Dear Parents,
As I’m sure that you’ve seen on the blog this term has already been hugely inspiring and productive.
If, for any reason, you haven’t signed up to follow the blog then I’d really recommend that you do as it details all of the essential information along with work from the students and performance times and dates.
www.bringactinghome.blogspot.com
On the performance front, we are now extremely excited to confirm two performance dates:-
Date: March 24th
Location: Windmill Theatre
Arrival for registration: 18.15
Doors Open: 18.30
Event: 19.00 – 21.30
Costume: Please make sure that you have the basics of an all black costume – this is a standard performance ask and worth the investment.
Tech/Dress rehearsals will be at the usual times on 24th March. 09.45 – 11.45 and 12.00 – 14.00 in THE WINDMILL THEATRE. There will be two 5 minute performances, one from each group, and will be tasters for the summer WYA show.
Date: 13th July
Location: Brighton Dome
This is part of the Family Festival.
TBC
We are also planning a Windmill Young Actors only evening where we will perform the full scale production of ‘The Legacy of Fingerless Gloves’ along with a showcase of monologues and duologues. The plan is to invite a number of industry professionals. This will be in the summer term.
A reminder – please can you make it clear in writing if your child makes their own way home after each Saturday. Also, if you are not receiving emails and updates about WYA then please email Cicely – ctaylor@blatchingtonmill.org.uk – to confirm that you’ve filled in the application form and that we have your details. Alongside this, please do follow the blog.
Thanks everyone. Exciting times ahead!
Best Wishes,
Ben and Tanushka.
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Saturday 25th February - Of Scripts and Ideas
With a full complement of students (we now have 41 registered), WYA kicked off the new half term with a bang!
It's always an exciting time as an actor and director when you have your first reading of a new script. I always think what it would have been like for actors in Shakespeare's day. They would receive their parts written out for them, potentially having no idea of the play, the other characters or what happens in Act 2! It was exhilarating new work to be played with and discussed, fought for and digested.
And so, our young actors were presented with the 'The Legacy of Fingerless Gloves' development script. The idea is that I give an outline with bits of dialogue and stage direction and then together as a group, we devise and develop what is on the page. I then take it away with copious amounts of notes and re-write the script. It's down to the actors to stake a claim with ideas and potential characters. These are the moments where Tanushka and I will listen to the read-throughs, place new ideas into the mix and respond to spoken passion with an open mind.
Well, you might think that with a group of kids that you'd get a couple that had potential or perhaps you'd tut at a few mis-placed references to 'X Factor' or 'Doctor Who'. Not with this bunch, however. Opinions flew around the room, words tumbled into newness and characters grew from the minds of children.
The real joy is that I now have some unique and original pieces of writing from the kids themselves to incorporate into the story.
And so here I am with four pages worth of ideas and a new script to write. All I can say is be careful what you ask for!
We have three performance dates scheduled for the rest of the academic term. Dates and times will be coming soon.
It's always an exciting time as an actor and director when you have your first reading of a new script. I always think what it would have been like for actors in Shakespeare's day. They would receive their parts written out for them, potentially having no idea of the play, the other characters or what happens in Act 2! It was exhilarating new work to be played with and discussed, fought for and digested.
And so, our young actors were presented with the 'The Legacy of Fingerless Gloves' development script. The idea is that I give an outline with bits of dialogue and stage direction and then together as a group, we devise and develop what is on the page. I then take it away with copious amounts of notes and re-write the script. It's down to the actors to stake a claim with ideas and potential characters. These are the moments where Tanushka and I will listen to the read-throughs, place new ideas into the mix and respond to spoken passion with an open mind.
Well, you might think that with a group of kids that you'd get a couple that had potential or perhaps you'd tut at a few mis-placed references to 'X Factor' or 'Doctor Who'. Not with this bunch, however. Opinions flew around the room, words tumbled into newness and characters grew from the minds of children.
The real joy is that I now have some unique and original pieces of writing from the kids themselves to incorporate into the story.
And so here I am with four pages worth of ideas and a new script to write. All I can say is be careful what you ask for!
We have three performance dates scheduled for the rest of the academic term. Dates and times will be coming soon.
Thursday, 23 February 2012
February 25th - We're Back!
Dear All,
The pancakes are eaten, the tummies are laden and the Lent promises are suffering under ghastly temptations. But, never fear, Windmill Young Actors are back with a bang this coming Saturday 25th February.
Bring your rehearsal heads as we'll be heading straight into rehearsals for the end of term showcase and end of year production.
'The Legacy of Fingerless Gloves' is BACK!!
The pancakes are eaten, the tummies are laden and the Lent promises are suffering under ghastly temptations. But, never fear, Windmill Young Actors are back with a bang this coming Saturday 25th February.
Bring your rehearsal heads as we'll be heading straight into rehearsals for the end of term showcase and end of year production.
'The Legacy of Fingerless Gloves' is BACK!!
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Josie Lambert - Walking Through the Smoke
Yet more amazing writing from our group. This time, it's Josie Lambert's turn to write a poem inspired by the Butoh exercise. Josie is 10!
Walking through the smoke,
Covering my eyes,
Soft ash on the floor,
A civilisation dies.
Expressionless face,
A planet on my head,
Struggling with the balance,
Slowly being lead.
The planet's weight is painful,
My screams as silent as this night,
I cannot keep moving,
Not falling is a fight.
As I lay in the darkness,
The dust of a month, year, century,
My eyes are open but I cannot see,
This world was never meant for me.
The warm duvet of dust,
I'm as peaceful as a sleeping baby,
But still so tiringly awake,
Until a strange light hits me.
That light pulls me up,
From the point it touches me,
Getting lifted to the surface,
The light was the key.
Now I'm walking through a land,
Filled with blinding lights,
Weird machines called 'cars',
And people breaking into fights.
I ask where I am,
They can't see or hear me,
My answer is blank faces,
And the knowledge I will never be free.
Walking through the smoke,
Covering my eyes,
Soft ash on the floor,
A civilisation dies.
Expressionless face,
A planet on my head,
Struggling with the balance,
Slowly being lead.
The planet's weight is painful,
My screams as silent as this night,
I cannot keep moving,
Not falling is a fight.
As I lay in the darkness,
The dust of a month, year, century,
My eyes are open but I cannot see,
This world was never meant for me.
The warm duvet of dust,
I'm as peaceful as a sleeping baby,
But still so tiringly awake,
Until a strange light hits me.
That light pulls me up,
From the point it touches me,
Getting lifted to the surface,
The light was the key.
Now I'm walking through a land,
Filled with blinding lights,
Weird machines called 'cars',
And people breaking into fights.
I ask where I am,
They can't see or hear me,
My answer is blank faces,
And the knowledge I will never be free.
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