Northcott Theatre Schools’ Newsletter, Summer 2018

Doddiscombesleigh Awful Auntie workshop Schools’ Newsletter - Summer 2018 Education is at the heart of what we do at the Northcott. From established residencies to schools’ workshops to our newly re-launched NYC – Northcott Young Company – there are so many opportuni- ties to get involved. We’ve just seen the highest ever number of young people audition for our Christ- mas show Jack and the Beanstalk and can’t wait to welcome more young people this season. Since last September we’ve run another successful Easter School, have visited primary and secondary schools and colleges with workshops and welcomed schools into the Northcott for shows as diverse as Awful Auntie, Little Mermaid and Great Expectations. If you missed out on Lyric and Filter’s riotous reinterpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, you missed a treat! In this newsletter we keep you updated on what we’ve been doing since last September and give you a heads-up about what’s to come this autumn.

After a series of audition workshops in May, we’re thrilled to announce that we have found our Young Chorus to join the professional company of our 2018 Pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk! It’s great to have Steve Bennett back as the Dame as well as writing and directing the show. Our incredibly talented young performers represent schools across the region: Teignmouth Community College; ; School; ; St Luke’s Sports and Science College; College; Chulmleigh ; St Leonard’s Primary, College; Dawlish Commu- nity College; Steiner Academy Exeter; Exmouth Community College and Stover School. It’s going to be a giant of a pantomime! Shows run from 3rd December to the 6th January with plenty of schools’ performances. Early bird ticket deals are available for schools until 30th September. Give Abi a ring in the box office01392 72 63 63 for more details and to help with your booking. Jack and the Beanstalk Young Chorus 1 Exeter Northcott Theatre Schools’ Newsletter, Summer 2018 Metta Theatre

Our Associate Company Metta Theatre continue to work closely with young peo- ple both with their touring programme and in the development of new work.

In April, the cast of Little Mermaid took a fantastic circus work- shop into Southbrook School and Ladysmith Junior School, and worked with them on the set of the show. Aiming to encourage positive body image and confidence, the workshops had students taking weight, balancing and working at height. We Isca Little Mermaid workshop had a brilliant reaction from teachers and the students involved.

“Thank you so much Metta and the Northcott Theatre for allowing our young people the fantastic opportunity of working alongside professional performers…they will remember our afternoon together I‘m sure for many years.” (Southbrook teacher) “The cast were incredibly kind and patient and made everyone feel that they could achieve just that little bit more than they expected. There was a hugely positive attitude from the cast which really infected the pupils with enthu- siasm and positivity. The acrobatics and trust games built quickly into some really impressive lifts and holds that would have seemed impossible before the workshop.” (Isca teacher). In the Willows—Do you have post-16 students? Aged 17 -25? Interested in street dance or hip hop? Associate Company Metta Theatre are looking for a group of talented performers to join the cast of their fabulous new ad- aptation of The Wind in the Willows. Following on from their smash hit Jungle Book, In the Willows opens here at the Northcott next February. We’re looking for a group of tal- ented young people to perform alongside the adult cast during the run of the show here in Exeter. We’ll be holding open workshops this October and registration for these will be open from early September. STOP PRESS!! Metta have announced a schools’ early bird discount: £9 per student if booked before the end of November. (The schools’ matinee plus the evening performances on 26, 27 and 28 Feb, subject to availability).

Easter and Summer Schools

We’re thrilled to build on the success of 2017 Easter and summer residencies with our 2018 offer of week long courses in which young people experience the life of the Northcott and create their own piece of theatre from scratch. Young people at Easter School this year devised a show based on ideas in Helen Blakeman’s play Cloudbusting, adapted from the Malorie Blackman novel of the same name. Feedback from young people and parents was in- credibly positive, as well as new skills learnt and new friendships made. Registration for 2019 places on Easter and summer courses will be advertised early in the new year.

“My son has had a brilliant week and I was really touched by last night’s performance. Well done to the team.”

