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www.windmillyoungactors.com

Windmill Young Actors

Summer Term - Welcome Back!

Dear All,

Welcome back to the best term of the lot - the summer term!

Thanks for all of your amazing feedback from last term. This term we will be continuing our journey into Greek mythology and expanding on the story of Agamemnon.

We begin again THIS SATURDAY APRIL 20th.

Over the next term we will be moving the majority of our correspondence to the 'news' section of the website. It's very very easy to sign up to and you'll receive all the updates.

Step 1) Go to http://windmillyoungactors.com/news/

Step 2) Put your email into the box above 'subscribe' and then click 'subscribe'.

Step 3) You will receive an email to the address that you entered asking to confirm your subscription. Click on the link in that email to subscribe.

Step 4) Receive all our the latest news about our young actors, their performances and the odd casting.

Fees - please bring a cheque to the first session or alternatively pay via BACS

Fees are the same as last term - £100 full, £85 Blatch Student £80 Siblings (both) and £70 conc. (income support)

If you pay via BACS then please can you reference payment 'Sat' or 'Thu' with the name of the young actor and then drop Ben an emailben@windmillyoungactors.com to confirm.

And finally:-

Thanks to all those who have already sent your script excerpts from the show. If you haven't yet sent them, please do this week as we will be putting the script together very soon.

Very much looking forward to catching up on Saturday.

Best Wishes,

Ben + Tanushka
www.windmillyoungactors.com
www.facebook.com/windmillyoungactors

Packed Lunch and extra hour for Thursday

Dear All,

Please remember to bring a packed lunch on the performance Saturday.

Also - we are offering an additional hour's rehearsal for the Thursday group from 5pm this Thursday. It would be great if you all could make it.

Cheers,
Ben + Tanushka

March Performance, Costumes, Times and News

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all well and feeling some relief in Spring being here at last!

Here is some information on the end of term show and dates for next term.

March 23^rd will be the last date of this term and the show date.

Details for end of term show:

09.45                     Both morning and afternoon Saturday groups will meet at the Windmill Theatre for       group rehearsal

12.00                     Thursday group arrive for rehearsal

14.00                     Parents collect from The Windmill Theatre

18.00                     Thursday and Saturday students arrive at Windmill Theatre IN COSTUME

18.30                     Doors Open and Show Starts

19.30 (approx.) Show Ends

Costume

Gods and Goddesses – please create your own costume based upon your research.

All Others – Black T-Shirt / top and black leggings / jeans (we will advise if you need anything more nearer the time)

This term we have been working on the Ancient Greek Epic, Agamemnon. As always, this has been a two way process with the young actors bringing in their ideas and writing, combined with our direction. It’s been a great term with many discussions, games and focused rehearsals. This term’s show is very much a work in progress with extracted scenes from the story. Our aim is to be able to tell the whole story at the end of next term!

Tickets for the night are £2 for adults and £1 for children. These will go towards covering the costs of the night. Any surplus will go towards our charity fund.

 Summer Term - Saturdays

First Session of Term                                                  20^th April

Half Term                                                                    25^th May and  1^st June

End of Term and Performance                                   6^th July

Summer Term - Thursdays

First Session of Term                                                  25^th April

Half Term                                                                    30^th May 

Last Session of Term                                                  4^th July

Performance                                                                6^th July

Other News

We are extremely excited to announce that our brand new website is almost ready to launch. Tanushka’s brother has been working hard and we are delighted with the result.

Daisy and Dukes

Michelle from the agency, Daisy and Dukes has very kindly offered to come down and watch our amazing Windmill Young Actors strutting their stuff in rehearsal. She will be coming on one of the Saturdays in the summer term. Watch this space.

Afterschool Clubs

We are setting up more afterschool clubs next term. Check out the website for more details.

2^nd Seniors Group

We are looking to start up another teenage group in Brighton on another week night once we find a suitable and affordable space.

We are looking forward to seeing you all on March 23^rd. If you have any questions please get in touch.

All the best,

Tanushka and Ben

Dates for Your Diary

Dear All,

I hope that you're very well.

We are delighted to announce that the next performance in the Windmill Theatre will be on the final Saturday of term, March 23rd. Also, a reminder that we will be making up the lost snow session on that Saturday and will be rehearsing in the Windmill Theatre from 09.45 - 14.00 with a break for lunch. The performance will be in the evening. So you'll need to pick up your children at 2pm and return them for a time around 6pm (TBC).

