youth Theatre 1 & 2 For secondary school students aged 11-15 who want to develop their abilities as performers. Groups meet weekly on Tuesdays during term time.
Youth Theatre 3
For secondary school students aged 15-16 who want to develop their abilities as performers. Group meets weekly on Wednesdays during term time.
Youth Theatre²
For young people with additional needs aged 11-20, who want to explore theatre and develop their skills. Group meets weekly on Mondays during term time.
Young Company
For 16-22 year olds who want to increase their knowledge, skills and experience as theatre makers working with a variety of industry professionals. Group meets weekly on Wednesdays during term time, with occasional Sunday rehearsals.
Young Associates
For 18-21 year olds who are actively pursuing a career in the arts and want to gain first-hand knowledge and experience in a professional theatre environment.
If you would like an informal chat about any of the activities listed here, give us a call or email us using the details below: Sian Thomas
Creative Associate (Learning) E: sthomas@wolseytheatre.co.uk T: 01473 295930
Marcus Neal
Creative Learning Administrator E: mneal@wolseytheatre.co.uk T: 01473 295930
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