November 09 - july 10 By bus 57, 93, 219, 131 stop outside at the Polka Theatre stop 156, 163, 164, 200, stop nearby
By tube
For EYFS, KS1 & KS2 Students
Wimbledon, District Line South Wimbledon, Northern Line
By train Wimbledon (14 minutes from Waterloo)
By tram Wimbledon
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. Please note that parking on The Broadway is not permitted. 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.
We are committed to making Polka accessible to everyone. If you have any access requirements, please let us know when booking.
Wheelchair Access
Induction Loop
BSL interpreted performances
Working dogs welcome
Accessible Toilet Touch tours Specialist workshops
Schools Brochure
Design: Eureka! www.eureka.co.uk Print: PPS Fine Print
Coach Parking
Polka Theatre 240 The Broadway Wimbledon London SW19 1SB Box Office: 020 8543 4888 www.polkatheatre.com Polka is a registered charity no. 256979
Scripts available in advance
Box Office: 020 8543 4888
www.polkatheatre.com
What’s coming up? James and the Giant Peach KS1 & KS2
3/4
Charlie and Lola’s 5/6 Best Bestest Play EYFS & KS1 Pirates! KS2
7/8
Skitterbang Island 9/10 EYFS Early Years Visiting Adventure
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Playhouse Project
12
Fun Facts for Schools 13 Polka’s Workshop Menu
14
Coming Soon
15
Your Visit
16
Season Diary
17/18
Hello and a big warm welcome to spring and summer at Polka and the new look schools brochure. We have decided to combine the brochure and Learning Lines to make your life easier when deciding what shows you would like to bring your school to. You will now receive just one brochure packed with all the useful information you need, designed especially for you! Polka’s production of Charlie and Lola’s Best Bestest Play has been on a packed-out UK tour – and also to Brazil – but returns in February with a show that is sure to be a hit with all Foundation and Key Stage 1 pupils. Shipwrecks and faraway islands are in store for the main theatre this summer with a brilliant new play for Key Stage 2 pupils, Pirates! by award-winning children’s playwright Charles Way. In the Adventure Theatre we’re excited to be working with Little Angel Theatre on a new puppet opera for Early Years and nursery pupils, Skitterbang Island. It promises to maintain our tradition of playful, innovative work that we are sure you will love. And don’t forget that our story-writing competition Writing the World returns for its third year. Will your school have the winning story and get to see their work performed on the Polka stage? Make sure you take a look at the competition details on the next page. We hope that you enjoy the new season. Best wishes
Calling all budding writers! 2010 is the third year of our popular story-writing competition for children of primary school age. In previous years we focused on China (2008) and India (2009). In 2010 we are asking children to write short stories inspired by South Africa. Each year we ask a top children’s author to write a story too, and their story along with the winning entries will be performed on Polka’s stage.
Images by Writing the World China 2008 winner, Natalie Tsang
Competition Details The winning stories will be performed on Polka’s stage alongside the lead author’s story on Friday 9 July 2010. Competition Essentials • From Friday 8 Jan 2010 visit www.polkatheatre.com for full competition guidelines, how to enter and writing tips to get you started.
• There are three categories: Years 1 & 2 (storyboard of 6 pictures with a caption underneath each one), Years 3 & 4 (short story of up to 500 words) and Years 5 & 6 (short story of up to 1000 words) • The closing date for entries is Friday 2 April 2010.
“Just wanted to say what a success I thought the show was today, it was great. It was such an amazing experience for the children, especially those who had their story acted out to an audience. ” Maria Tebano, Teacher, Lonesome School
Good Luck!
Jonathan Lloyd Artistic Director 2
13 NOVEMBER 2009 - 13 FEBRUARY 2010 • 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES INC INTERVAL Polka Theatre presents
Roald Dahl’s
Adapted by David Wood
‘A winning mix of wit and wonder’
Key Stage 1 & 2, PSHE and Citizenship pupils can be encouraged to:
The Sunday Times
Join James and his new-found insect friends as they embark on an extraordinary adventure which takes them halfway around the world. Along the way there are dangers and excitement, friends and enemies, music and laughter. Will James survive the journey and find the new life he longs for? Enjoy the trip of a lifetime this winter with a cast of loveable and hilarious characters. 3
School Tickets £10 KS1 & KS2
www.roalddahl.com www.davidwood.org.uk
• recognise what they like and dislike, what is fair and unfair, and what is right and wrong • consider social and moral dilemmas that they come across in everyday life • identify and respect the differences and similarities between people.
