Regent Theatre & Victoria Hall Creative Learning Newsletter

e-Newsletter Winter 09 - Spring 010

The first ten years of Creative Learning 1999 - 2009

The Creative Learning Newsletter will now reach you by email only. Please do let us have your email addresses to ensure you continue to receive regular updates on opportunities in dance, drama and singing. Thank you. www.atgcreativelearning.co.uk/stoke

Photos, clockwise from top left: Youth Theatre at the Victoria Hall Workshop participants (Staffordshire Sentinel News and Media) Youth Theatre at the Victoria Hall Dance Script perform at Telford Dance Festival 09, directed by Rachel Rimmer

We endeavour to engage individuals and groups in a wide range of participatory arts activities through an evolving programme of workshops and events. Partnerships and participation play a vital role.

If you would like to find out more please contact us on 01782 211214.

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Creative Learning Activity

Workshop Talk Teacher’s Pack Special Projects

All events, unless otherwise stated, are for show ticket holders only.

Venue Tours Explore The Regent Theatre and The Victoria Hall with a backstage tour for your school or group.

Tours can be tailored for your group focusing on historical; architectural; social; theatrical or careers. Places are just £3 each and the minimum number of people for a tour is 10. Call 01782 211214

Venue Hire The Regent Theatre and The Victoria Hall offer superb areas for use by schools and community groups for a wide variety of purposes. The art deco Britannia Suite is favoured for workshops, seminars, or meetings, and the stage and auditorium in The Victoria Hall is perfectly suited to dance, drama or music activities, awards evenings, ceremonies or celebration events.

Call 01782 213808.

Contact Jo Blagg Creative Learning Manager 01782 211207 joblagg@theambassadors.com John Coughlan Creative Learning Officer 01782 211214 johncoughlan@theambassadors.com Rachel Rimmer Dance Artist in Residence Rachel.s.rimmer@hotmail.co.uk Hannah White Youth Dance Contact 01782 211212 hannahwhite@theambassadors.com Creative Learning Stoke-on-Trent Theatres, Bagnall Street, Cultural Quarter, Stoke-on-Trent ST1 3AD www.atgcreativelearning.co.uk/stoke

Box Office

Samantha Vaughan

Catherine Shevloff

0844 871 7619

Mailing Lists If you would like to be placed on our mailing list please send us your name, address and email and we will keep you updated with activities.

Newsletter design Jeremy Crick - www.jeremycrick.info

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Places available for new participants for the New Year!

"Extremely nice teachers and they helped me to learn a lot.

I’m definitely coming again!" Participant Ages 8 to 11 years - R.T. Dots Dynamic and fun classes each Saturday with professional actress and highly popular tutors, Samantha Vaughan and Jo Docksey. Children will be introduced to drama skills through engaging games and exercises which enhance confidence, speaking and listening, use of body language and imagination stretching improvisations! The term ends with a sharing on stage at The Victoria Hall (subject to availability) for family and friends.

Day: Saturday Time: 10.30am to noon Venue: The Regent Theatre

11 years and over - R.T. Dashes Highly popular course for young people taught by professionally trained actresses Victoria Gotham and Catherine Shevloff.

A variety of drama and performance based games and exercises are worked on week by week, and the group present a sharing for family and friends at the end of term, on stage at The Victoria Hall.

Day: Monday Time: 6pm – 7.30pm Venue: The Victoria Hall Cost: £60 for ten weeks all inclusive (families on benefits £53)

Strange Voyages

Commencing in the New Year – children aged 10 to 12 years are invited to come along and work with Creative Learning’s professional artists at daylong workshops in Drama, Dance and Singing. his exciting and creative project will culminate in a celebratory event for all children to take part in at The Victoria hall in the summer holidays! Come along, have lots of fun and tackle a creative challenge or two!

You don’t need to have any previous experience, just an interest and a “have a go” attitude and a willingness to work as part of a team.

Nominal charges apply - £1.50 per day.

For information on dates and times please ring 01782 211214

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Easter Musical Theatre Performance Project at The Victoria Hall Following last year’s wonderful world premiere of Strange Voyages One, our musical theatre team extraordinaire now bring you an opportunity to be in Strange Voyages Two. We are looking for children who enjoy acting, or singing, or dancing to be part of this wonderful opportunity this Easter. The artistic team who will be running the project are exceptionally experienced and talented and will be providing children with a five star performance experience. Children and young people taking part will be asked to work hard and to be committed, whilst not forgetting to have loads of fun.