We have also booked the theatre for our final end of year performance on July 6th (also Ben's birthday!).

Half Term

A reminder that we are only having one Saturday off for this half term. There will be no Windmill Young Actors on Thursday 21st February andSaturday 23rd February.

Thanks All.

Windmill Young Actors CANCELLED Saturday 19th January

Dear All,

Unfortunately, due to adverse weather conditions, we are having to cancel both classes tomorrow.

We will aim to make up the time on the final Saturday of term, March 23rd.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Best Wishes,
Ben + Tanushka

Quantum Physics and Invisible Cows

Hi All,

I know that this is a bit off topic but if you're a fan of science and comedy or 'sci-com' (just made that up), then check out my Dad's new career path (he used to make chocolates for a living!). Style is a bit Terry Pratchett!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Quantum-Fables-ebook/dp/B00AX5X87O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357901299&sr=8-2

Welcome Back 2013

Hello everyone and a Happy New Year to you all!

We are delighted to be starting again this week on Thursday 10th (seniors) and Saturday 12th (juniors).

A big welcome to all the new people joining too.

We will start making a new show this term though the first few sessions will be more fun and games until we all get to know each other and the new people have settled in.

If you have received this and you are not coming back this term please let us know as the groups are filling up. If you have recommended someone and haven't payed yet, please remember you have a 10% discount.

Looking forward to seeing you all.

Warm Wishes,

Ben and Tanushka

Last Chance for 10% Discount for Next Term

Thank you so much to everyone who has already sent a cheque through for next term.

This is a quick reminder that you have just 10 days now to pay with the 10% discount.

Some of you have asked to pay via BACS. This is fine but please make sure that you reference the payment with the name of the student and first letter of your surname and then confirm with us with an email.

You will have had an email with the details.

Remember that you can also keep up to date with everything via the blog - http://bringactinghome.blogspot.co.uk/ , facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/windmillyoungactors and twitter, @WYActors.

Thanks All. Have an amazing Christmas!

Best Wishes,

Ben + Tanushka

x

'Seasons' - Program Notes

SATURDAY JUNIORS

SITE-SPECIFIC

We love the idea that theatre can happen anywhere and have spent time this term exploring ‘site-specific’ work where the inspiration for the drama comes from the actual space where it is performed. Part of this work includes something called ‘viewpoints’ where the actors take their cues from the shapes, objects and patterns in the room.

MINOTAUR
We have delved right into the very origins of theatre by discussing the role of theatre in ancient days and looking at the myths and gods that surrounded early Greek theatre. The storytelling opportunities were huge and within that we also focused on ‘Cheironomia’.  This is the ancient art of gesture used by the chorus to tell stories visually as well as orally. Many of the gestures used in this piece are actual gestures that historians have discovered on the paintings on pots from that time.

GAME SHOW
This term has been all about encouraging the students to improvise and create their own work. We have spent some time looking at the importance and power of dramatic tension. This is vital in character work, but most important in making a scene, or a play as a whole, gripping. The themes in this piece take that dramatic tension to the absolute extreme - enjoy!

BENCH with MASKS

This term we have explored mask work and how the body expresses 80% of all of our daily communication. When we remove the ability to speak or show our own facial expressions, we can really see the power of body language. Mask work is also a fantastic tool for boosting confidence - the  most shy of students will perform with vigour and panache whilst behind a mask. It allows the actor to really inhabit being somebody else.

THURSDAY SENIORS

PHOEBE

It has been a delight to work with this group of mature, dedicated and feisty teenagers! The sessions with Tanushka have been dedicated to purely physical theatre, and particularly physical storytelling. We have found ways to jump deftly and swiftly through stories with visual imagery and emotional and physical commitment. We focused on physical comedy whilst at the same time allowing the space to invest emotionally in a simple action - whether it is folding a garment or waving goodbye.

PAGES

Ben has spent this term focusing purely on character work and ways of creating truthful and real characters. By taking each actor’s chosen monologue and character Ben has scripted a surreal story that contains excerpts from all of the speeches. Watch closely and see which characters and references you can spot!

WEST BLATCHINGTON AFTER SCHOOL CLUB

After-school clubs are a completely different environment to the Saturday sessions. For a start we only get just over an hour together. There are also peer groups that are already well established and therefore building ensemble amongst the entire group is very difficult. However, I am delighted that this current term’s students have been a revelation. We have now got to a place where all members are really committed to working with and supporting each other in their work. This performance marks the first performance for many of the students and so we wanted to keep it simple but solid, giving everyone a good chance to perform.