Curricu lum Links
Key Stage 1 & 2, English and Drama pupils can be encouraged to:
This illustration is reprinted with the permission of A.P Watt Ltd on behalf of Quentin Blake.
One dark night a mysterious man gives James Trotter an unexpected gift… a bag of glowing, wriggling lights, and a promise of magic. When the lights break free, something amazing happens – on a long-dead tree, a single peach begins to grow, and grow, and grow… Little does James realise that the giant peach will become a magical escape from his ghastly aunts.
• identify and respond to sound patterns in language • recognise the differences between narrator and character • use their knowledge of sequence and story language • identify patterns of rhythm, rhyme and sounds in poems and their effects • identify how characters and settings are created, and how plot, narrative structure and themes are developed.
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17 FEBRUARY - 15 MAY 2010 • MAIN THEATRE • 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES INC INTERVAL Polka Theatre and BBC Worldwide present
Charlie and Lola’s
best play s t bes e t Based on the characters created by Lauren Child Adapted by Jonathan Lloyd
I have this little sister Lola. She is small and very funny… Everyone’s favourite brother and sister, Charlie and Lola, come home to Polka, for our 30th birthday season following the sold-out smash hit in 2008 and a national tour. The stars of the hit BBC TV series and books by Lauren Child are brought to life by a magical mix of puppets and music. 2-D and 3-D worlds collide in this play, adapted from some of the freshest and funniest episodes… will Lola ever tidy her messy room? Will Charlie get Lola to sleep, even though she is not sleepy and will not go to bed?
School Tickets £10 EYFS - KS1
www.charlieandlola.com
Charlie and LolaTM and © Lauren Child 2005. Charlie and Lola is produced by Tiger Aspect Productions and distributed by BBC Worldwide Ltd. BBC logo TM & © 1996.
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EYFS and KS1, pupils can explore the following themes: • sibling relationships & sharing
KS1 PSHE & English pupils can be encouraged to:
• respecting different views • friendship & imaginative play.
Curricu lum Links
• learn social skills such as how to share, take turns, play, help others, resolve arguments • use language and actions to explore and convey situations, characters and emotions • develop speaking and listening skills and explore the use of language • interpret storytelling through the use of puppetry.
19 JUNE - 7 August 2010 • MAIN THEATRE • RUNNING TIME TBC Polka Theatre, in association with Imagination Stage, USA, presents
By Charles Way Directed by Jonathan Lloyd
A swashbuckling summer adventure! Jim isn’t prepared for the adventures ahead when he’s kidnapped from his bedroom by pirates wanting their treasure back. Set sail on the high seas in this thrilling new show by award-winning children’s playwright Charles Way (Playing from the Heart, The Night Before Christmas).
School Tickets £7
KS2
Will Jim escape the pirates and find a way home from the year 1718? And will the mystery of the treasure chest ever be solved? Jump on-board for a ship full of fun, magic, excitement… and sharks!
KS2 History pupils can be encouraged to: KS2 PSHE & Citizenship pupils can be encouraged to: • think about the lives of people living in other places and times, and explore different values and customs
• resolve differences by looking at alternatives, making decisions and explaining choices • consider social and moral dilemmas that they come across in life.
• use dates and historical vocabulary to describe the periods studied • communicate their knowledge and understanding of history in a variety of ways.
Curricu lum Links
• use character, action and narrative to convey story, themes, emotions, ideas in plays they devise and script • use dramatic techniques to explore characters and issues (for example, hot seating, flashback, improvisation and working in role)
Illustration by Si Clark
• learn how to deal with their feelings towards themselves, their family and others in a positive way
• find out about the events, people and changes studied from an appropriate range of sources of information
KS2 English & Drama pupils can be encouraged to:
• use their knowledge of other texts they have read.
