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THEMES
Bravery Welcome to Carousel Theatre’s Personal Growth production of Arthur: Boy King Enchantment and its companion Resource Guide History Love for Educators and Families Honour Forgiveness Adventure Chivalry Responsibility
This Guide was created to prepare educators, families, TABLE OF CONTENTS and students for their upcoming adventure to Arthur: Boy (Page)
King with a synopsis, theatre vocabulary, and more! 1. Themes
We hope you find this Resource Guide helpful and as 2. Synopsis always, if you have any suggestions we would love to Character Breakdown
hear from you. 3. Note from the Playwright
4. Interview with Director If you have any questions, please give us a call at 5. Reading List 604.669.3410 or email us at 6. Classroom Activities [email protected]. 7. Production Crew/Cast
Interesting Links 8. Theatre Etiquette Theatre Terms
9. About Carousel Theatre
School Matinees Family Performances Our Sponsors April 10 – 26, 2013 April 12 - 28, 2013 Contact Us
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Synopsis
The moment young Arthur pulls the sword from the
stone he is thrust into greatness as the King of Great Britain. He has the potential to become a great leader or cave into the fears and insecurities of any scared
young man. Battles and controversy are ignited all around him but what is most important for Arthur is to understand himself. He must learn bravery,
compassion and love before he can nobly wear the crown. The forces of the stars and the universe through Morgana battle with the forces of Merlin and his
earthly magic to decide this young boy’s worthiness.
The play takes place in one night after Arthur is
seriously wounded by his greatest opposer; King Lot.
In a state of anger and fear Arthur is presented with three quests; to observe his own betrayal by his step brother Sir Kay, watch his beloved Guinevere fall in
love with his best friend Lancelot, and to face the feared Dark Knight to avenge a wrong doing.
If Arthur fails in any of these quests his place in history will be relegated to stories and legends; if he succeeds he will be the greatest King to ever rule Great Britain.
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Characters
Arthur A young boy suddenly thrown into kingship Kay Arthurs older brother Lancelot Arthurs friend and first Knight Gweneviere Arthurs bride-to-be Merlin Arthurs Magician/Mentor
Morgana Arthurs sister
King Lot Morgana’s husband & King of Lothian Boy Morgana and Merlin’s helper
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A Note from the Playwright, Jeff Pitcher
Geoffrey of Monmouth in the 12th century was the first writer to begin recording and writing about the th th exploits of King Arthur who supposedly existed in the 5 or 6 centuries. There has always been controversy regarding whether Arthur and his exploits are truth or legend. After Geoffrey there was an avalanche of Arthurian Romances, the most famous were written somewhere towards the end of the 12th
century by the poet Chretien from Troyes in France. He gave us the core of all the legends that followed including the love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, stories of Arthur’s knights, and the story of the quest for the Holy Grail. His work was often filled with other-worldly and Celtic characters.
In 1485 Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte d’Arthur” was published; the book retells the story of Arthur from birth to death. It’s a lament for the dying age of chivalry which Arthur and his knights have come to represent.
th In writing my play I drew on many sources, originally from Geoffrey and Malory and then into the 20 Century with Howard Pyle, “The Mists of Avalon” by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Mary Stewart’s wonderful
series beginning with the “The Hollow Hill” and a big influence was John Steinbeck’s “The Acts of King
Arthur and His Noble Knights.”
After Carole, the Artistic Director of Carousel Theatre, first approached me I had the great pleasure of
traveling to England with my son, Jack, and touring the sites of King Arthur’s legends including the ruins of the castle that was supposedly the place of his birth in Tintagel in Wales. The trip obviously had a great impact on the story.
Through all the legends and stories there is a dream at work: a unified earthly kingdom expressing the desire of an age that even in its most violent moments consistently seeks to reach upward to the universe and touch the hand of the creator in a search for love and kindness.
