Schools Brochure for March - August 2011 by Polka Theatre

March - August 2011

By bus

WIMBLEDON

57, 93, 219, 131 stop outside at the Polka Theatre stop 156, 163, 164, 200, stop nearby

D ITY R

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TRIN

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Wimbledon, District Line South Wimbledon, Northern Line

By train Wimbledon (14 minutes from Waterloo)

S TO

KIN

For EYFS, KS1 - KS3

By tube

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E B R O A D W AY

HAR

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DUNDONALD RD

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SOUTH WIMBLEDON

By tram Wimbledon Design: Eureka! www.eureka.co.uk Print: PPS Fine Print

Coach Parking We would suggest that coach drivers are informed that parking on The Broadway is not permitted. Once the children have been dropped outside the theatre, coaches are welcome to wait in Morden Park Car Park (Merton College), London Road, Morden, SM4. Did you know that you and your school can get FREE travel through TFL? Simply email school.party@tube.tfl.gov.uk for more information and an application form or phone The School Party Admin Team 0845 330 9876 then select option 2 then option 4.

Wheelchair Access

Induction Loop

BSL interpreted performances

Working dogs welcome

Accessible Toilet Touch tours Specialist workshops

Box Office: 020 8543 4888 www.polkatheatre.com Polka is a registered charity no. 256979

Scripts available in advance

With the support of the Culture programme of the European Union.

Printed on mixed source paper from responsibly managed forests

We are committed to making Polka accessible to everyone. If you have any access requirements, please let us know when booking.

Polka Theatre 240 The Broadway Wimbledon London SW19 1SB

Brand new workshops and behind the scenes talks!

Box Office: 020 8543 4888 www.polkatheatre.com

…to spring and summer at Polka! We have some exciting shows coming up making us definitely the place for you and your students. Join us for a trip back in time to war-torn Britain, in an adaptation of award-winning children’s novel The Machine Gunners. This spring, Polka will be celebrating the work of Quentin Blake, with All Join In and Other Stories; a new adaptation of some of his much-loved tales suitable for EYFS - KS1. And our early years’ audience will be delighted by Rip, Fold, Scrunch in the intimate Adventure Theatre. There’s lots more going on at Polka including brand new workshops for schools, the exclusive opportunity to see how some of the special effects are created and the chance to talk to the director.

The Machine Gunners 11 Feb - 9 Apr 2011 Themes • Set during WWII in England, historical event • Friendship • Working together and getting along • Survival

KS2 & KS3

• Bullying and competitive pressure • Family • Patriotism • Language used in context • Related reading and resources

Scarecrow

KS1 & KS2

26 Apr - 7 May 2011 Themes • Daily rituals • Rhyme and play on words • Expressing feelings and emotions • Sense of belonging • Storytelling and narrating

• Different jobs carried out by people • Change of seasons and weather • Nature’s life cycles • Ways we can harm and look after our natural environment

What’s coming up? The Machine Gunners KS2 & KS3

3/4

Scarecrow KS1 & KS2

5/6

All Join In and Other Stories EYFS & KS1

7/8

Visiting Adventure

Polka In Your Classroom

Playhouse & Interview Skills

Writing the World

Visiting Polka

Season Diary

Join us online at www.polkatheatre.com Whatever you want to know about Polka you will find it on our website. Get free teacher resource packs and information about our shows, read online blogs from cast members, see exclusive photos and videos from rehearsals, or sign up to our schools e-newsletters. You’ll even find a brand new 360º tour of Polka!

