Shakespeare 4 Kidz News

ALPHA ROMEO

EVEN IF YOU know absolutely nothing about Shakespeare you will have heard of Romeo and Juliet. The story of the star-crossed lovers, it appears, is as old as time.

It’s been retold in countless ways since Shakespeare first put his play on stage over 400 years ago, but never has it been told in the same fun-filled, rock and roll way which Shakespeare 4 Kidz (S4K) promise. This performance is a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet written by S4K’s Julian Chenery and Matt Gimblett. The first performance was at the Barn Theatre, Oxted in July 1997. The show then appeared at the Edinburgh Festival in 1999; and has subsequently toured the UK to acclaimed reviews in 1999 and 2005.

Shakespeare 4 Kidz is an award-winning British theatre company which specialises in exciting, visually stunning adaptations of classic Shakespeare stories. It blends the most famous passages of original text with modern language, music, song and dance to create magical plays which are easy to understand.

They are designed to be entertaining as well as educational, meaning that children as young as eight can enjoy them. And adults who have been put off Shakespeare because of the boring lessons at school will find S4K’s works shake up Shakespeare, reveal all the fun in them and tell the tales clearly and concisely.

In the S4K version of Romeo and Juliet all the original ingredients are retained.

The Montagues and the Capulets are proud Italian families – but great enemies. One night Romeo Montague and his friends decide to gatecrash the Capulet ball and that is where the couple fall head over heels in love.

From then on it’s a roller-coaster ride. Juliet’s parents plan an arranged marriage for her to Count Paris as they don’t know that she has secretly married Romeo, the rival gangs turn to violence in the streets, two young men die and Romeo is banished.

Juliet and Friar Lawrence hatch a dare-devil plan involving a dangerous potion. In a desperate race against time and fate, can Romeo make it back to his bride’s side before it is too late?

Love and hate, laughter and tears, politics and religion, power and passion – S4K’s Romeo and Juliet has got them all – and in a way everyone can understand and relate to.

The show makes a perfect introduction to the play for people of all ages and a solid base for anyone wanting to go on to study it in greater depth.

To reinforce the stage show S4K offers exciting workshops for schools to give pupils an even greater insight into the story, its themes and its characters. And with Romeo and Juliet as one of the two compulsory plays to be studied by all Key Stage 3 English students in England, now there are even more reasons to take your kids to see S4K’s Romeo and Juliet.

To get you even further in the mood City Times brings you the show’s choreographer, Joseph Fowler, to reveal the standard of the performer behind the scenes.

Joseph was trained as a classical dancer at both the Royal Ballet lower school (White Lodge) and the Royal Ballet upper school (Talgarth Road).As a student he had the opportunity to perform at the Royal Opera House, initially as a soldier in The Nutcracker and then study with the Royal Ballet Company. Upon graduation from the Royal Ballet school he went on to perform with some of the most prestigious international dance companies in Europe: The Royal Ballet Company (Covent Garden London) five years as both corps de ballet and soloist with The Zurich Ballet, Switzerland, Le ballet Roland Petit, and many others.

Joseph has worked and collaborated with some the world’s most famous choreographers and directors including: Mats Ek, Jiri Kyllian, Hans Van Manen, Amanda Miller,William Forsyth, Maurice Bejart, Heinz Spoerli, Karine Saporta, Ed Wubbe, Roland Petit and Ann Reinking.

“Parallel to my career as a dancer I have always been extremely interested in choreography and stage direction,” Joseph revealed. “I have choreographed and co-directed numerous international dance and theatre companies including The Zurich Ballet, The Royal Swedish Ballet, The Royal Ballet London as well as for independent companies, special events, television, cinema and video clips. I have also choreographed and directed for Disney and for international performers such as dame Shirley Bassey.”

Joseph’s work has been performed all over Europe and in the US. In that time he has received several awards including The Sir Kenneth MacMillan award for outstanding achievement, The Joan Lawson Award, The James Monahan Award, The Time Award and two Golden Artist Awards. Joseph is now based in Paris where he is Resident director/Assistant director at the Théâtre du Chatelet and dance advisor for La Comédie Française.

“My current projects are this international tour with the theatre company Shakespeare 4 Kidz which is going great. Everyone is so talented! Then I shall be choreographing a new musical production for Equinox Celebrity Cruises USA and I shall be assistant director for the creation of Hello Dolly in London. I shall continue my collaboration with Shakespeare 4 Kidz later this year with the creation of the new production of Macbeth. I am thrilled to be coming to Dubai as this will be my first time and I hope that this trip will be the beginning of new and exciting projects in the Emirates.”

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CLICK HERE to read the original article on the Khaleej Times website

CHILD'S PLAY

Bard of Shakespeare? You won’t be when you see the latest adaptation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, writes Eve Dugdale

Romeo Romeo, where for art thou Romeo?

Whether you’re a culture vulture or someone who’s quite happy to admit they haven’t picked up a book since school, you probably recognise that line.

Like him or loathe him, people around the world have heard of William Shakespeare.

His plays have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than any other playwright.

Now the group Shakespeare 4 Kidz is bringing one of The Bard’s most popular plays ‘Romeo and Juliet’ to children in Dubai.