- Parent of 2018 Easter School participant Easter School Cloudbusting

2 Exeter Northcott Theatre Schools’ Newsletter, Summer 2018 NORTHCOTT YOUNG COMPANY IS BACK!

This spring saw the return of NYC – Northcott Young Company. We currently have 40 young people attending classes on a Saturday and we aim to expand the number of ses- sions to give opportunities for 80 performers this autumn term. Groups are divided into 2 age groups: 9 – 12 year olds and those aged 13 – 16. Each term consists of 10 sessions each of 2 hours and the course culminates in a sharing of work for friends and family. Termly fees are just £100. NYC is led by experienced drama teacher and workshop leader Lizzie Hedden, who is a familiar face to the hundreds of young people who have auditioned for shows at the Northcott over the last 3 years. Registration for September will open early in the summer holidays, so do encourage your students to look out for more information… And, so as not to leave out our younger performers, PaddleBoat Theatre are offering a summer theatre course for 7 – 11 year olds this August. The group will be exploring the incredible life of Second World War journalist Clare Hollingworth and will be using their creativity and imagination to tell her story through drama.

Find out more about how to register for the Northcott Young Company by visiting our website www.exeternorthcott.co.uk Into the Light

Following the success of the Young Company’s re- turn to the Northcott stage last September with RIME, this year sees the company present Into The Light. Inspired by W H Auden’s poem “September 1 1939,” Into The Light is the result of an intensive 8 day residency by NYC - Northcott Young Company. Addressing themes such as intolerance, justice and the importance of independent thought, the Young Company will create an ambitious new piece of the- atre which explores how the ideas behind Auden’s poem speak to them as teenagers in the twenty- first century.

Friday 31 August 6.30pm, Saturday 1 September 2.30pm and 6.30pm. £7.50 / £5. Age recommendation 12+, Running time tbc.

Tickets on sale now via the website or box office – 01392 726363

3 Exeter Northcott Theatre Schools’ Newsletter, Summer 2018 The Topsham Road Project

We’re excited to be embarking upon the next stage of our Topsham Road Project this autumn. Working alongside Associate Company PaddleBoat Theatre, we will be sharing ideas and learning new skills by bringing together young people with a wide range of social experiences, including students who require additional educational and physical support. Students will be en- couraged to explore perceptions of themselves and others by devising a piece of theatre which is inclusive to their needs and that of their peers in this groundbreaking project. The programme also pro- vides staff in the different schools with professional development op- portunities and the chance to work with each other in a variety of school settings. We look forward to sharing our findings and recording the impact the project has on the young people and their education.

Fancy a field trip or a backstage tour?

We are able to offer bespoke field trip days and backstage tours for students of all ages. From Btec support, intervention programmes to gifted and talented groups, we can tailor workshops, tours and seminars to the needs of your young people. We can offer stand alone packages or why not combine a morning’s field trip with a matinee show? This week saw Uffculme Schools’ Aspire Programme take part in a series of activities to support their booking to see Tilted Wig’s Great Expectations. The Year 8 and 9 students got to explore backstage before the show, learned about the how the theatre works in a Q&A with marketing, production and media staff and got some hands on experience of the marketing processes used to publicise a wide range of home produced and visiting shows. For more information and to talk about tai- loring a tour for you students, contact Lisa on [email protected]

“Thank you so much for hosting us yesterday. We all, staff and students, really enjoyed it - interesting, educa- tional and a great experience.”

(Uffculme teacher).

4 Exeter Northcott Theatre Schools’ Newsletter, Summer 2018

11—20 October - Don Carlos A magnificent tale of passion and power set against the chilling backdrop of the bloody and ruth- less Spanish Inquisition.

Don Carlos is torn apart when his tyrannical father King Philip II seals a peace deal by marrying French noble Elizabeth de Valois, the love of Carlos’ life. The heartbroken heir turns for help to his closest friend, Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa, a champion of the oppressed, who questions the monarch’s iron rule and becomes an un- likely power broker in the duplicitous court. Written just two years before the French Revolution, Schiller’s Don Carlos is a man caught at the intersection of passion and politics: smitten by his stepmother and seduced by Posa’s dangerous vision of freedom. The chilling work is full of Shakespearean echoes and its themes of justice and equality; freedom of expression and conscience; religious bigotry and state persecution are as relevant today as ever.Director GADI ROLL brings his trademark dynamic imagery and haunting sound-scapes to Schiller’s masterpiece. This major new revival stars TOM BURKE (Strike, War and Peace and The Musketeers) as the Marquis of Posa, and forms part of Exeter Northcott Theatre’s 50th anniversary season.