All Join In and Other Stories

EYFS & KS1

13 May - 6 Aug 2011 Themes • Exploring songs and rhyme • How sounds can be made in different ways • Discovery and messy play

• Use of tools and objects • Daily family routines and rituals • Siblings • Taking part • Going on an adventure

Rip, Fold, Scrunch

EYFS

3 - 7 May 2011 Themes • Play • Building friendships • Exploring textures and sensory experiences • Exploring materials, shape and space

• Expressing and communicating ideas through sound, movement and language • Cultural similarities and differences

11 FEBRUARY - 9 april 2011 • MAIN THEATRE • Approx 2 hours inc interval Polka Theatre presents

THE

M A C H I NR SE GUNNE

s McGill has a h C g n u o Y . war Britain is at own d n a , 0 4 9 1 ouvenirs in t It’s s r a w f o n io est collect day, the second b e best. One h t e b o t it er tely wants erman bomb but despera G n w o d t o h across a s his he stumbles nir to add to e v u o s e t a s the ultim and snatche achine gun. m a : n io t c e ll co Based on the novel by Robert Westall Adapted by Ali Taylor Amidst the bombs and air raids, Chas and his friends plan their own war effort in their newly built bunker. Friendships are forged and loyalties tested, in the adventure of a lifetime… The Machine Gunners won the Carnegie Medal and was recently voted one of the 10 most important children’s novels of the past 70 years. This moving and touching story vividly re-creates life in Britain during World War II, and is guaranteed to resonate with children and adults today.

The Machine Gunners is being staged in collaboration with Once Upon a Wartime: Classic War Stories for children, a new exhibition at Imperial War Museum London, opening in February 2011.

Schools Tickets £8 KS2 & KS3

9-13

Curricu lum Links

years

Words from War Don’t forget that we are asking your students to send us postcards on what war means to them and be part of the free exhibition Words from War. The exhibition is open to all Year 5 - 8 students, simply email janna@polkatheatre.com for more information

KS2 & KS3, History pupils can be encouraged to:

KS2 & KS3, English & Drama pupils can be encouraged to:

KS2 & KS3, PSHE & Citizenship pupils can be encouraged to:

• study the impact of the Second World War on the lives of men, women and children from different sections of society • communicate their knowledge and understanding of history in a variety of ways • explore the ways in which the past has helped shape identities, shared cultures, values and attitudes today.

• engage with a challenging and demanding subject matter • make fresh connections between ideas, experiences, texts and words, drawing on a rich experience of language and literature • evaluate ideas and themes that broaden perspectives and extend thinking.

• engage with and reflect on different ideas, opinions, beliefs and values when exploring topical and controversial issues and problems • realise the consequences of anti social and aggressive behaviours, such as bullying and racism, on individuals and communities • think about the lives of people living in other places and times.

26 APRIL - 7 MAY 2011 • MAIN THEATRE • 1 HOUR AJTC presents

By Mike Kenny A scarecrow is meant to scare crows. But these busy, bothering, cheeky, chattering birds just won’t go away! What is a poor old Scarecrow to do?

Schools Tickets £7 KS1 & KS2

5 -9

years

Confused and fed up, all he wants is to be left alone. But slowly and grudgingly, something begins to develop between these two natural enemies. Could they be friends? Watch an unlikely relationship unfold in this delightful show by Mike Kenny, writer of the critically acclaimed York Theatre Royal production The Railway Children. A story full of music, movement, puppetry and fun.

Curricu lum Links

KS1 & KS2, PSHE & Citizenship pupils can be encouraged to:

KS1 & KS2, English & Drama pupils can be encouraged to:

KS1 & KS2, Science pupils can be encouraged to:

• recognise there are different kinds of responsibilities, rights and duties at home, at school and in the community • research what improves and harms their local, natural and built environments and the ways people look after them • recognise how their behaviour affects other people.

• identify and respond to sound patterns in language (e.g. alliteration & rhyme) • use language and actions to explore and convey situations, characters and emotions • link sound and letter patterns, exploring rhyme, alliteration and other sound patterns • identify how characters and settings are created, and how plot and narrative structure are developed.

• identify similarities and differences between local environments and ways in which these affect animals and plants that are found there • find out about the different kinds of plants and animals • make links between life processes in animals and plants and the environments in which they are found.