Windmill Young Actors is dedicated to providing affordable after-school drama classes for schools and their parents.

Next Term Fees and Headshots

Dear All,

Saturday was a fantastic night. Tanushka and I were so proud of all of the young actors. Thanks again for all of your support. 

Please do send us your thoughts as we would love to be able to tell the school if the night was a success. Or if you felt there could have been improvements then please do let us know.

Just to confirm that the term has now finished. We actually had 11 sessions on Saturday this term instead of 10 as we started a week early. Next term we'll be back to 10.

We are currently planning on shooting the headshots this coming Saturday 8th December. However, we still need a few more students so if you wanted to get them done, please let Ben know by Tuesday at the latest. The cost is £40.

If you would like to pay early for next term and receive the 10% 'early bird' discount then please send a cheque to:-

Windmill Young Actors, 64 Tisbury Road, Hove, BN3 3BB

Made out to 'Windmill Young Actors'

By December 22nd 2012.

Fees below (before discounts):-

Full Price: £100
Concession (low income/income support): £70
Siblings:  £80
Blatchington Mill Students:  £85
Assisted Place: Contribution towards the concession

Discounts

Pay before December 22nd 2012 - 10% off
Recommend a Friend - 10% off (the following term from when the friend joined)
(If you pay early and have recommended a friend who has joined then there is a 20% discount)

Thanks all. We can't wait for the journey to continue.

Best Wishes,

December 1st Performance and Rehearsals and Next Term

15/11/12

Dear Windmill Young Actors and Parents,

We have had another wonderful term at Windmill Young Actors with thrills and surprises always around the corner. It’s been great to welcome new students who have managed to fit in so quickly and brought new dynamics and energy to each group. Thank you very much to those who have brought their friends along as well.

This term we have encouraged the young actors to make more of their own work and they have come up with some really fascinating stuff. So rather than one big show, this term’s performance will be a series of self-contained vignettes. We will have performances from the two Saturday groups, the Thursday evening senior group and the West Blatchington WYA group.

Details below:

Rehearsals in the Windmill Theatre -  Blatchington Mill School

Date:                                                  Saturday December 1st

Saturday Morning Group:                09.40 - 11.45

Saturday Afternoon Group:             11.50 - 14.00

Thursday Evening Group:               16.00 - 19.00

ALL WYACTORS:                           19.00

Performance: ‘Seasons’

Date:                                                   Saturday December 1^st

Doors Open:                                    19.15

Show Starts:                                    19.30

Show Ends:                                      20.45 (approx.)

Suggested Donation:                       £2 for adults £1 for children

Wine and soft drinks will be available for suggested donations too. Any profits made on these will contribute to assisted places for children who cannot afford the fees for Windmill Young Actors.

Fees

For those of you who don’t know, Ben and I took on the running of Windmill Young Actors after Blatchington Mill lost all of its funding for community arts programmes.

We are committed to keeping the fees in the same bracket as when this was funded, however we have had to increase the fees slightly since September in order to cover our costs. So far we have kept the old fees for returning students. Please note, if you use the pre-booking discount for next term then there is very little or no difference in the fees from before.

From now the fees are as follows for all students:

Fees

Full Price:                                                                £100

Concession (low income/income support):         £70

Siblings:                                                                  £80

Blatchington Mill Students:                                    £85

Assisted Place:                                                      Contribution towards the concession

Discounts

Pay before December 22^nd 2012                         10% off

Recommend a Friend                                             10% off

(If you pay early and have recommended a friend who has joined then there is a 20% discount)

We are committed to making sure that everyone who wants to join Windmill Young Actors can. If this increase proves difficult or your situation changes then please contact us and we’ll see what we can do. Similarly, if you know someone who wants to come, but cannot afford the fees, please ask them to contact us directly.

Next term we plan to start working on a show which will be created over two terms culminating in a big performance in the Summer. This will involve all the Windmill Young Actor groups. We are also considering being part of the Brighton May Festival.

Here are the dates for next term:

Spring Term 2013

Thursdays Start Date:                      10^th January

Saturdays Start Date:                      12^th January

Thursdays Half Term:                       21^st February

Saturdays Half Term:                       23^rd February (please note that we are only missing one Saturday for half term this time)

Thursdays Term Ends:                     21^st March

Saturdays Term Ends:                     23^rd March

Performance Date:                          23^rd March

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support and entrusting us with your wonderfully talented and creative children. It really is always a pleasure and honour to work with them.