Attendance: daily 9.30am to 4pm 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14 April (Performance 14 April) Ages 10 years and over Places £40 Pre booking line 01782 211214

0844 871 7649

Groups & Schools

Victoria Gotham

Youth Theatre

Children’s Drama, Dance and Singing Roadshow comes to Kidsgrove!

Funded by Kidsgrove Community and Learning Partnerships Attention all children and parents in the Kidsgrove area – spring and summer holiday performing arts taster sessions to be held at a community venue in Kidsgrove.

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Adult Drama

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New participants are invited to join established classes led by a highly experienced professional and working actor for the Spring term. Weekly participatory sessions focus on drama based skills and techniques to develop confidence, speaking and listening skills whilst exploring writers styles, and bringing text to life. Participants may gain techniques which enhance their performances in the work place, or extend their knowledge and passion for drama, with an understanding of the methods used to develop character and to sustain storytelling.

No previous experience required.

Cost: £75 for 10 weeks (£65 concessions) For further details please contact Creative Learning (01782) 211207.

www.atgcreativelearning.co.uk/stoke

Regent Theatre Show Highlights

010 Dance

Dick Whittington

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10 December to 10 January Starring Jonathan Wilkes The Regent Theatre pantomime is a must-see festive tradition featuring all the favourite ingredients – sensational songs, dazzling dance routines, slapstick comedy, and plenty of audience participation.

Schools only performances Tues 15 & Wed 16 December, 10.30am.

Schools £9.50 for mid-week matinee performances (not red dates – please see brochure).

School rates £9.50 per ticket, with one accompanying free adult for every ten children booked. Available on all mid-week matinee performances (not red diary dates).

FREE Activity Pack for Primary Schools www.atgcreativelearning.co.uk/stoke PantoTime Workshops for Schools A fun an interactive workshop to learn everything you need to know about pantomime – looking at the superstitions, the characters, the slapstick and costumes this thigh slapping workshop will have you booing and cheering for days afterwards!

Cost £125 plus vat Duration 1.5 hours Maximum 30 pupils.

Please see brochure for full ticket information and further details.

Free downloadable Dick Whittington Activity Pack For Key Stages 1 and 2 www.atgcreativelearning.co.uk/stoke Sponsored by Robinsons Supporting the national curriculum and national literacy strategy, this stimulating pack includes background information as well as follow-up projects for teachers to introduce children to. Activities are themed as follows: Performance; Art and Design; Writing; Discussion; and Reseach.

21 – 30 January 7.30pm (including Sunday) One Stage Ten Shows Over 90 Groups 250 New Works Over 2000 Dancers!

Tickets £8 adults £6 children, £24 family ticket (max two adults) Our ninth epic year and another chance to witness this celebration of fabulous youth dance at The Regent Theatre. An eclectic mix of styles ranging from stunning classical ballet to urban street and hip-hop to Irish to contemporary - filling the stage with the finest dance from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and beyond.

"010 Dance successfully brings together The Regent Theatre’s high production values with opportunities for young people to perform and experience a diverse range of dance styles, making it a high-quality dance performance experience for audiences and participants alike " Toby Norman-Wright, Clore Fellow (Dance) and Youth Dance Strategy Manager, West Midlands

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake 15 – 20 Feb, 8pm (Weds and Sat mat 2.30pm) Five star ballet "As bold and beautiful as ever" Daily Telegraph The ultimate performance experience and city centre destination for young people during half term! Powerful, provocative, menacing, thrilling and one of the most spectacular productions to visit our stage – don’t miss it!

– we can’t wait!

www.atgcreativelearning.co.uk/stoke

The 39 Steps

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22-27 Feb, 8pm, Weds and Sat mat 2.30pm "A joyous version of the Hitchcock classic" Sunday Times Winner Best New Comedy, Laurence Olivier Award A wonderfully inventive and gripping comedy thriller featuring four fearless actors playing 139 roles in 100 minutes of fast-paced fun and thrilling action. Recommended theatre for high school students studying English, Theatre Studies, Drama, Creative and Media Diploma, Expressive Arts.

Post matinee talk Wed 24 Feb. Pre booking essential.