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7 JULY - 21 AUGUST 2010 • ADVENTURE THEATRE • 45 minutes
Learning and Development links you might want to make:
Polka Theatre and Little Angel Theatre presents
• personal social and emotional development: disposition and attitudes, making relationships, behaviour and self control, sense of community • communication language and literacy: language for communication • problem solving, reasoning and numeracy: shape, space and measures
• knowledge and understanding of the world: exploration and investigation, time, place, communities • physical development: movement and space • creative development: responding to experiences, expressing and communicating ideas, exploring media and materials, creating music and dance, developing Curri imagination and imaginative play.
culum Links
By Phil Porter and Martin Ward Based on an original idea by Danny Vice-Holt Directed by Peter Glanville
A new puppet opera for ages 3 - 6 Storm! Shipwreck! Adventure! Lost on a bleak and craggy island in the very north of the world, a brave little girl meets a strange and curious creature. Not only does he look very odd, he sounds different too! In his cave full of old metal and junk washed up from the sea, he shows her his latest collection, his newest treasure… which sounds so beautiful. But who does it really belong to?
School & Nursery Tickets £7 Previews £6
EYFS
This heart-warming tale of discovery and friendship reveals a fantasy world full of music, song, rhythm and harmony through an exciting story with an emotional resonance that will engage and delight everyone. Drawing on expertise from the worlds of puppetry and opera, Skitterbang Island is our summer treat with a difference for younger children.
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Illustration by Kristina Swarner
This fusion of puppetry with music through a story told with song is a natural way to engage the interest and imagination of this age-group. The production’s musical richness, strong narrative and themes will extend into all areas of Learning and Development, whilst providing a new and delightful theatrical experience.
Tickets: £5.50 for schools Wed 10 - Fri 12 Mar • 30 mins Andy Manley in association with Starcatchers presents
My House Come and visit a very special house – where all is not as it seems. Watch the rooms and chimneys grow, and see how many shapes and textures you can spot!
EYFS
My House was developed in late 2006/2007 as an experimental part of an artist research project in early years’ settings in North Edinburgh. Through his engagement with this project, actor and director Andy Manley created a piece of theatre for 2 and 3 year-olds that has subsequently toured with huge international acclaim – its success has taken him quite by surprise! The simplicity of the piece and the emotional integrity of Andy’s quirky, comic yet touching performance speaks to its audience, as well as moving adults in an often quite powerful way.
Curricu lum Links
My House covers a diversity of developmental interests across the 16-26 months and 22-36 month phases of EYFS which might include:
• problem solving, reasoning and numeracy: shape, space and measures
• personal social and emotional development: making relationships/ behaviour and self control/sense of community
• knowledge and understanding of the world: exploration and investigation/place
• communication language and literacy: language for communication (My House contains just a two-word utterance, but it contains simple and certainly more complex messages!)
• physical development: movement and space • creative development: responding to experiences, expressing and communicating ideas/exploring media and materials.
Don’t forget to book for a show-related workshop for each of our shows! Use drama creatively to explore characters and issues and themes from the show and complement your visit to Polka with a show related follow-up workshop that takes place in your school. Contact Lucia on 020 8545 8329/ lucia@polkatheatre.com for more details or to make a booking.
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 school to perform a new play written by one of Britain’s top playwrights at Polka? Polka is now recruiting for six Year 5 & 6 class teachers to take part in Playhouse 2010 – a unique creative learning and teacher development project that Polka has been running since 2005, in partnership with York Theatre Royal, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Dundee Rep. Each year, four leading playwrights are commissioned to write a 20-minute play to be performed by an entire class. The teachers from six local schools are then selected to attend an inspiring weekend retreat along with professional practitioners from each theatre, the playwrights and other teachers from around the country.
Playhouse culminates with the children performing on the main stage at Polka, which schools and families are invited to watch. This is a fantastic experience that lots of other schools have already been part of. If this sounds like something that you and your school would love to be part of then please contact Janna@polkatheatre.com or call 020 8545 8326 today!
“ The whole experience of the theatre project has been a wonderful motivator for the children. I cannot tell you The team comes together in a beautiful Cornish how much they loved the experience. setting to explore ideas with the playwrights, before The quality of the plays and the expert embarking on the directing process. They will be given advice we received make for a wonderful advice, support and ideas from professional theatre practitioners throughout, with practical ways of linking opportunity not to be missed” drama and creativity into the whole curriculum.