All the best,

Ben and Tanushka

WYA Update

Dear All,

The first half term is over and what a great one we’ve had! From masks to Greek theatre to voice and movement technique to site specific theatre to focus work and devising - it’s been fantastic fun!

Saturdays Half Term

We will not be meeting either side of half term. Therefore our next Windmill Young Actors Saturday will be 10^th November.

Agency Audition

The Daisy and Dukes audition will be on Saturday 3^rd November. Please make sure that you have sent Ben the following if you wish to attend: Full name of Windmill Young Actor, age and local authority. We have also sent out an additional attachment that will hopefully answer all of your questions on this. Our main priority with this is that as parents you feel that you have ALL of the information that you need. Don’t go into this with concerns that haven’t been answered!

Performance – Saturday December 1st

The performance this term will be on December 1^st in the Windmill Theatre and will be a showcase of some of the work that we’ve done this term.  Full details coming soon!

It’s amazing to have you all on board this journey. Please don’t hesitate to contact Tanushka or Ben if you have any questions.

Have a great half term!

Best Wishes,

Tanushka and Ben

Agency Audition Information

PLEASE CONTACT BEN for the attached information referred to in the email.

Hello,

Thank you for your enquiry to join Daisy & Dukes.

We would like to invite you & your child to our audition workshop on Saturday 3rd November 2012, please read carefully below which group you need to attend and you must reply to this email detailing your child's name, age, local authority, so please act asap.

Your child will definitely have a place but I like to know numbers beforehand, please do not ask me to confirm your place please assume your child has a place if you do not hear back from us.

• Age 4yrs to 7yrs arrive at 1.15pm registration for a 1.30pm start and 2.30pm finish.

• Age 8yrs to 11yrs arrive at 2.30pm registration for a 2.45pm start and 3.45pm finish.

• Age 12yrs to 15yrs arrive at 3.45pm registration for a 4.00pm start and 4.30pm finish.

• Age 16yrs to 19yrs arrive at 3.45pm registration for a 4.30pm start and 5.00pm finish.

Location: M.A.D. Skills Performing Arts, Roundwood Park Secondary School, Roundwood Park, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 3AE (directions attached)

Under 16's must attend with a parent/guardian. There is no charge for this workshop, this is free.

Please make sure you read very carefully the attached important information regarding jointing Daisy & Dukes Agency , this information will tell you whether or not joining an agency is right for you.

Our books will be closing after this day, this will be the last workshop for the foreseeable future.

During the workshop your child will take part in improvisation & drama exercises, there is nothing to prepare.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Do not arrive before the registration time, you will not be allowed in.

• One parent per child as space is limited.

• Should a particular age group be oversubscribed you must be prepared to wait for your child to be seen.

Daisy & Dukes Agency is a sole agency and only at the discretion of the agency will they represent any child that has an existing modelling agent.

Kind regards,

Info - Daisy & Dukes

01707 377547

info@daisyanddukes.com

Agency Auditions

Dear All,

I am delighted to announce that Daisy and Dukes, the children's agency in London that manages Windmill Young Actor Anna Simmonds, has given an open invitation to all Windmill Young Actors.

Take a look at the following information to see if you want to attend.

Update 08.10.12

Dear All,

What a fantastic start to the term!

We’ve had a number of new students join us this term and there’s a real feeling that Windmill Young Actors is flourishing and moving forward.

Saturday 1^st December

This has now been confirmed as our first showcase of the year. It will be in the Windmill Theatre. Rehearsals will be in the theatre all day from 09.30 and we will look to open doors to audience around 18.15. More details to follow nearer the time.

Tanushka

Earlier this year, Tanushka directed a fantastic play about the life of Khalil Gibran who wrote ‘The Prophet’. The play is called ‘Rest Upon the Wind’ and from Sunday she will be taking it on tour to the Middle East. Therefore, please contact Ben with any queries on the usual email and phone number.

Thursdays

The advanced class on a Thursdays for 13 – 16 year olds has started excellently and we are lucky to have an extremely focused and committed group. We hope that it will become the natural ‘next step’ for the young actors from Saturday. Tanushka will be leading this Thursday (4^th) before heading off and Ben will be leading the remaining three before half term.