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An Interview with Director CAROLE HIGGINS
What research did you have to do to prepare for rehearsal? This project has given me the opportunity to revisit some of my favourite
books - The Mists of Avalon, The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills and
The Last Enchantment. The legends of King Arthur and of Merlin are fascinating! I’ve also researched images- paintings, sketches, colour ideas to help me visualize each character and the setting and feel that we want to use for the production.
How do you cast a show?
I think about each character: how old they are, what qualities they
possess, wnhat their values are, what their physical appearance might be… Each play and each character has different needs. For this show, we wanted actors who can convey a sense of that time period, so I was looking for actors who have abilities with classical text and who could handle swords. I held auditions for some roles, and some roles I offered to actors who I have worked with before, or actors whose work I am very familiar with. In Arthur: Boy King the principals
Arthur, Lancelot, Gweneviere and Kay are all young teenagers so I cast actors who are in their 20’s but
who have a youthful energy and appearance so that they are believable as teens in the production. We have several actors in Arthur: Boy King who appear regularly in the plays at Bard on the Beach and we also have some newcomers who are recent graduates of theatre schools. It’s a very exciting mix!
When did this project begin? This project began as an idea in 1997. It was actually when I was watching the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales on television. I felt such compassion for the young princes William and Harry and was awestruck by the bravery and courage that they showed the world on that day, when they were coping with such a tragedy. It got me thinking about King Arthur, and what it must be like to literally have the weight of the world, or a kingdom, on your shoulders when you are a teenager. I came up with the title of the play on that day - Arthur: Boy King.
Fast forward thirteen years and I approached my colleague, playwright Jeff Pitcher to write this play. Jeff and I met and I told him, “I have this idea for a play. It’s about young King Arthur when he first pulls the sword from the stone and the aftermath, and how he deals with discovering he has the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders. The play is called Arthur: Boy King. I want you to write it.” Jeff said okay. Carousel Theatre formally commissioned the play and Jeff began his journey. He even went to England and visited all the sites where legends take place.
During the commission, which has been over a period of two years, Jeff has created many different drafts of the script. We have had two workshops, with another planned for just before we go into rehearsals. The workshops have included conversations and feedback with many different actors, the
designers, myself, our dramaturg Amy and the entire Carousel Theatre staff, as we all work together to
tell a clear story.
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Classroom Activities
Please read and discuss the section in this Resource Guide about Theatre Etiquette.
Encourage your students to look at different aspects of the production. Assign a group to each of the following, and have a discussion following the performance: Lights, Sound, Costumes, and Set.
I have attached a map of Camelot to give a better idea of where the action took place. The picture can be found on page 7 of the Resource Guide.
Questions and Answer: After watching the show, if you have any questions about the production, or things to say please send us emails at [email protected] or send a letter to 1411 Cartwright Street, V6H 3R7. We love receiving mail!
Grade 3 – 4 Poster: Create your own poster design using the information below: “Carousel Theatre presents Arthur: Boy King at the Waterfront Theatre April 10 – 28 written by Jeff Pitcher”
Heraldry: Learn the medieval tradition of heraldry (the symbolic meanings of animals, shapes, and colors used on shields) by designing a shield that tells a story about you through the use of heraldric symbols. The PDF can be found here: http://www.mythologyteacher.com/documents/Heraldry.pdf
Grade 5 – 7
Create your own Arthurian Character: Using your knowledge learned in class, create your own Arthurian character. What traits would he/she possess, which obstacles would they overcome, what is their place in society?
Round Table Reenactment: Role-play the taking of a fealty oath and the dubbing of a knight!
Hold a Banquet: This banquet could highlight the knighting ceremony. This will give students the opportunity to dive into the different clothing, food, and music.
Grade 8+
Man or Myth? The Author, Jeff Pitcher, touches briefly on the confusion between fact and fiction and how these stories came about. Study King Arthur and write an essay on where you think the origin of his story comes from. Is he a man, or a legend/
Character Study: All the characters in this story are based on real people in history. Choose a character from the list below and write a biography: Arthur, Lancelot, Kay, Gweneviere, Morgana, or Merlin.
