Shakespeare 4 Kidz News

From the Croydon Guardian 12th November 2008

Bard Times

GIGS: Shakespeare 4 Kidz, Fairfield Halls
Graham Moody

When I was at school, news of another trip to the theatre to see yet another William Shakespeare play was - more often than not - met with groans and long drawn out sighs.

Listening to complicated words and long soliloquies were not exactly the way many kids wanted to spend the rare outing they got, but if Shakespeare 4 Kidz had been around then things might have been a little different.

The award-wining British theatre company specialise in turning the Bard's classic stories into fun-filled musicals that combine all the well-known quotes from the original texts with modern language, music, song and dance - making the thous and the hasts a little easier for everyone to understand.

This year it has taken on Romeo and juliet, having already performed A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Hamlet, Twelfth Night and The Tempest, and so enormous has the company's success been that it is about to jump off the stage and onto the big screen.

"We are now in the film business," says a jubilant Julian Chenery, chief executive director and co-writer for all productions and the brainchild behind the company.

"Starting with The Tempest we are embarking on a series of six movies to be filmed in Dubai.

"it's a very exciting time for me."

The former share trader turned playwright started the company in 1996 when, with a cast of schoolchildren, it put on The Dream at Woldingham School to an audience of more than 2,000 over three nights.

"My favourite Shakespeare play is The Dream because it is the first one we did and it's so funny," he says.

"A lot of people think Shakespeare is another word for boring but I have seen the kids wet themselves with laughter watching our version."

S4K's Romeo and Juliet - The Musical, Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, November 20-21, Thurs 1.30pm and 7.30pm, Fri 10am and 1.30pm, £15 (children £9). Call 020 8688 9291 or visit shakespeare4kidz.com

Bard calls the tune and Michael sets the stage

Canterbury actor Michael Anders is making a big song and dance out of the Bard with a new musical production.

Romeo & Juliet – The Musical is the latest show by Shakespeare 4 Kidz, a theatre company which brings the classic texts to a younger audience. With the use of song, dance and some contemporary language, they aim to draw children and teenagers into Shakespeare’s thrilling world of intrigue, romance, tragedy and comedy.

Anders, 25, has been working with the company for about a year and plays Benvolio and Balthasar in the latest show, as well as being the fight captain. He is passionate about continuing Shakespeare’s legacy and showing young audiences that the stories are still relevant to them.

“Shakespeare was the father of modern literature and has inspired generations of playwrights,” he said. “So many films are based on the plays. He was such a great storyteller and by changing the time and settings, the plays are still as accessible today as they were 400 years ago.”

With big musical numbers, contemporary references among the original texts and as much comedy as possible, the company manages to draw young audiences into the story. Their high energy, vibrant productions challenge the notion that Shakespeare’s works are dry pieces designed just for adults.

“As a student in a typical high school, I got the impression that Shakespeare was an academic subject,” Anders said. “Sitting down in an English class and reading it out was very alien to me. I thought, ‘it’s a play, let’s play with it’. We offer workshops as well, getting kids to act out plays in two-hour sessions. It’s one way to get kids interested while young and hopefully they will go on to study it further.”

Anders grew up in Temple Ewell and attended Archers Court Maths and Computing College in Dover, before moving on to Canterbury College. After leaving the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff four years ago, he has been continually working and his film credits include The Other Boleyn Girl.

Before joining Shakespeare 4 Kidz, Anders had previously been involved in Shakespeare productions aimed at young people with London-based theatre company Box Clever.

“When I was a student, I felt a bit stilted about how much I could do with Shakespeare,” he said. “With training, I started to see it in a more practical way. I had looked at it as a book, but it’s not a book. Once I had got that preconception out of my head, it was great. Shakespeare 4 Kidz have the ethos that it’s not just for middle-class people who go to see the Royal Shakespeare Company. These plays were meant for everyone. By getting children interested while they’re young, that hopefully means we’ll continue to see these plays in the future.”

Romeo & Juliet – The Musical will be at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, on Wednesday, November 19 and at Woodville Halls, Gravesend, on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28.

Read the original article on line at kentnews.co.uk

Shakespeare with youthful attitude

SEE the most famous love story ever told in an energetic and moving musical which is perfect for teenagers.
Shakespeare 4 Kidz – the British theatre company that specialises in fun-filled musical adaptations of the bard's classics – brings Romeo And Juliet to Peterborough's Broadway Theatre, on Tuesday, 11 November.

The company's "music theatre Shakespeare" style is a combination of Shakespearean and modern-day English, along with some unforgettable songs and dances.

It allows theatre-lovers of all ages to enjoy Shakespeare with no fear of being unable to understand the language.

Julian Chenery is the chief executive, director and co-writer of all the adapted productions.

So far, the repertoire includes A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet.

When he left school he went straight to work as a share trader on the floor of the London Stock Exchange.

In the late '80s the financial climate was as unstable as it is today – he lost his job three times in quick succession, once only finding out when he read about it in the paper on his way to work.

So he set about thinking of a change of career and doing something he loved. It would have to be sport or the theatre.

He said: "I wasn't good enough to be a sportsman, but I was good at performing and writing."

He and his writing partner, Matt Gimblett, had already written a few short pieces for local schools.

When a commission called What Did You Do In The War, Grandad? met with critical acclaim, Julian decided that theatre was the way to go.

And so the seed of an idea of producing Shakespeare shows for young audiences germinated, took root, and grew into the successful business it is today.

Romeo And Juliet is the most famous love story in the world, and it is brought to life in a vibrant, fun-filled, manner in this production.

It is perfect for those studying Shakespeare at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3, and especially useful for GCSE pupils wishing to clearly understand this famous classic.

Read the original article from the Peterborough Evening Telegraph online at PeterboroughToday.co.uk

JENNY'S DYING TO PLAY BARD ROLE

Young actress touring in musical production of Romeo and Juliet
From The Sutton Post

Jenny has Bard role to 'die' for

Jenny Perry wil "die" twice a day when she plays Juliet in a Shakespeare 4 Kidz musical production.

Former Wallington High School girl, Jenny, 23, established herself as a talent with school drama appearances in Grease, Annie and Les Miserables.

She was involved in acting in classes at Laine Theatre Arts, in Epsom, and at the Polka Children's Theatre in Wimbledon.

But having now just graduated from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts with a first-class  BA degree in musical theatre, Jenny, of Stanley Square, Carshalton, is excited at the prospect of her first professional job.

She said: "It's a great first job. The kids' reaction to the kissing scenes aer sometimes 'oohs' and 'aahs' and sometimes lots of giggles."

The show tours until the end untikl the end of March and plays the Ashcroft Theatre, Fairfield Halls, Croyudon on Thursday November 20, and Friday November 21.

After Christmas, Jenny will also be playing Miranda in Shakespeare 4 Kidz' production of The Tempest.

The award-winning British theatre company that specialises in fun-filled musical adaptations of teh classic Shakespeare works offers the Bard in a way we can all understand.

Spokeswoman Di Eccleston explained: "It is perfect for those youngsters studying Shakespeare at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 and especially useful for GSCE students wishing to clearly understand his classics."

To book tickets for Shakespeare 4 Kidz' Romeo and Juliet - The Musical at the Ashcroft call the theatre's box office on 020 8688 9291.

Alternatively visit the Shakespeare 4 Kidz website shakespeare4kidz.com.