Headshots and Professional Work

We’ve had a number of queries about professional work for the students and it has always been something that we look to support wherever possible. The route for young actors is to get one or two fantastic headshots and then approach child agencies with a CV and portfolio. Ben is in the process of building a relationship with Michelle at Daisy and Dukes (a London agency). D&D are auditioning in November and we will pass on the information to any interested students and parents when we have it.

Next term, we are hoping to organise a Saturday afternoon for all students who wish to get some professional headshots done. Please let us know if your child would like to get them done so that we have an idea of numbers. We will try and do as many as possible in one afternoon to save on costs.

That’s it for now folks. Thanks again for all of your continued support of Windmill Young Actors. As always, do feel very welcome to pass on any thoughts or feedback on the club.

Best Wishes,

Tanushka and Ben

Windmill Young Actors in Music Video

As the August clouds loomed ominously, Ben Murray-Watson, co-director of Windmill Young Actors, the community acting group hosted by Blatchington Mill, set out to play the lead role in a new music video for the band, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. However, he wasn’t alone. The story required a number of young actors and therefore the call went out to parents of Windmill Young Actors that here was an opportunity to come and act in a professional film. The story was of a man who had a magnetic body. He awakes to find himself alone on the sea front, a 50p coin stuck to his hand and his keys jumping mysteriously into his palm. As he walks off it’s not just the inanimate objects that cling to him but casual passers-by who turn and follow him as he walks.

Both Ben and business partner, Tanushka Marah, who run Windmill Young Actors, work professionally in theatre and film and are always looking for opportunities to work with their students. Ben said, “Because we run workshops as we run professional rehearsals, we know that our students will be a great asset to any production as they are both focused and able to take direction extremely well. Not only that but they are all fantastically talented!”

The music video can be seen at http://genero.tv/watch-video/33693/

Windmill Young Actors 8 – 12 year olds meet on Saturdays during term time from 09.45 – 11.45 and 12.00 – 14.00 and the 13 – 16 year olds meet on Thursdays from 18.00 – 20.00

For more information on Windmill Young Actors, contact info@windmillyoungactors.com

Windmill Young Actors Going Social

Dear All,

You can now follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest information, updates, offers and discounts along with photos and videos of our work.

https://www.facebook.com/windmillyoungactors

Twitter: @WYActors

New Advanced Thursday Acting Group

The new drama club for 13-16 year olds starting on Thursday evenings is for young performers who want to take acting seriously. That also means having some serious fun!

If you want to really focus on drama and learn essential techniques in text, movement, character and comedy then this is the place to come. We see everyone who comes to us as a young actor and we run our sessions as we would a professional rehearsal room.

Both Ben and Tanushka are professional directors with contacts in the professional theatre and film industry and we are therefore more than happy to help young actors get into the business if they wish.

We also actively encourage the young actors to experiment and create their own work. Last term we incorporated original writing from our actors together with choreographed movement and live music into our final year production at The Windmill Theatre.

With use of the Windmill Theatre we have the potential to create 3 stage performances a year and alongside that we are always looking for further opportunities in local festivals and with local film companies.

So come along for a taster session on Thursday 13th September at 6pm and see if you want to join for the term.

Place - Blatchington Mill School Dance Studio
Times - Thursdays in term time 6 - 8pm
Cost - £70 concs, £80 siblings, £85 Blatchington Mill Students £100 full price
Contact- info@windmillyoungactors.com 07765 111 883

Welcome Back!

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a great Summer!

Windmill Young Actors is back!

Saturdays start again this week on 8th September, 09.45 - 11.45 and 12.00 - 14.00. It's the first term running the club ourselves so you can imagine that we are very excited and we have lots of exciting projects planned for the next academic year, including the potential of 3 performances in the Windmill Theatre.

The older age group kicks off on Thursday 13th at the same location from 6pm - 8pm.

Places are filling up fast so if you haven't already, it would help us enormously if you could confirm your child's place by sending a cheque made out to 'Windmill Young Actors' to:

Windmill Young Actors, GFF, 64 Tisbury Road, Hove, BN3 3BB. Alternatively, email us back here.

A big welcome to the new people and potential new people joining us this term. We are really looking forward to meeting you and working together. Please arrive a little earlier the first week so that we can make sure we have all of your details and can start on time.

Please call us on 07765 111 883 if you are having any troubles. Attached is some important information including how to get to us. 

Looking forward to seeing you all very soon.

Best Wishes,

Tanushka and Ben