The theatre company says understanding the work of the classical English playwright is beneficial to children of all nationalities, not just because of the words he uses or the way he forms sentences.

“Obviously for English children it’s important they know about Shakespeare because it’s their inheritance, a tradition. It’s essential children know about their history and can pass on their traditions,” explains assistant director and choreographer Joseph Fowler.

“But for other children it’s a useful tool in life. “Shakespeare plays focus on things that our younger generation need to know about - morals, family life, marriage, rivalry, crime, pride, passion - everything that life is made up of. His work definitely has international appeal.”

Joseph, who was trained at England’s prestigious Royal Ballet School and has travelled around the world both as a dancer and director says he’s always impressed with the popularity of Shakespeare on his travels.

“Everybody knows of Shakespeare no matter where you go. Everybody can quote a line from Shakespeare - people may not know why or how they know but everybody seems to know his work. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a particularly popular one, especially after it was made into a film with Leonardo Di Caprio.”

The Shakespeare 4 Kidz shows are adaptations of popular plays that use key elements of the original Shakespeare text interweaved with modern language, dance, music and comedy to help children understand the plot, yet keep them entertained as well.

There are two performances a day of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre (DUCTAC), Mall of the Emirates, starting today until Thursday. 

It’s not the first time Shakespeare 4 Kidz has visited the Middle East either. It has been staging performances here for several years with ‘Hamlet’ being staged just last year.

Joseph says the company chose Dubai as the first overseas destination to put on the show because Shakespeare is so popular here. “It was a logical place to kick off the tour abroad. We’ve been touring England for nine months and we’re here for a three week tour of the Middle East. We always have a fabulous reception in Dubai, the children love it so it was almost on demand why we came back here.” And we don’t have to take Joseph’s word for how popular the show is here.

Jane Shaddick is assistant head teacher at Dubai English Speaking School. She says her pupils always enjoy the Shakespeare 4 Kidz productions and it really helps them get to grips with the plays. In fact, her children are so keen on the funky adaptations that this year she’s taking 220 kids to the theatre! “The students totally engage with the plays -  it’s so visual. “They love the costumes and the jokes between the actors. In fact, they’ve told me it’s ‘awesome’ actually. “Some of them may be a bit apprehensive at first, they don’t know what to expect because after all it’s a Shakespearian play so a lot of them think it’s going to be very formal, classic theatre. “But the way Shakespeare 4 Kidz presents it, it’s very lively and accessible for the children. We also do workshops with the company so we have the kids working alongside the actors and they paraphrase sections from the play and pick up on plots.”

Shaddick says it’s important youngsters experience literacy in a fun way early on. “I think if kids have a positive introduction to Shakespeare when they’re young it makes it easier to understand when they’re older.  “Children of all nationalities enjoy it. Because it’s made so up to date and visual and exciting, it’s appealing to all. “Shakespeare looked at loads of things that are happening nowadays - betrayal, jealousy, friendship, things that children can understand and relate to.”

For tickets or more information on the show visit www.ductac.org or phone 04 341 4777. There is a special charity performance at 4pm on Thursday in aid of children with cancer.

Complete the following well known Shakespeare quotes

* The lady doth ….. too much

* If ….. be the food of love, play on

* What a piece of ….. a man

* ….. is such sweet sorrow

* A ….. by any other name would smell as sweet

* Such stuff  as ….. are made of

* All that ….. is not gold

CLICK HERE to see the original article on the 7 Days website

The Shakespeare 4 Kidz Theatre Company have arrived in Dubai for the start of a three week tour of Romeo and Juliet - The Musical.

The show opens at the Centerpoint Theatre, DUCTAC on Monday 27 April where it is playing until Thursday.

SCHOOLS BOOKING LINE - 055 3847 484
DUCTAC BOX OFFICE - 04 341 4777

CLICK HERE for more information from the DUCTAC website

The tour continues with dates in Damascus, Syria; Sharjah and Bahrain.

Neil takes to the road as a singing, dancing Romeo

A SOUTHEND actor is set to light up theatres in the Middle East, after landing a lead role in Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers.

Neil Toon, 24, who went to Shoeburyness High School, will play Romeo in Shakespeare 4 Kidz’ version of Romeo and Juliet.

He has already made a mark on stage after being cast in the West End roles of Marius in Les Miserables and Link Larkin in Hairspray.

Neil moves into the part after appearing in New Boy, in London’s Trafalgar Studios, and the title role in his first pantomime, Aladdin, last Christmas.

The international tour starts on Monday and visits Dubai, Damascus, Sharjah, Bahrain and Gibraltar.

“I was hoping to get away on holiday this summer but it seemed doubtful because of the credit crunch,” says the tenor, who was born in Southend.

“I’m very lucky, as now I’m going to beautiful places with beautiful sunshine, doing what I love and getting paid for it.”

“Romeo and Juliet is the chance to do something new.”

The Shakespeare 4 Kidz musical production tells the famous story in a combination of original text, modern language, songs and dance, to make the show easier for youngsters to understand and enjoy.

CLICK HERE to read the original article at the Basildon recorder website