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Reading List Supplied by the Vancouver Public Library
King Arthur is the greatest hero of the Western world. More books have been written about him than any other hero. Here is a selection of recommended books for children and teens. For an extended book list supplied by the Vancouver Public Library please check out the “Interesting Links & Resources” section!
Graphic Novels
Excalibur: The Legend of King Arthur by Tony Lee.
In graphic novel form, this is the tale of the boy who was born to become king. (Ages 9-14)
King Arthur: Excalibur Unsheathed: An English Legend by Jeff Limke This graphic novel tells the story of the boy fated to be the “Once and Future King.” (Ages 7-12)
Novels Arthur: The Seeing Stone by Kevin Crossley-Holland This is a beautiful story of young Arthur who is waiting impatiently to grow up and become a knight. Merlin, his tutor, gives him a shining piece of obsidian – a seeing stone – and his life becomes entwined with that of his namesake, the great hero old, King Arthur. (Ages 8-14)
Young Arthur by Robert San Souci This novel recounts the story of how Arthur grows from boy to man, gets the sword that marks him King and wins his first battle. (Ages 8-14)
Sword and the Circle: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Rosemary Sutcliff This excellent novel retells the adventures of King Arthur, his Queen, his best friend Sir Lancelot, and the other knights of the Round Table. (Ages 10-16) *Japanese language version available.
Excalibur by Hudson Talbott The first in a series, this book retells the story of how the young Arthur became High King of all Britain and assembled his Knights of the Round Table. (Ages 8-14)
The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White One of the best books ever written about King Arthur’s boyhood, begins with Arthur, called “Wart”. He is the recipient of his foster brother’s unkindness and has no idea he is the son of a king. Merlin (in disguise) becomes his tutor and Arthur learns from nature to be a good man and a great king. (Ages 7-14). *Audiobook available.
The Once and Future King by T.H. White This novel continues and expands on Arthur’s story that began with The Sword in the Stone. (Ages 10 and up)
The Dragon’s boy by Jane Yolen Artos doesn't know who his parents are, just that when he was a tiny baby he was taken in by Sir Ector. One day, Artos meets an ancient dragon. Though afraid, he is fascinated by the dragon’s knowledge and his promise to teach Artos. (Ages 10-14)
Sword of the Rightful King by Jane Yolen The newly named King Arthur must win the support of his people, especially the powerful Barrons who each want to be King themselves. Merlin must find a way to help his student gain and retain the crown. (Ages 9-14)
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Production Credits
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Stephen Beaver Lancelot Scott Bellis Merlin Ian Butcher King Lot Susan Coodin Gweneviere Kayvon Kelly Kay
Arthur MacKinnon Arthur
Melissa Oei Morgana Aidan Wessels Boy
Production Team (in alphabetical order)
Barb Clayden Costume Designer Dani Fecko Production Manager Al Frisk Technical Director Jeff Harrison Lighting Designer Carol Higgins Director
Melissa McCowell Assistant Stage Manager
Darryl Milot Head of Wardrobe Rebecca Mulvihill Stage Manager Jeff Tymoschuk Sound Designer
Carousel Theatre is a member of the Professional Association
of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, engages professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.
Interesting Links & Resources
ProductionImage for HeraldryTea Activity
- http://www.mythologyteacher.com/documents/Heraldry.pdf
The Historical King Arthur
- http://www.grahamphillips.net/trail/2_historical_Arthur.htm
The Camelot Project - http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/CPHOME.stm
Book Study Guide for “King Arthur and the Round Table”
- http://www.coreknowledge.org/mimik/mimik_uploads/documents/57/CCKA.pdf
Extended book list supplied by the Vancouver Public Library - http://vpl.bibliocommons.com/list/show/82873109_vpl_childrens/154363461
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Theatre Etiquette
Food, drinks, candy and gum are not permitted in the theatre. If your class has packed lunches, please ensure that they stay inside backpacks until your group has left the theatre.
