Friday 13th July Dome - PLEASE READ

Hi All,

For those of you haven't seen the letter that went out on Saturday. Here it is:-

Please note the change of time for Friday's rehearsal. I hope that you can all make it! Same costumes - ie all black unless stated. We will be performing ALL of ACT 1.

Dear All,

Next term, Tanushka and Ben will be taking over the running of Windmill Young Actors. Very exciting! So what does this change?

Very little! We will still be meeting at the same times in the same places. However, Ben and Tanushka will be responsible for all communication and handling of fees.  Our new temporary email address is windmillyoungactors@gmail.com. Please use this for all correspondence via email. Alternatively, first contact Tanushka on 07765 111 883 or lastly Ben on 07709 446 816.

Prices will be staying the same. That’s £90 full, £75 for Blatchington Mill pupils and £60 for concessions. If you book BEFORE Friday 20^th July then you get £10 off the full price!

13 – 16 years old

It always seems a shame to stop working with the actors once they go past 12 years old so we are in the process of setting up an older age range, meeting at the same place but on a Thursday from 6pm – 8pm. The fees will be under the same bracket as those above. Older students from the current group are very welcome to join this instead of or as well as the current group.

Professional work

Part of what Tanushka and Ben want to offer is the chance for Windmill Young Actors to have their work recognised on a professional level in theatre and film. This can seem a scary prospect but they are both very willing to discuss the ins and outs of what this might involve. Basically, from time to time we get approached for or are in need of young actors for specific professionally paid projects. If you would like your child to be considered then please tick the box on the other sheet of paper.

The Family Festival at Brighton Dome

On Friday 13^th we will be performing at The Brighton Dome. Unfortunately, since the last correspondence our rehearsal slots have changed.

REGISTRATION  (at Stage Door)                   16:10

REHEARSALS  (on stage)                               16.30 – 17.30

Please collect your young actor after rehearsals and then be back at the stage door for 18.30. All actors will need to SIGN OUT after their performance at Stage Door. We are 5^th on in the 2^nd half.

Next Week and Next Term  

Our last session for this term is next Saturday 14^th July. Please bring instruments, writing, songs/drawing etc… Anything that might inspire some fun!

Our first session back will be on Saturday 8^th September and the older age group will be starting on Thursday 13^th of September.

Sign up today for your discount!         

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: 23^rd July – 27^th 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 30^th.  Special discount for students of Blatchington Mill – please contact.

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

www.uproarbrighton.co.uk

'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.