Barbara Clark, Stanley Park Junior School, members of the Playhouse Project
“ Thank you for helping us in our performance. Because of you, every little detail was perfect… It was amazing watching the audience laugh at our jokes and wonderful to hear the applause at the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.” Darcy (Year 5)
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Free Teacher E-Newsletters Stay up to date with all the latest Polka news for teachers and schools. It is a FREE service which guarantees you will know about the latest shows and news from Polka first! Simply email Samantha@polkatheatre.com with your name and email address to sign up.
Polka is a great resource for teachers and schools, as well as shows we offer all of this… • Free teacher resource packs for shows and rehearsal diaries – available online at www.polkatheatre.com for FREE! • Free teacher preview tickets – come along and watch any Main Theatre show before you bring along your class. • A brand new website coming soon – which includes some fantastic FREE teacher resources – including video and downloadable packs, check out www.polkatheatre.com
• Playhouse Project – the opportunity to work with a professional playwright and theatre practitioners to gain skills in putting on a show with a class.
• Show related workshops available to compliment your visit to see the show.
Calling all teachers who wish to help Polka continue to make a difference to schools. Polka’s Teacher Advisory Panel needs your help and input! We are looking to recruit more teachers who can let us know how Polka can serve you better. The advisory panel meets termly, with refreshments and theatre tickets available for all teachers who attend. For more information please contact Sheetal on 020 8545 8349/Sheetal@polkatheatre.com
• Curtain-Up! Free tickets for schools who have not yet visited Polka due to financial or other difficulties. Call Sheetal on 020 8545 8349 for more information. • Free packages for SEN Schools – Do you work for a Special School? Polka can offer a unique package which includes a pre show visit from a workshop leader and a follow-up multi-sensory workshop which is all included in the price of your tickets! • Work Experience Week – Polka’s next work experience week will take place 13-16 July 2010. Please contact lucia@polkatheatre.com/ 020 8545 8329 if you are interested in applying for one of your students to take part.
• Free signed performances for schools simply tell us what date you would like to come along to see the show and we can arrange for the signer to be at that particular show (or you are welcome to bring along your own signer with you).
Teachers Advisory Panel
• The chance to be a member of our Teachers Advisory Panel to help shape the future of Polka and tell us your views.
Menu Polka’s Workshop rkshops
array of exciting wo Polka offers a huge bring the teachers. Why not for both pupils and ur school? magic of Polka to yo rkshops • Show related wo th on M • Black History • Play in a day • Puppetry • Multi-sensory • Teacher training school T sessions for your • Tailor made INSE of our ion or to book one For further informat partment call the Education De ps ho rks wo nt lle ce ex . on 020 8545 8349 ntinuous nce is inspiring; co ery time!” “Occasional excelle – Polka delivers ev ng iri sp in eaw is e excellenc e Mead School
Th Deborah Gearey,
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Risk Assessment
Sep - Oct 2010
Polka can provide a written risk assessment for your visit to the theatre if you require it or download this from our website at www.polkatheatre.com
KS2
Big Bang Big Bang is a new play for Key Stage 2 pupils set in space about the universe. A show about big things and very small things. About matter, and things that matter.
Nov 2010 - Feb 2011
The Snow Queen
KS1 & KS2 Adapted by Mike Kenny
Step into a Winter Wonderland next Christmas with this enchanting fairytale
“Mike Kenny is a consistently inventive children’s playwright” The Guardian
Schools Exclusive Early Bird Offer Book two shows and save £’s! Morning performances at Polka sell very quickly. Why not book early, save money and be guaranteed the performance of your choice? If you book for Big Bang and The Snow Queen before Easter 2010 you will get £1 off every ticket purchased! (Tickets must be booked at the same time). And don’t forget if you buy 10 tickets you will also get the 11th free! Call the Box Office on 020 8543 4888 today to ensure that your school catches the early bird! All tickets should be reserved with the Box Office before Easter 2010 and payment for both shows must be made no later than 6 weeks before the performance date.
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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 Main Theatre 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.
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. You can also arrange for the Polka Café to cater for your group. You can pre-order pasta, sandwiches, lunchpacks or drinks. Contact the café to discuss options or to place an order: cafe@polkatheatre.com or 020 8545 8330
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.
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.
