Tuesday 26 June 2012

Of Rehearsing and Line Learning

The last couple of weeks since half term have been a whirlwind of script reading and casting. I am delighted to announce that our 22 page (!) script is in full rehearsals and we are half way through blocking it.

This is by far our most ambitious project to date and I have to admit that I have no idea at the time of writing this if we will pull it off!

Before I continue, a quick reminder about the details for the next couple of weeks.

July 7th

09.45 - 14.00 Rehearsal with BOTH groups (this worked fantastically well last time with every member bar 1 making the full 4 hours) in THE WINDMILL THEATRE.

18.00 Arrival at Windmill Theatre. Tickets will be £3 on the door. We will be having two halves. During the interval there will be evaluation forms for this term together with information for next September. Lots of very exciting news coming up!

July 13th 


Dress and Tech Rehearsal at THE DOME. Please meet at Stage Door at 16.45 for the tech and dress rehearsal on stage at 17.10. The rehearsal will finish at 17.30 and then you are expected to register for the evening at 18.00. I would suggest that you either organise a packed dinner or get some food before the tech and dress. I realise that this isn't the most ideal timing for the rehearsal but I didn't have any control over it.

Line Learning

For a few members of Windmill Young Actors this will be the first time that you've had to learn lines. Here's a few tips:-

1) Read your lines out loud at least 3 times. Put your script down and try to remember the first sentence. Repeat for longer paragraphs and repeat, repeat, repeat.

2) Practice with somebody else. It's very difficult learning lines on your own so get your Mum or Dad or a grandparent to help out - they'll enjoy it! My mother in law tends to help me sometimes but then I did marry her actress daughter so I guess she's used to it!

3) Try to look over your lines every day. Just like learning for a test or an exam. Repeating every day, even if just for 5 minutes, can really help. Just before you go to sleep is usually a really good time as, for some reason, they simply stick better.

4) Don't panic! It can often be very annoying if a line just won't go into your head. Don't worry, this is very normal. Try and come up with a trick to remember the line. Is there a question you can ask yourself or sound that you can trick your brain into associating with that line?

5) Learn the lines before your line. Otherwise, there will be a big pause and you'll suddenly remember that it's you! This is really important and will help the script race along at a good pace.

6) Practice in character. Once you have your lines in your head then start thinking about the character and the situation that they are in. Use techniques from earlier in the term to work out exactly how your character would say those lines and what they WANT to achieve from saying them.

7) Try doing them really fast. This is a good indication of how well you know them. If you've got a scene with somebody else then ask someone to 'read in' with you. It's fine if you want to do the scene loads of times. They will understand!

I'll write more as I think of them but hopefully that gives you enough to go on.

I can't wait for Saturday when everyone is 'off book' and has learnt their lines!


10% Discount on Summer School - Last Chance!



One week for £51? You bet! (Concessions only)

This year, we will be running a super young performers summer school called UPROAR, at Blatchington Mill School. With tutors from the Sizzling Summer School including Tanushka Marah from the Windmill Young Actors, the fun continues this time round with our theme from ancient Greece to Grease the musical! It'll be a whirlwind week of creativity for 8- 13 year olds, which will include drama, dance, singing, jive, mask, clown, making and writing, culminating in a fabulous performance in the Windmill Theatre at the end of the week. 

DATE: 23rd July – 27th July 2012
TIME:  9.30- 3.30
PLACE: Blatchington Mill School, Nevill Ave, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex BN3 7BW
PRICE: £90, £60 concessions, £75 siblings, 

10% discount if you book before June 30th.  Special discount for students of Blatchington Mill – please contact.

CONTACT: uproarbrighton@gmail.com : 01273 600126 / 07932 776 114

Friday 8 June 2012

'Now and Then' by Cerys Salkeld Green, Aged 12

Then,
The crowded market, full of happy faces.
Trade and talk, talk then trade.
Gone.
Children playing with joy.
Fun and games, games of fun.
Gone.


The circus, with magicians only there to thrill the excited crowd.
The thrill of the moment.
The crowd holding her breath.
Gone.
Friends. All but one.
Gone.


