StageStruck!

StageStruck is a new locally run performing arts competition which will offer finalists the opportunity of working with local artists and leading UK theatre professionals in preparation for the final competition night which will be held on Wednesday 4th June 2008 at the John Mackintosh Hall.

The winner will be offered a summer scholarship at the Guildford School of Acting, one of the UK's most prestigious theatre schools. All the courses at Guildford take place between late July and early August in 2008.

StageStruck wants to offer Gibraltar's young talent a unique opportunity to improve their nat ural talent and discover whether they want to go on to full-time training by giving them access to world class training, education and development resources.

All finalists will take part in a Masterclass run by the three Judges of the competition. They are Peter Roberts - Resident Mu sical Director at the Guildford School of Acting and Head of Singing at the Sylvia Young The atre School; Chris Hocking-West End Choreographer and Director of Arts Educational Theatre School in London; Peter Addis - former Resident Director of the West End smash hit musical Mamma Mia currently directing Stepping Out in Nottingham.

Candidates must be local resi dents between 17 and 30 years of age with the ability to act, sing or dance. Auditions will be held on Monday 7th April 2008 at John Mackintosh Hallfrom 5.30pm.All candidates will have to prepare an audition piece lasting no more than three minutes. The audi tion piece may incorporate one or more of the three disciplines — acting,singing or dance.Songs must be from the musical theatre repertoire and performed from memory.Dances must incorporate an element of either of the two other disciplines.

A panel of local judges will be looking for candidates who perform with energy, truth,com mitment and imagination.

Candidates will also be given a short interview to find out whether the training offered at the Guildford School of Acting is right for them and to assess their availability and commitment to the competition.

The winner will be offered a choice of three one-week courses in intensive acting, singing or dance,depending on the student's ability. There is also a fourth course available lasting two weeks in Musical Theatre which incorpo rates all three disciplines.

Students will have the opportu nity to work with directors, musi cal directors and choreographers from the full-time faculty to im prove their performance skills.

Each course ends with a mock audition and students are given an assessment outlining what work still needs to be done in or der to achieve a full-time place at a drama school. An audition for the full-time course can be arranged if desired. Travel and accommoda tion will be arranged and paid for by the scholarship scheme.

All candidates need to register their interest by logging onto the StageStruck website www.Stagestruck.gi or by calling 54009541.

Application forms can also be collected weekdaysfrom the Min istry of Culture (9am-]pm and 2.30pm-5.15pm)and John Mack intosh Hall Reception(9am-6pm). Closing date for applications is Friday 4th April 2008.

Thesponsors ofthis project include the Department ofEducation. Mihfsfry of Culture, Gibraltar Tourist Board,and BMl Group.

Youth workshops marry performing arts and social awareness

If you're lost for words, just mime, rhyme, sing,dance or act it out,seems to be the philoso phy behind the Youth Service unprecedented and pioneering initiative which,in cooperation with Santos Productions, invites youngsters to explore hot social issues — and express their feelings about them — through the perform ing arts.

"Performing Issues" is the label of the tenweek workshop running from 3rd April to 5th June, an idea born out of the flamboyant minds of busy performer-producer Christian Santos and his close friends, youth and community workers Rebecca Figueras and Nathalie Saccone. The workshops are open to anyone aged 13 to 17, whether in education or in or out of employment.

The workshops fulfill a double purpose: raising awareness of the top five enemies of adolescence, and providing the basic tools to encourage artistic expression,as well as promot ing team effort.

Five topics of general concern, but to teenag ers in particular, will be the subjects of targeted talks,aimed at kicking off artistic liberation and expression of the emotions conveyed.

For example, the first meeting will introduce a young mother recounting her own teenage pregnancy experience and how it affected and changed her life, followed by Christian leading the groups into a related drama game.

Other important matters which will be looked at are drug and alcohol abuse and young offend ers, for which drugs co-coordinator John David Montegriffo will aid the contribution of a recov ering addict and a former juvenile lawbreaker, who was imprisoned in different countries.

The sadly widespread problem of bullying will be tackled, and bullying victims will bear their witness and describe what they went through outside and inside.

Last but not least, the slithering facets of prejudiced attitudes, whether racial, religious or sexual will be presented. People from eth nic minorities will write down their account of growing up in that context and a homosexual person will recall personal experiences within society's general prejudices.

Speakers are not summoned to set universal paradigms, nor to indulge in'morbid'self-pity or in crusader-like attempts to stop others from making their same mistakes. They will share their story as just one of the countless possibili ties similar circumstances could have evolved into. Hence the teenagers might reckon they would have handled it otherwise, postulating how and why, both verbally and by artistic improvisation.

As Rebecca explains,statements are designed to be survival tales of what happened and how it was dealt with, prompting the audience to ques tion themselves on their own feelings and what they would have done in the same shoes.

One issue and one performing medium will be investigated each week in the first half of the session, with the youth workers and Christian taking the role of supervisors, moderators and mentors, guiding rather than teaching, advis ing rather than criticizing, allowing freedom of expression.

In the second leg, participants will be split into small groups, each creating an original production on a specific topic. This is a platform ofeducational value,instilling skills besides ac knowledgement of the existence and seriousness of the matters at stake.

A nice time is guaranteed, but personal growth is the welcome side effect of this kind of clean fun. Forming small groups means working on time management, task setting, goal achieving, mutual respect, commitment, cooperation, prioritization, negotiation and democracy.

Finally, the groups will perform their show before the rest of the 'class' for everyone to give their feedback and learn from each other's point of view.

Sessions, every Thursday evening from 6 to 8.30pm at Line Wall Road Youth Centre, are free of charge, but Rebecca insists on consistent attendance and punctuality, plus the commit ment of giving extra hours for rehearsals if necessary.

Any teenager who fancies taking part can apply to gibyoutht&'gibtelecom.net or telephone 200 40293 by 10th April. Busy or conflicting schedule? Never fear: if this venture harvests the success it deserves, there will plenty of seconds next season!

Dream Girl of the Year 2008—The Results

14contestants between the ages of10 and 13 took to the stage at the John Mackintosh Hall for 3rd annual Dream Girl of the Year 2008, beautifully choreographed and directed by Bianca Chiara. The winner was 13 year old Samey-Jo Bonfante, who was also awarded Miss Catwalk. The 1st Princess title and Miss Vogue award were won by Natalie Davis and the 2nd Princess title and the Miss Elegant award were won by Kristel Macdonald. Seven further awards went to Miss Friendship(elect ed by the contestants)Lorena Munoz and Miss Personality,Skyanne Dalli. Miss Best Effort for her outstanding performance, improvement and attendance during the 8 weeks of intense rehearsals went to Michelle Bonavia. Annie Jackson was awarded Miss Cover Girl. Best Hair voted by the In-House Stylist was the lovely Kyara Coombes and Best Skin and Best Smile Jade De Los Santos.

Bianca Chiara created Glamour Creations in 2003 and said of it; "1 want my pageants to be a positive learning experience,for contestants to learn the meaning of competition, positive selfconfidence,striving to be the very best and also teaching the essential lesson of enjoying the fun of participating even if one does not always win."

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