Please remind your students that the rest of the audience, and the actors, can hear them if they talk during the performance, even if they whisper.
Please encourage your students to use the washroom facilities prior to being seated. There is no intermission during our student matinees. Individuals who need to leave the theatre will be re-seated at a convenient moment during the performance.
If anyone in your group needs to leave the theatre during the performance, we ask that you do so through the exit door on house right, mid-way up the stairs. Students are not permitted to leave the theatre unless accompanied by an adult.
Throwing of objects or use of laser pointers during the performance is not permitted. Carousel Theatre reserves the right to stop a performance if such behaviour occurs.
Due to copyright, photography and videotaping (or other video or audio recording) of this production is prohibited.
Phones & electronic devices must be turned off and tucked away for the duration of the performance.
If you are planning a day trip to Granville Island to see the performance, we please ask that your class visit the Kids Market after the show. Also, please call the administration at the Kids Market to let them know you will be bringing your class (they appreciate the notice, if possible). The number is (604) 689-8447.
We encourage our audiences to respond to our performances; laughter is welcomed when appropriate and applause at the end of a performance is the best feedback of all. If you really like the performance, a way you can show the actors is by standing up and clapping (called a ‘standing ovation’). Standing ovations are used when you think the performance was extra special and deserving.
Enjoy the performance!
Theatre Terms
Actor………………….. A performer who tells a story to the audience by playing a character.
Composer…………….. A composer is a person who writes music. They will collaborate with a lyricist to create a new song.
Director…………….…. The person responsible for guiding the actors, designers, and crew according to his or her artistic vision. The director works with the actors and the design team to create the world of the play.
Stage Manager………. The person responsible for making sure all of the technical aspects of a show run smoothly. In a theatre, the Stage Manager sits in the lighting booth, behind the audience, and “calls the show”. This means that they give cues throughout the performance to the lighting operator, the sound technician, and to the Assistant Stage Manager.
Blocking……….………. This is the director’s planning of the actor’s movements on stage.
Technical Rehearsal..... Also called “Tech”, this rehearsal is specifically to establish and run through lighting and sound cues. The technical rehearsal gives the technicians a chance to program the sound and lights with actors, and it gives the actors a feel for the show with sound and lights.
Dress Rehearsal……… The full running of the production before the show opens to the public.
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About Carousel Theatre
Carousel Theatre for Young People, now in its 37th season, has produced over 150 plays for young people. Unique in our community, Carousel Theatre is the only professional theatre company in BC that stages a mainstage season of theatre especially for young people and families.
Each season more than 40 000 young people and their families benefit from Carousel Theatre’s unique programming, which includes a Mainstage Season of Literary Classics at the Waterfront Theatre, a summer Shakespeare Teen Program and a year-round Theatre School for young people ages 3 to 17 years.
Carousel Theatre is a cultural leader in our community. In 2011, the company was honoured with the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award for Outstanding Production - Theatre for Young Audiences for our acclaimed production of Bird Brain. Carousel is a member of PACT (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres), the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, Alliance for Arts & Culture and the Vancouver Theatre for Young Audiences Society.
Carousel Theatre inspires young people, families and audiences with playful, accessible theatrical experiences that strive for artistic excellence. We support and educate emerging artists and audiences as we aim to enrich their hearts and minds.
Our Sponsors
Carousel Theatre would like to thank the following organizations for their support of Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat:
Contact Us!
1411 Cartwright Street Vancouver, BC V6H 3R7
TEL 604.669.3410 BOX OFFICE 604.685.6217 FAX 604.669.3817 WEB www.carouseltheatre.ca
Artistic & Managing Director, Carole Higgins
The Study Guide for Educators and Families was written by Monique Pearson. For more information on this production, or other Carousel Theatre inquiries, please contact: 604.669.3410 or [email protected]
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