Shakespeare 4 Kidz News

HSBC have been announced as headline sponsors of this year's S4K tour to the United Arab Emirates.

Shakespeare 4 Kidz – the award-winning theatre company whose easy-to-understand fun-filled musical adaptations of the Bard’s classics have delighted audiences for over ten years – are returning to the UAE with their five-star hit show, “Shakespeare 4 Kidz HAMLET”. The event is hosted by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited in association with Aldar and Aldar Academics.

The award-winning company delighted audiences in the Gulf last year when they brought their “triumphant” musical version of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to Dubai and Sharjah for the first time. Now the company are set to return with their acclaimed musical production of Shakespeare’s most famous play, Hamlet.

Kaltham Al Koheji, Chairperson, HSBC in the Community Middle East Foundation said,

“We are pleased to support the Shakespeare 4 Kidz – Hamlet tour in the UAE.

HSBC has established itself as a leading supporter of projects that promote cross cultural understanding. This educational play which is adapted to attract younger audiences without impacting the original work of the renowned writer Shakespeare, will introduce school children who come from diverse backgrounds to the astonishing world of such a great writer.

We hope with our support, we will help youngsters enjoy Shakespeare’s work in a simple way”

Our five-star hit "S4K Hamlet" is heading to the Gulf straight after the end of its current eight month UK tour.

The show which stars Paul Parris as Hamlet, with Jason Lee Scott as Claudius, Pippa Jeronimo as Gertrude and Antony Stuart-Hicks as Polonius will play dates in Bahrain, Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi during April 2008.

This follows a "triumphant" debut trip to Dubai in 2007 with S4K's A Midsummer Night's Dream, when the show played 12 sell-out performances in Dubai and Sharjah.

S4K are delighted to support the launch of the RSC Stand Up For Shakespeare Campaign.

The RSC originally proposed to launch the Manifesto with Shakespeare 4 Kidz as JOINT AUTHORS but we are delighted to be associated with the document as a CO-SIGNATORY; however S4K followers will recognise the three main elements of the campaign - DO IT ON YOUR FEET - SEE IT LIVE - START IT EARLIER - as being the heart and ethos of all that Shakespeare 4 Kidz has stood for since its inception in 1996.

In a message of our full and unequivocal support for "Stand Up For Shakespeare", S4K Founder and Chief Executive Julian Chenery commented:

"Since our inception in 1996, Shakespeare 4 Kidz have pioneered a Creative Shakespeare Education programme amongst Junior and Primary Schools here and abroad. We are delighted that the RSC – through the Shakespeare Manifesto – now endorses the innovative techniques, creative ideas and good practices that form the heart of our unique work .

"Do it – see it – start early. Simple, yet brilliant. S4K is living testimony that the Manifesto’s three key points work; we are proud to support it and urge other stakeholders and practitioners to do so. Bravo RSC! Encore!"

Click more to find out how S4K support the campaign and how YOU can sign up too!

S4K Creative Director Julian Chenery has made his first foray into the professional pantomime market as his musical adpation of PETER PAN is set to visit Hastings next Christmas.

JC wrote Peter Pan with his long-time friend and writing partner Colin Warnock in 2003 and the show includes Chenery/Warnock penned songs such as London Under Starlight, My Shadow and Me, Believe in Me, and the rousing title song Peter Pan.

The show will run from Wednesday 10th December 2008 and Sunday 4th January 2009 and is produced by JC & JW Theatre Productions, with production management provided by S4K.

More information at www.peterpanhastings.com