13 MAY - 6 AUGUST 2011 • MAIN THEATRE • 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES INC INTERVAL Polka Theatre presents

All

Join In

…and other stories

By Quentin Blake Music and additional lyrics by Ben Glasstone

Mr Magnolia has only one boot. Mrs Armitage has only one bike. Patrick has a magical violin. But the very best of all... is when they ALL JOIN IN!

School Tickets £8 EYFS & KS1

4 -7

years

A musical extravaganza! What’s the best way to have fun this summer? All Join In! Come to Polka for an irresistible mix of songs, stories and dancing, celebrating the work of Quentin Blake. Rhyme, rhythm and colourful characters all combine in this musical extravaganza inspired by some of Blake’s well-loved stories including All Join In, Mr Magnolia, Mrs Armitage on Wheels and Patrick. And when we say All Join In we mean it – it’s a toe-tapping, sing-along show, with plenty of chances for you to take part in the fun!

Exclusive Behind the Scenes Schools Packages are available for All Join In with the chance to meet and question the director & find out what goes on backstage. Places are limited, see page 10 for more information!

Foundation Stage, Communication, Language & Literacy & Creative Development, pupils can be encouraged to: • foster an enjoyment of spoken and written language • respond to stories, songs and other music rhymes and poems • recognise and explore how sounds can be changed, repeat sounds and patterns and match movements to music • imitate and create movement in response to music.

KS1, PSHE & Citizenship pupils can be encouraged to:

KS1, English pupils can be encouraged to:

• consider social and moral dilemmas that they come across in everyday life • learn about their own and other people’s feelings and become aware of views, needs and rights • listen to other people, and play and work co-operatively.

• identify and respond to sound patterns in language (eg, alliteration, rhyme and word play) • identify patterns of rhythm, rhyme and sounds in poems and their effects • respond imaginatively in different ways to what they read.

KS1, Music pupils can be encouraged to: • explore how sounds can be made in different ways (e.g. vocalising, clapping, by musical instruments).

Curricu lum Links

Supported by:

Polka is delighted to be offering some great new school workshops for both pupils and teachers. Why not bring the magic of Polka to your school?

Tues 3 - Sat 7 May 2011 • adventure theatre • 50 minutes Half Moon Theatre present

Polka’s directors, puppeteers, playwrights and actors can lead workshops in your school hall. We can work with up to 30 children at a time and tailor-make the experience to suit your group. To book a workshop contact Lucia on 020 8545 8329 or lucia@polkatheatre.com.

, p i R

Fold,

Scrunch

A butterfly flutters. A kite soars. Children play. But not everyone has something to play with. Join Rip, Fold and Scrunch as they journey into the multicoloured world of friendship, with the help of some magical paper creations. Inspired by the imagination and play of children, Half Moon’s enchanting new show fuses theatre, Kathak dance and music within a paper world, which is created and dismantled before our eyes. After the performance you and your students are invited to come and experiment with paper – ripping, folding and scrunching your own creations.

Curricu lum Links 9

Puppet-making Workshops

Page to Stage

Our professional puppet and prop makers deliver workshops exploring either rod puppets, hand puppets, two dimensional puppets, junk puppets or the art of object manipulation. Focusing on a theme or book you are working on in class, we can work with your group to create puppets and bring them to life.

Let us help you make books and stories more accessible by bringing them to life in your classroom using drama games and techniques.

Brand New All Join In and other Stories packages

Multi-sensory Workshops

Fri 27 May & Fri 17 Jun

Playwriting Workshops School Tickets £7 EYFS

2 -5

years

Our playwrights visit your class and work with them on devising their own script using creative drama techniques to focus on speaking, listening, reading and writing.

An Actors Life Workshop Embracing areas of Learning and Development within the EYFS, Rip, Fold, Scrunch has particular relevance to aspects within Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication, Language and Literacy, Physical Development and Creative Development.

Learn warm-ups, acting techniques, improvisation exercises and some of the tricks of the trade.