STOP PRESS!! FREE EVENT WITH TOM BURKE! JULY 12 @ 6PM Please come and join us as we launch our exciting new production of Don Carlos, which opens here in October, with a FREE event looking at theatre in the 21st Century. Actor Tom Burke and director Gadi Roll, who have launched the new theatre company behind the play, Ara – an associate of the Northcott– will be joined on stage by Professor Gert Vonhof, from the University of Exeter, an ex- pert on the writer Friedrich Schiller. A discussion about the play, its contemporary relevance and why classical theatre still matters in a digital age, will be led by former BBC presenter Judi Spiers, followed by a Q&A. If you would like to attend either call the box office, book online or email [email protected]

WORKSHOPS! Why not support your group booking with a workshop? GCSE / BTEC / AS and A Level For groups of up to 30 students September and October – The 2 hour practical workshop will take place at your school or college at a time con- venient to you. Participants will analyse the themes and context of the play and, through practical exploration, will be encouraged to examine the contemporary relevance of Schiller’s text. Workshops will be accompanied by a teaching resource pack to accompany this major new revival. Email Lisa for more details or to book us to come in to our school: [email protected]

For more workshop information and prices contact Lisa at [email protected]. 5 Exeter Northcott Theatre Schools’ Newsletter, Summer 2018 More for the Autumn! Horrible Histories Terrible Tudors: Thu 27 - Sun 30 September 2018, Fri 7pm; Sat & Sun 3pm, School matinee: Thu 10.30am Awful Egyptians: Thu 27- Sun 30 September 2018, Sat 7pm; Sun 11am, School matinees: Thu 1.30pm & Fri 10.30am So it’s time to prepare yourselves for two amazing shows with Horrible Histories live on stage! From the horrible Henries to the end of evil Elizabeth, hear the legends (and the lies!) about the torturing Tudors in Terrible Tudors. In Awful Egyptians hear about the fascinating Pharaohs and the power of the pyramids, discover the foul facts of death and decay with the meanest mummies in Egypt.

Henry V Tue 6 - Sat 10 November 2018, 7.30pm, Wed Schools Matinee 1.30pm, Sat Matinee 2.30pm William Shakespeare’s play is a thrilling examination of the nature of power. It explores the burden of leadership and explodes the myth of heroism. It depicts the powerful and the powerless fighting side by side. With characters drawn from across the United Kingdom, the play is a democratic portrayal of the ruler and the ruled.

Jasmin Vardimon: Medusa & Wayne McGregor: Autobiography If your Drama, P.E or dance department is interested in dance or movement workshops we are always happy to approach visiting companies on your be- half. Just let us know what you are interested in. Company Wayne McGregor—Biography—7:30pm, Friday 21 September 2018 Jasmin Vardimon Company—Medusa—7:30pm, Wed 3 - Fri 5 October 2018

The Gruffalo’s Child

Fri 7 - Sun 9 September 2018 - Fri Schools Matinee 10.30am, Sat 11am, 2pm & 4.30pm, Sun 11am & 2pm Following hot on the heels of The Gruffalo’s sell out tour and his monstrous West End success comes The Gruffalo’s Child – with attitude! Just how brave is she? Find out for yourselves by joining her on tour this autumn. One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist… does he?

If you are planning a visit to the Northcott with your students don’t forget to Exeter Northcott Theatre download the risk assessments from the website. Already created for you, the Stocker Road coach travel and venue risk assessment are available to ease your workload in the Exeter run up to the trip. EX4 4QB

You can make enquiries of the education department, book workshops and tickets throughout the summer holidays! Box Office: 01392 726363 www.exeternorthcott.ac.uk

Education & Outreach Officer: Lisa Hudson, 01392 722417 or [email protected] Education news, resources and information: exeternorthcott.co.uk/about-us/ education-and-outreach

6