Annual Review 2012 – 2013 Grants for the Arts BOX CLEVER’S MISSION It’s about bringing exciting theatre to young people - the audiences of the future. It’s about involving them in plays about their world and issues that are completely relevant, whether it’s safety on the roads, relationships, bullying or subjects related to their education. CREATIVE PRACTITIONERS (actors, directors, artists & project support) Employed 29 creative practitioners, of whom 32% came from a BAME background Abdul Shyllon Mike Hay Somalia Seaton TRUSTEES David Ajao Virgil Howe Liv Spencer John Brown (treasurer) Sarah Booth Rhys Jarman Lloyd Thomas Nigel Griffin Anna Bosworth Frank C Keogh Czes Wicherek Kate Jenkins (chair) Emma Butcher Iqbal Khan Femi Wilhelm Mark Davies Stephanie Butler Alan Magor Andrea Gillie Carl Chambers Ronan McMahon Judith Carlisle Philippe Cherbonnier Jon Nichols Iqbal Khan Jessie Dubieniec Lucy Osborne Philippe Cherbonnier Itai Erdal Ria Parry Richard Foley Philip Gainsbury Matthew Rutherford John Sykes Maria Gray OneNess Sankara Core Company Year Summary Artistic Director & Writer-in-Residence Performed to 33,921 young people and adults in Michael Wicherek 235 schools and 6 theatres, giving 212 performances Administrator and 183 workshops Mari Kondo 11% Development East Midlands Callie Brown Finance Manager Julie Renwick Marketing Manager Craig Millar 14% Production Manager East of England Pip Thurlow 1% West Midlands 52% Tour co-ordinator London Helen Goward 1% North East Website 16% Toby Coffey South East Graphics Charlotte Wilkinson IT Networkfish Independent Examiners Wilkins Kennedy 5% South West Touring Productions Special projects/ workshops Time for the Good An Introduction to Introduction to Dickens Looking Boy in partnership Shakespeare development residency with The Half Moon Nationally to schools Chichester Half Moon Young People’s An Introduction to The BOX IN LOV project Theatre; Louth Playgoers’ Dickens Lincolnshire Riverhead Theatre; The Nationally to schools Assembly Rooms, Durham. Urban Mischief Project The Garage, Norwich; Excited About Poetry Nationally Birmingham Repertory Nationally to schools The Boxed Romeo and Juliet The Hate Play Nationally to schools and East London theatres Feet First and Car Story The Boxed Macbeth London and Cambridgeshire Nationally to schools and theatres BOX IN LOV PROJECT Theatre to young people. Young people to the theatre. Creative Team: Philippe Cherbonnier (Director); Emma Butcher, Maria Gray, Alan Magor (Actors); Pip Thurlow (Production Manager). in partnership with and with the support of and Box Clever led open rehearsals of Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth in residence at the Riverhead Theatre in Louth, Lincolnshire. The company then toured these productions to 13 project schools and 1 theatre in Lincolnshire, giving 28 performances and 23 workshops. A total of 2,882 students attended performances and 1,604 took part in workshops. To encourage theatre-going, students from the participating schools were invited to attend performances of Time for the Good Looking Boy at the Riverhead Theatre. Project schools & colleges: The Grimsby Institute, De Aston School, Monks Dyke Tennyson College, Cordeaux Academy, Skegness Academy, Cherry Willingham Community School, Caistor Yarborough Academy, Caistor Grammar School, Birkbeck College, QE2 Grammar School, Horncastle, QE2 Grammar School, Alford, Branston Community School, King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth. ‘The hope is that this project will encourage young people to take a deeper and more active interest in theatre, both in and outside of the educational environment, thereby enriching their lives and their personal development as well as ensuring that enthusiasm for the arts in all its forms is carried by them into their adults lives and to future generations’ Roy Hobson, Louth Playgoers’ Riverhead Theatre 90% of both staff and students agreed that the experience Macbeth had been really worthwhile THE SHAKESPEARE TO SCHOOLS NATIONAL TOUR Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Introduction to Shakespeare in rep Creative Team: Philippe Cherbonnier (Director); Emma Butcher, Maria Gray, Alan Magor (Actors); Pip Thurlow (Production Manager). The Boxed Romeo and Juliet The Boxed Macbeth The production was performed in 28 schools The production was performed in 23 schools and one theatre to 4,423 young people, 4,133 and 2 theatres to 3,174 young people, 2,965 of whom took part in workshops related to of whom took part in workshops related to the plays. 84% of the students and 99% of the the play. 84% of the students and 98% of the teachers agreed that the experience had been teachers agreed that the experience had been worthwhile. worthwhile. ‘I thought this was fantastic. I loved the way ‘The whole performance was fantastic and so the text had been so interestingly restructured imaginative. The complex storyline was made and the way the balcony scene was staged was easy to follow. The workshop was really well superb- Extremely memorable.’ focused on understanding the language in the Head of English, the Royal High School, Bath scene.’ English teacher, Honiton Community College ‘I really loved the movement and the acting, you were really in the play and when she ‘Energy, enthusiasm and professionalism are disappeared under the sofa it was amazing.’ faultless as always. Superb interaction with the Student, Norwich High School audience.’ Faculty Leader, English and Expressive Arts, East Bergholt High School An Introduction to Shakespeare The production was performed in 24 schools to I liked the way the audience was very involved 3,701 young people. 89% of the students and all the time and the way you were getting to 100% of the teachers agreed that the know lots about Shakespeare without even experience had been worthwhile. knowing it. I liked the way they added touches of humour to the performance.’ ‘Excellent in all respects-I’ve seen Box Clever Student, Oxford High School several times-highly professional company, wonderfully motivating for students who take a lot away with them. I really liked the involvement of the students and the amount of useful material covered.’ English and Special Needs teacher, Chichester High School for Girls ON TOUR The Hate Play Supported generously by A revival and tour of the play to schools in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, focusing on Hate Crime and social cohe- sion. The company undertook 9 performances and supporting workshops in five project schools: Bow School of Maths and Computing, Mulberry School for Girls, Swanlea School, Central Foundation Girls’ School, Stepney Green School - Maths and Computing College, Raine’s Foundation School. Creative Team: Ria Parry (Director), Alan Magor, Maria Gray, David Ajao, Somalia Seaton, (Actors), OneNess Sankara (Poet). ‘The best part was when Vicki presented her emotions as it reflected how most people feel.’ Student, Mulberry School for Girls ‘The energy, the mixture of gender and cultures working togeth- er is a great message for our students. The technical aspects were also excellent.’ Year Team Leader, Swanlea School DEVELOPMENT PROJECT An Introduction to Dickens The company took up residence at Chichester High School for one week and worked with a class of Year 10 students to develop an Introduction to Dickens. Creative Team: Michael Wicherek (Director), Matt Rutherford, Alan Magor, Emma Butcher (Actors). Chichester High School for Girls (rehearsal in residency) Folkestone School for Girls (preview) ‘In my opinion it is wonderful for the students to get the chance to do something different. It encouraged them to read and share knowledge.’ English Teacher ‘Thank you for making it fun and interesting and for making the teachers have a part!’ Student PILOT TOUR Excited about Poetry workshop A pilot tour of a new, scripted workshop aimed at Key Stage 4 students to encourage an interest in and appreciation of poetry. Creative Team: Michael Wicherek (Workshop Leader), David Ajao, Alan Magor (Actors) and Abdul Shyllon (music) Performed at St John the Baptist, Woking, Fort Pitt Grammar School, Chatham, Kingsford Community School, London, and East Bergholt High School, Suffolk I really enjoyed learning that there was a new way to study poems which was exciting and it made me more enthusiastic about poetry. Year 10 Student ON TOUR TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS Feet First and Car Story Creative Team: Philippe Cherbonnier (Director), Ronan McMahon, Stephanie Butler, Liv Spencer, Matt Rutherford (Actors). Our Road Plays, with strong travel and road safety messages, were commissioned by the London Boroughs of Havering, Ealing, Barnet and Hackney, and Cambridgeshire County Council. Feet First toured to 40 schools and performed to 4,640 pupils. ‘I thought it was raising so many issues, dealing with much more than just walking to school and all that in the most imaginative and entertaining way.’ Barnet teacher Car Story toured to 74 schools and performed to 6,840 pupils. ‘It was very entertaining and very on-message. It fits brilliantly with our school travel plan.’ Hackney teacher 100% of teachers thought that both productions were really worthwhile. The URBAN MISCHIEF PROJECT A co-writing project. Grants for the Arts Box Clever and partner schools c0-writing the sequel to Puck of the Estate. Creative Team: Anna Bosworth (Digital Practitioner), OneNess Sankara (Composer), Michael Wicherek (Director). Response to Editorial meetings at Tate Modern In partnership with Chichester High School for Girls, Bow School of Maths and Computing; The Charter School, Dulwich; ‘It’s been an amazing experience The Clarendon College, Trowbridge; Riddlesdown Collegiate, and given me confidence.’ St Catherine’s Catholic School for Girls; Wells Cathedral School; Student St Edmund’s Catholic School, Dover. ‘This particular workshop has Workshop sessions took place at each participating school really enthused the students followed by editorial group meetings with representatives from and I think it will continue to all the schools at Tate Modern. A rehearsed reading is take off in a big way back at scheduled for Summer 2013. school. The opportunity has been one not to be missed 100% of both students and teachers really in so many ways.