Now.
Living in the old world, longing for the new.
An ever growing scrap heap or a new life.
Why?


A crime not committed,
A life with the sinned.
Metal for money, money for food.
Why?


The men who come not just for metal,
Repay your sins, 
For freedom.
Why?


Because of before.

Thursday 7 June 2012

July 13th Family Festival Agreement


Dear Parent/Carer,                                                                                                             
Re: Family Festival at Brighton Dome Concert Hall on 13th July

I am delighted to inform you that your child has been selected to take part in a Performing Arts Project for this year’s Family Festival, an annual performing arts showcase which is organised by Blatchington Mill School. The event features a fantastic range of performances from schools and community groups across Brighton & Hove. More information about the event is available from www.brightondome.org.uk

Dress Rehearsal: In order to prepare for the performance your child will be expected to attend a dress rehearsal at Brighton Dome on 13th July from __TBC______ to ______TBC____.

Performance Arrival time: please arrive no later than 6pm on 13th July outside the Stage Door of Brighton Dome (in Pavilion Gardens). Your child will need to sign in with their teacher/ group leader. Please ensure your child arrives promptly.

Audience: The doors will open to audience at 6.30pm, and the show will start at 7.15pm and finish by 9.30pm. Although there will be an interval, the event organisers have emphasised the importance of audience members remaining until the end of the event to support all performers, so please do not leave with your child during the interval. Please also note that no food is allowed in the auditorium.

Signing out: At the end of the event, all of the performers will remain seated. Parents may collect their children from the seated performer’s area (at the back of the stalls) once all audience members have cleared the auditorium. You will need to sign out with your child’s group leader before leaving.

Exhibition: There will be an exhibition of the young people’s work in the Founder’s Room by the Foyer.

Filming & Photography: As the event will be photographed, please be aware that a condition of allowing your child to take part is that you give your permission for him/ her to be photographed and filmed for publicity purposes.

Tickets prices: Individuals: £8.00/ £5.00 concessions/ Family ticket: £22.50
Tickets available from: Dome Box Office, 29 New Road, Brighton Tel: 01273 709709.

If you would like your child to take part, please complete the attached reply slip and return it asap.

Best wishes,
______________________


FAMILY FESTIVAL REPLY SLIP

Child’s Name : …………………………………………………….…….Class : …………………

Please tick:
v              I agree to my son/daughter taking part in the Family Festival on 13th July.              
v              I will ensure that they arrive and are collected at the correct times
v              I agree to my son/daughter being out of school for the Dress Rehearsals on 13th July                         
v              In the event of an emergency, I agree to urgent medical attention being given                                                                                    
Does your child have any medical conditions requiring treatment, including medication? YES / NO
If YES, please give details: ……………………………….………………………………………………………..

My emergency contact number is: ………………….…………………………………………………………….

I include a voluntary contribution of ___ towards the costs for coach travel to and from the dress rehearsals.

I understand that by allowing my child to take part in the Family Festival, I am allowing
 him/ her to be photographed and filmed for publicity purposes

Signed : …………………………………………………..…………………. Date : ………………..               

July 7th - Windmill Young Actors Showcase PLEASE READ

Dear All,

The showcase of July 7th will be in The Windmill Theatre.

The Rehearsal

We will rehearse for 4 hours with all cast.

09.45 All Windmill Young Actors arrive at Windmill Theatre
10.00 Begin Rehearsals
11.45 Lunch
14.00 Finish Rehearsals

We worked like this on the last show and it did indeed work very well. The whole time is not compulsory but it would really help if every member was available for these times. Otherwise, we'll see you at your usual time slot of 2 hours.

The Performance


18.00 Arrival
18.30 Performance Begins
19.00 Interval, during which you will be asked to fill out a term evaluation form
19.15 Performance Restarts
19.45 Performance Ends

The performance will involve the final version of 'The Legacy of Fingerless Gloves' with new material written by the actors themselves.

Ticket Price TBC (no more than £5)