Box Office: 020 8543 4888 www.polkatheatre.com 16
Main Theatre shows in violet Adventure Theatre shows in pink Reduced-price preview performance Tickets to schools performances cannot be booked online. Schools performances are usually scheduled for 10.30am and 1.30pm or 2pm. Please check with the Box Office for further information.
NOVEMBER 09
FEBRUARY 10
april10
JULY 10
Fr 13 James & Peach
Tu 2 James & Peach
Tu 20 Charlie and Lola
Th 1 Pirates!
Tu 17 James & Peach
We 3 James & Peach
We 21 Charlie and Lola
Fr 2 Pirates!
We 18 James & Peach
Th 4 James & Peach
Th 22 Charlie and Lola
We 7 Skitterbang
10.30
Th 19 James & Peach
Fr 5 James & Peach
Fr 23 Charlie and Lola
Th 8 Skitterbang
10.30/2.00
Fr 20 James & Peach
Tu 9 James & Peach
Tu 27 Charlie and Lola
Fr 9 Skitterbang
10.30/2.00
Tu 24 James & Peach
We 10 James & Peach
We 28 Charlie and Lola
We 25 James & Peach
Th 11 James & Peach
Th 29 Charlie and Lola
Th 26 James & Peach
Fr 12 James & Peach
Fr 30 Charlie and Lola
Fr 27 James & Peach
Tu 23 Charlie & Lola
Tu 13 We 14 Th 15 Fr 16 Tu 20 We 21 Th 22 Fr 23
10.30 10.35/2.00 10.30 10.35/2.00 10.30 10.35/2.00 10.30 10.35/2.00 10.30 10.35/2.00 10.30 10.35/2.00 10.30 10.35/2.00 10.30 10.35/2.00
We 24 Charlie & Lola
DECEMBER 09
may 10
Fr 26 Charlie & Lola
We 5 Charlie and Lola
Tu 1 James & Peach
Th 6 Charlie and Lola
We 2 James & Peach
Fr 7 Charlie and Lola
Th 3 James & Peach
MARCH 10
Tu 11 Charlie and Lola
Fr 4 James & Peach
We 3
Charlie and Lola
We 12 Charlie and Lola
Tu 8 James & Peach
Th 4
Charlie and Lola
Th 13 Charlie and Lola
We 9 James & Peach
Fr 5
Charlie and Lola
Fr 14 Charlie and Lola
Th 10 James & Peach
Charlie and Lola My House 10.35/12.00/1.35 Charlie and Lola My House 10.35/1.35 Charlie and Lola My House 10.35/12.00/1.35 Charlie and Lola
JUNE 10
JANUARY 10
We 10 Th 11 Fr 12 Tu 16
We 6 James & Peach
We 17 Charlie and Lola
Th 24 Pirates!
Th 7 James & Peach
Th 18 Charlie and Lola
Fr 25 Pirates!
Fr 8 James & Peach
Fr 19 Charlie and Lola
Tu 29 Pirates!
Tu 12 James & Peach
Tu 23 Charlie and Lola
We 30 Pirates!
We 13 James & Peach
We 24 Charlie and Lola
Th 14 James & Peach
Th 25 Charlie and Lola
Additional Copies of the Schools Brochure
Fr 15 James & Peach
Fr 26 Charlie and Lola
We 20 James & Peach
Tu 30 Charlie and Lola
If your school requires more copies of the schools or family brochure please contact the Box Office or download it from www.polkatheatre.com
Th 21 James & Peach
We 31 Charlie and Lola
BSL Interpreted Performances
Fr 11 James & Peach
We are happy to arrange BSL interpreted performances for schools for FREE. Simply call the Education Department on 020 8545 8349 to book or for more information.
Skitterbang Pirates! Skitterbang Pirates! Skitterbang Pirates! Skitterbang Pirates! Skitterbang Pirates! Skitterbang Pirates! Skitterbang Pirates! Skitterbang
Tu 22 Pirates! We 23 Pirates!
Fr 22 James & Peach Tu 26 James & Peach We 27 James & Peach Th 28 James & Peach Fr 29 James & Peach
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Th 25 Charlie & Lola
Pirates!
/2.00
Box Office: 020 8543 4888
Nov 2010 - Feb 2011
Oliver Jeffers’ Lost and Found
www.polkatheatre.com
2-5
years
18