Play in a Day Our director visits your class and works with them throughout the day to devise a play. We can focus on a specific theme or aspect of the curriculum and using improvisation, role play and storytelling techniques, use drama to explore other areas of learning.

These workshops are for SEN groups and can be adapted to suit your group’s individual needs.

Teacher Training If you and a group of colleagues would like to learn more about creativity and using drama to teach across the curriculum why not book an inset session to take place at your school. Contact Janna on 020 8545 8326 for more information.

NEW!

Behind the Scenes After-Show Talk Package Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to talk to the director of All Join In and Other Stories. Find out how the show was created and discover some of the magic behind the scenes. For £2 extra per ticket this will be an exclusive opportunity for you and your students (minimum of 30).

Show-Related Workshop Packages Why not book a show-related workshop package and save £’s! Our show-related workshops will inspire and bring the shows to life using drama to explore key themes and issues from All Join In and Other Stories. Our workshop packages are £350 for up to 30 children and include tickets to the show, a workshop at your school, a free teacher resource pack, activity sheets for the students and free teacher tickets – all at a discounted package price.

“The Playhouse experience was fantastic! All children relished the challenge of being involved in the whole creative process and it was great to see their self confidence grow. The support we received as a school helped us as practitioners to develop our skills both in directing and drama and to use what we learned in our day to day teaching. Playhouse is an experience both I and especially the pupils will never forget!” Lisa Gleeson, Hillcross Primary School

Calling all Year 5 & 6 teachers! Would you like the chance to work with a leading playwright and professional theatre practitioners with the opportunity for your schools to perform a new play written by one of Britain’s top playwrights at Polka? Polka is now recruiting six Year 5 & 6 class teachers to take part in Playhouse 2011. This unique creative learning and teacher development project has been running since 2005, in partnership with York Theatre Royal, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Dundee Rep.

This year the writers that you may get the opportunity to work with are Douglas Maxwell, Danusia Iwaszko and Shiona Morton. If your school and you would like to be part of Playhouse 2011 then please contact Janna@polkatheatre.com or call 020 8545 8326 for more information.

Becky Brake, Teacher from Raynes Park High School

Polka Theatre has developed an interactive workshop to help Year 10 students prepare for their work experience interview. Two actors will perform two flawed interviews, with the actors taking on the roles of employer and student. The students are then invited to directly engage with the performers by offering input into the action. The workshop gives students a practical awareness of how to prepare for an interview and present themselves in the best way.

2011 is the fourth year of our popular story-writing competition for children of primary school age. After being inundated with stories this year and the huge success and popularity of the competition, we thought that it was time to let you and your class know about 2011! We are inviting all primary school aged children to write stories inspired by Brazil and hope to make this an even bigger year for entries.

“The workshop had a positive impact on motivating the students for their interviews; they were engaged throughout the session and participated with enthusiasm.”

Are you looking for a way to help your Year 10 students with their interview skills?

Pens at the ready as Writing the World heads to Brazil with Marcus Sedgwick!

What areas of interview practice will be covered? • Preparation • Punctuality • Presentation

• Body language • Eye contact • Building confidence

For further details about Interview Skills please contact Lucia, Education Officer on 020 8545 8329 or lucia@polkatheatre.com Originally commissioned by Wandsworth Education Business Partnership, Wandsworth BEST, Interview Skills has been enthusiastically received by Year 10 students since 2005

Polka is delighted that the widely-admired writer of young fiction and author of The Raven Mysteries, Marcus Sedgwick, will be joining us for Writing the World in Brazil. Make sure you keep checking www.polkatheatre.com for Marcus’s top writing tips and blogs. “Writing the World is such a great idea. How better to get us all thinking about parts of the world we know less about, than to explore them through story writing?” Marcus Sedgwick

Writing the World Winners Day

Competition Details The winning stories will be performed on Polka’s stage alongside Marcus Sedgwick’s story in July 2011. Competition Essentials • From Friday 7 January 2011 visit www.polkatheatre.com for full competition guidelines, how to enter and writing tips from Marcus on how to get started • There are three categories: - Years 1 & 2 (storyboard) - Years 3 & 4 (short stories) - Years 5 & 6 (short stories) • The closing date for entries will be Friday 8 April 2011 Good Luck and we hope that the children enjoy writing the stories inspired by Brazil and reading Marcus’s top tips and own story.

