This year for the SGCNZ Shakespeare Festival, I directed a sequence from “Titus Andronicus”. This is what I was thinking, and how it went in the long run, with video attached. The thing about Titus is that it is a very, very, very bloody play. It features everything horrid that you can cram into a play – murder, revenge, war, rape, cannibalism…. you know. The … Continue reading Performing Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus
Recently we have been working on creating original mini-pantomimes based on fairy tales. The group wrote “Snow White”, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Sleeping Beauty” into original comic plays. Covid has not made it any easier to perform. We still have constraints around audiences, use of costume and set, as well as finding everyone in school to actually complete a performance. I am hoping this … Continue reading Pantomime
Well, we made it to the North Island champs! This was exciting as last year we had plays selected, and then we entered a lockdown, and we didn’t get to go on any further. This year the celebrations were real. The struggle though was indeed improving the 2 plays that were selected in a short time period – just 2 weeks between the regionals and … Continue reading North Island One Act Play Championships
Just this last week, we took part in the Wairarapa Regional competition of the Theatrefest One Act Play competition. We had 9 plays, and 7 of these were ready for performance (covid-19 strikes again) for the competition. Some of our successful original pieces are as follows. In the coming weeks, links to these performances will be shared, with further information about the plays. Backseat – … Continue reading Wairarapa Regional One Act Play Competition
Heya all – it has been a time I am aware. However, things have somewhat settled, and I have been digitising and uploading more teaching resources. Why? Well, we had 2 massive lockdowns in my neck of the woods. I spent the first one as our schools digital teaching expert helping the teachers prepare and engage our rural students online. The second one, well, I … Continue reading Resources for Teaching Drama
It has been a veritable lifetime since I last blogged here… and maybe it is time to bring it back. Having spent the last 2 years teaching theatre whilst in and out of Lockdown, in various states of Covid induced madness, maybe I have insight to offer other teachers… as it doesn’t look like this situation will end any time soon. So here it is… … Continue reading It has been a lifetime…
Today we challenged the students even further. We walked up to a local outdoor museum, “Cobblestones Early Settler Museum” and challenged them to be inspired by something, and create a work within 2 hours. The point of this was 2 fold. Firstly we want to dig further beneath the surface of what it means to be a New Zealander. We have already investigated Te Papa, … Continue reading The Arts Project: Day 5
Today began with a look at refining and improving. We discussed how things could be refined and improved, from adding detail, to rehearsing, to improving the script, to adding technical elements, to changing the direction. Then we gave the students 3 hours to do just that. What they came up with was amazing. From costumes to dance routines to layered vocal sounds to slam poetry … Continue reading The Arts Project: Day 4
Today we challenged the students to create “a thing” whether it be Dance, Drama, Music or Visual Art. The most important part was the set up, the how-do create things. We covered how you can use things directly, such as quotes, or the stories of different people. Looking at art, and trying to create the story of the people in the picture. Then we discussed … Continue reading The Arts Project: Day 3
I have been privileged to be in London for Theatre events a few times, and every time is brilliant. There really are no bad experiences on the West End, or in London in general for theatre. And to be completely fair, this list will include at least one thing that is outside of the West-End… but it is totally worth it. Honourable mention needs to … Continue reading Top 5 West-End Theatre Experiences
Beyond Theatre 