Shakespeare 4 Kidz News

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FANS of Shakespearean play A Midsummer Night’s Dream will have a chance to enjoy a child-friendly version of the musical comedy when it is staged in Bahrain next month.

The play centres on the marriage of the Duke of Athens Theseus to the Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta and the activities of the mischievous fairies of the Fairyland forest in which the play is set.

The play also touches on the stories of four Athenian lovers as well as a group of Athenian workmen who are working towards presenting a play to entertain the royal couple at their wedding celebrations.

It is being staged in Bahrain by British production house Shakespeare 4 Kidz (S4K) in association with Bahrain-based Entertainment Plus.

The play was originally meant to have three shows in Bahrain, but organisers have added another show to meet requests from theatre fans.

“By popular demand, we will now have three matinee shows and change the timing of one of the shows,” said Entertainment Plus owner Paula Mansour.

Shows will now take place at the Alumni Club in Adliya at 4.30pm on January 15, at 11am on January 16 and at 8.45am and 11.45am on January 17.

“Every S4K show uses the whole Shakespearean plot but uses only the most famous original lines and slots them into modern language so that everyone, even the youngest primary school children, can understand,” said organisers.

“There are also songs, dances and lots of spellbinding effects as the fairies create a world of wonder in the woods.”

The staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream follows the successful run of Macbeth at the club last March, which was part of the play’s international tour.

Tickets are BD13 for children and BD16 for those aged over 18.
Special rates will also be offered to schools who book in advance.

Tickets are now available at Alosra Supermarket at the Najibi Centre in Saar, Razmatazz in
Budaiya and at the Hava Java café at Manazel, Salmabad.

Young actors will also have a chance to audition for the role of the play’s Indian prince and share the stage with the S4K actors.The role requires a 10-year-old boy, but he need not be Indian, said Ms Mansour.

Contact her on 39616858
to arrange an audition or
e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

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Getting To The Bottom Of The Bard

There’s magic in the air. After the first leg of a hugely successful UK tour, Shakespeare 4 Kidz return to Dubai’s DUCTAC with a revival of their acclaimed A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Fairies and fun, royalty and romance, magic and misunderstandings: A Midsummer Night’s Dream has them all and more. So, little wonder this enchanting play is one of the most popular ever written. The Bard’s comedy gets a magical transformation from S4K, whose musical version has long been a must-see for school parties and family groups.

A galaxy of S4K celebrity fans have already sent good luck messages for the show.

Dame Judi Dench: (Titania at the Rose in Kingston this year): “I am happy to support any approach that helps children to understand Shakespeare’s plays and to realise that they are about emotions that we all share – love, jealousy, anger etc – all of which can be found in The Dream!”

Dame Helen Mirren: “Good wishes to Shakespeare 4 Kidz. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is the Avatar of Shakespeare, with something to be enjoyed by all age groups, a great message and lots of fun and fantasy. Enjoy!”

Victoria Wood: “Good luck, stay cool – there’s nothing worse than a nervous Bottom!”

Graham Norton: “Have a wonderful show. Good Puck to you all!”

Jason Donovan: “It is great for kids to appreciate at an early age great writing and none has a better grasp of the English language than Shakespeare himself. Enjoy the journey kids!”

Barbara Windsor: “To all the Shakespeare 4 Kidz, I would like to wish you lots of luck with your A Midsummer Night’s Dream tour. What a wonderful way to introduce Shakespeare to a younger audience. To all of you who are performing, and to all who are watching, ENJOY! Lots of love Barbara Windsor x”

The Dream is one of six S4K titles, following on from the 2009/10 national and international hit tour of Macbeth.

With a script and songbook by Julian Chenery and Matt Gimblett, and assistance from Mr Shakespeare, every S4K show uses the whole Shakespearean plot but uses only the most famous original lines and slots them into modern language so that everyone – even the youngest primary school children – can understand.

Adults in the audience who have previously been baffled by the Bard will find that they can at last understand what it is all about!

There are also songs, dances and lots of spellbinding effects as the fairies create a world of wonder in the woods.

Teachers, parents, pupils and critics are unanimous in their praise for S4K shows. Here are some of the things they said about Macbeth.

“My class and I caught a production of Macbeth…it was fantastic…a wonderful introduction to Shakespeare,” wrote a teacher from Northampton.

“I never thought Shakespeare cold be so interesting,” agreed a parent from Leicester.

“My favourite thing that’s happened this term,” said a 10 year old from York.

“My 10 year old daughter, who had already seen the afternoon performance with her school, couldn’t wait to go back for a second showing in the evening. That’s high praise indeed from someone who normally prefers Hannah Montana,” said a critic from Barnstaple.

Tyler in a Year 7 class in Truro gave it five out of five; Matthew in Year 6 in Leeds said it would stay in his memory for ever and Bethany, a Year 6 from Buxton, said: “The worst part was the interval!”

S4K promise a Dream show for all the family. So, why not fly away for some fun with the fairies!

S4K’s Dream is at DUCTAC January 9 -11.

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S4K READY TO STAGE MUSICAL COMEDY

   
BRITISH production house Shakespeare 4 Kidz (S4K) is gearing up to stage the musical comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream in Bahrain next month.

The play centres on the marriage of the Duke of Athens Theseus to the Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta and the activities of the mischievous fairies of the Fairyland forest in which the play is set.

The play also touches on the stories of four Athenian lovers as well as a group of Athenian workmen who are working towards presenting a play to entertain the royal couple at their wedding celebrations.

Child-friendly versions of the play will take place at the Alumni Club, Adliya, at 4.30pm on January 15, at 10am and 4.30pm on January 16 and at 10am on January 17.

"Every S4K show uses the whole Shakespearean plot but uses only the most famous original lines and slots them into modern language so that everyone, even the youngest primary schoolchildren, can understand," said organisers.

"There are also songs, dances and lots of spellbinding effects as the fairies create a world of wonder in the woods."

The staging of A Midsummer Night's Dream follows the successful run of Macbeth at the club last March, which was part of the play's international tour.

Tickets for the shows are BD13 for children and BD16 for those over 18 years old.

Special rates will be offered to schools who book in advance. Contact 39616858 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ARTICLE ON THE DUBAI CITY LIFE WEBSITE

GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BARD

There’s magic in the air. After the first leg of a hugely successful UK tour, Shakespeare 4 Kidz return to Dubai’s DUCTAC with a revival of their acclaimed A Midsummer Night’s Dream.