Refreshments Ices and drinks are available but must be ordered in advance. Contact the Polka Front of House team on 020 8545 8335 or download an order form from the Polka website.

Main Theatre shows in violet Adventure Theatre shows in pink Reduced-price preview performance Behind the scenes talk

March 11

May 11

Tu 8 Machine Gunners

Tu 3 We 4 Th 5 Fr 6 Fr 13

We 9 Machine Gunners Th 10 Machine Gunners

Eating at Polka

Booking for your group Please give parents plenty of notice of your plans to visit Polka Theatre.

Free tickets for teachers One teacher or accompanying adult goes free for every ten students. Teachers are also invited to claim free tickets to performances in the first week of a production, should you wish to preview a show before making a group booking. Contact the Box Office to book your free tickets.

Fr 11 Machine Gunners

Polka makes a nominal charge of £10 for groups wishing to eat packed lunches at the theatre. Space for your group to eat must be pre-booked and paid for in advance. Please enquire with the Box Office when booking your group’s show tickets.

Tu 15 Machine Gunners

You can also arrange for the Polka Café to cater for your group. You can pre-order pasta, sandwiches, lunchpacks and drinks. Contact the café to discuss options or to place an order email cafe@polkatheatre.com or call 020 8545 8330.

Fr 25 Machine Gunners

Reservations and payments Cheques are payable to Polka Theatre. In most cases, payment must be made at least 6 weeks before the date of your visit.

We 16 Machine Gunners Th 17 Machine Gunners Fr 18 Machine Gunners Tu 22 Machine Gunners We 23 Machine Gunners Th 24 Machine Gunners

Tu 29 Machine Gunners We 30 Machine Gunners Th 31 Machine Gunners

april 11 Fr

1 Machine Gunners

Tu 5 Machine Gunners We 6 Machine Gunners Th 7 Machine Gunners Fr

8 Machine Gunners

Tu 26 Scarecrow We 27 Scarecrow Th 28 Scarecrow Fr 29 Scarecrow

Risk Assessment Polka can provide a written risk assessment for your visit to the theatre. Simply download this from www.polkatheatre.com in the For Schools section or ask the Box Office.

Box Office: 020 8543 4888

Schools performances are usually scheduled for 10.30am and 2pm. Please check with the Box Office for further information.

Scarecrow Rip, Fold Scarecrow Rip, Fold Scarecrow Rip, Fold Scarecrow Rip, Fold All Join In

july 11 Fr 2.05 10.35/2.05 10.35/2.05

1 All Join In

Tu 12 All Join In We 13 All Join In Th 14 All Join In Fr 15 All Join In

10.35/2.05

Tu 17 All Join In We 18 All Join In Th 19 All Join In Fr 20 All Join In Tu 24 All Join In We 25 All Join In Th 26 All Join In Fr 27 All Join In

june 11 Tu 7 All Join In

Additional Copies of the Schools Brochure If your school requires more copies of the schools or family brochure then please email samantha@polkatheatre.com or call the Box Office.

We 8 All Join In Th 9 All Join In Fr 10 All Join In Tu 14 All Join In We 15 All Join In Th 16 All Join In Fr 17 All Join In Tu 21 All Join In We 22 All Join In Th 23 All Join In Fr 24 All Join In Tu 28 All Join In We 29 All Join In Th 30 All Join In

www.polkatheatre.com

BSL Interpreted Performances We are happy to arrange BSL interpreted performances for our Main House Theatre shows, for schools for FREE. Simply call the education department on 020 8545 8349 to book or for more information.