Free downloadable resource pack www.atgcreativelearning.co.uk/stoke Complementary workshops available – Information line 01782 211214

The History Boys

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By Alan Bennett 22-27 March An opportunity not to be missed for A level English students to follow the journey of The History Boys from page to stage. Direct from the West End, this quality production will provide a platform for teachers to engage students in a lively and rich post show discussion and review, a chance to become a “fly on the wall”.

COMPETITION!!

Students who book to see the show are invited to submit their reviews of this stage production.

First Prize: Four tickets to see a forthcoming Regent Theatre production (choice and date will be non-negotiable), a backstage tour, and the review will be printed, together with a portrait photograph of the winner, in the next Creative Learning E-newsletter.

Entries: Deadline: 2 April 2010.

Entries must be typed in 12 point characters, and the review must be no longer than one side of A4. Entrant’s name and school must be included. One entry per student. Please send to Creative Learning at the address shown or email to joblagg@theambassadors.com clearly marked THE HISTORY BOYS REVIEW COMPETITION

Dance Artist in Residence update a highly successful and ongoing collaboration of rural and urban primary schools from Staffordshire coming together through dance, music and singing. This year I was privileged to work with the Richard Heathcote Primary School, who will also be performing at 010 Dance.

Rachel Rimmer 01782 211214 (message line)

British Sign Language Interpreted Performances

by Music and the Deaf Dick Whittington Fri 11th Dec 1.30pm and Wed 6th Jan 7pm 39 Steps Wed 24th Feb 8pm The History Boys Wed 24th March 8pm Joseph Wed 28th April 7.30pm

Audio Described Performances

by Minds Eye Since my last update I’ve started a couple of new, exciting projects. First of all, Boys Dance Lab has been going really well. I’m working with a fantastic and lively group of young men creating a piece for the Epic Stage night of 010 Dance! We have been experimenting with some different ideas to tie in with the theme of ‘ten’, so sit tight and wait to see what we deliver… Special thanks to Harmeet Johal and Mukhtar Rehman for their specialist dance support, encouragement and being fabulous role models to the boys!

I have also been working with a group of adults interested in Contemporary Dance called Kinesics, again creating another piece which will be premiered at the closing night of 010 Dance.

Saint Margaret Ward Catholic School and Arts College continue to work in partnership with us through their talented resident company Remix Dance Group with whom I work with on a weekly basis. Once again they will be showcasing their dance prowess during the festival.

Further ahead, I’m looking forward to being involved with Razzmattazz 2010 Gala –

Please arrive 15 mins before curtain up to receive introductory notes in the auditorium.

Dick Whittington Thurs 17th Dec 1.30pm Thurs 7th Jan 7pm The History Boys Thurs 25 March 8pm Joseph Tuesday 27 April 7.30pm Youth Dance Contact Hannah White is based at The Victoria Hall and is researching local provision as well as compiling a youth dance action plan. She would be interested to hear from you if you are involved in such activities either in school or within the community.

Hannah’s contact details are email: hannahwhite@theambassadors.com or telephone 01782 211221

When booking a BSLIP, or Audio Described show, please make the Box Office fully aware of your requirements to ensure appropriate seating.

Large Print and Audio CD versions of our brochures are available on request call 01782 211214.

Victoria Hall Highlights Stoke on Trent Theatres and DanceXchange present …

Raw Energy 2010!

Saturday 16 January at 7pm Youth dance platform featuring twelve companies from across the West Midlands.

Encompassing a wide range of styles and inspiration, Raw Energy 2010! will be a celebration of the excellent dance development work happening in the region.

Two of the highly talented groups appearing will be selected to perform at U.Dance England 2010 – Youth Dance England’s National Youth Dance Festival, which takes place at Birmingham Hippodrome on 4 July.

Tickets £8 adults £6 children, £24 family ticket (max two adults)

Sub Regional Dance Showcase!

Further U.Dance development activity as Shropshire meets Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent for a summer celebration of youth dance. A region wide pairing up of creative

dance counties, no less! Supported by Youth Dance Contacts for each respective sub-region and funded by Youth Dance England.

Full details will appear in the next Creative Learning Newsletter.

Tea Dance 30 March World of Dance is a People Dancing programme, funded by Legacy Trust UK, Arts Council England West Midlands and Advantage West Midlands.