Shakespeare 4 Kidz News

A school in Teeside performed a MINI-MACBETH

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Oct 1 2010 By Evening Gazette
Barley Fields Primary School are performing Macbeth

YOUNG thespians at a Teesside primary school have been getting to grips with a host of Shakespeare works.

Pupils at Barley Fields Primary in Ingleby Barwick have spent a week celebrating the works of the world’s most famous playwright.

And a group of them even took to the stage for a performance of one of The Bard’s most famous plays.

“We have been doing all sorts with the pupils from reception age right through the school,” teacher Sara Weeks said.

“We have been looking at A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.

“The children have been doing all sorts of different activities and the oldest children have even put on a mini Macbeth performance.”

Touring company Shakespeare 4 Kids have been working with the children at the school.

Arts and crafts, story-writing and drama have all been on the agenda.

And despite being hundreds of years old, Shakespeare’s works have gone down a storm with the youngsters at Barley Fields.

“They have absolutely loved it,” Miss Weeks said.

“It’s made Shakespeare exciting for them. It brings it to life.

“I think they learn to think outside of the box and realise learning can be fun. We have even heard them quoting things to each other.”


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Shakespeare 4 Kidz comes to Dorking

September 30, 2010

FAIRIES and fun, royalty and romance, magic and misunderstandings: A Midsummer Night’s Dream has them all and more. Shakespeare 4 Kidz want to make sure everyone can enjoy the wonders of this play and bring their child-friendly version to the Dorking Halls Thursday and Friday, October 7 and 8.

Some of the cast from Shakespeare 4 Kidz’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Bard’s comedy gets a magical transformation from Shakespeare 4 Kidz, whose musical version has proved a huge hit every time it has toured.

Who can resist the fabulous story of a Duke marrying his Amazonian queen, two sets of lovers who elope into the woods where the audience finds feuding fairies and a naughty sprite called Puck, whose mismanaged magic causes no end of hilarity?

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

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.

Performances run at 1.30pm and 7.30pm on Thursday and 10am and 1.30pm on Friday.

Call the Dorking Halls box office on 01306 881717.

Kidz play for Ben

As he prepared for the opening of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Carshalton actor Ben Goodridge speaks to Go! about the fun of working with Julian Chenery’s renowned theatre company, Shakespeare 4 Kidz.

Their autumn production opens at the Dorking Halls on October 7 and moves to the Fairfield Halls in Croydon the following month with four shows.

This is his third year of playing with S4K for Ben, 35, who has been a professional actor for the last decade.

He said: “A lot of people say they don’t like Shakespeare because it’s too difficult to grasp. The S4K shows are generally aimed at 7-12 year olds but you do see adults enjoying it too because the way we do it is that little bit more accessible and understandable.

“For parents it’s a great way to get their kids into theatre but it’s good to come for their own enjoyment as well.

“The reaction we get from the kids is fantastic, it makes all the preparation and rehearsing worthwhile.”

When previously with S4K Ben has played Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, Banquo in Macbeth and Sebastian in The Tempest.

“I’ve had a great time doing it and it’s actually been my first experience of doing Shakespeare,” said Ben who is playing Snug in the new production.

“Snug gets to pay the lion within the play in the play at the end, which makes it a really fun role. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is certainly a more fun show to be in and for the kids to watch. There’s more comedy going on and the kids take to the characters better than some of the characters in the tragedies like Macbeth,” he added.

The show uses an original musical score and a lot of bigger speeches in the plays are put into song.

“When they’re delivered through music and movement it’s a lot easier for children to take in,” said Ben, who feels many children are missing out on live theatre.

He said: “Kids these days don’t get to experience a lot of live theatre what with things like the internet and video games being around. It can be really beneficial to expose kids to the theatre rather than just putting them in front of the television.”

He is looking forward to the show’s opening in Dorking and then coming to Croydon, where he’ll have friends and family attending. “They’ve seen me a good few times so it’s no added pressure. It’s nice for them to come along and give me support.”

Afterwards there are other dates lined up for Ben, who will go with the Surrey-based S4K to Dubai and other Arab states where the company has had huge success.

“They don’t have a lot of theatre that is the same style as ours over there so it goes down really well,” said Ben, who at the end of the UK run will be learning his lines for his part in pantomime.

Tickets £16, children £10. One adult free with every 10 children.

Dorking Halls performances are at 1.30 and 7.30 on Thursday October 7 and 10 and 1.30 on Friday October 8. Box office: 01306 881717 or www.dorkinghalls.co.uk

Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon on Wednesday November 3 at 1.30 and 7.30, Thursday November 4 at 10 and 1.30. 0208 688 9291 or www.fairfield.co.uk

It’s Dream time for Clare again

Not many women want to be flung about in the woods and called names. But Clare Reilly just can’t get enough of it!

PHOTO BY ELYSE MARKS

The Croydon-educated actress is playing hapless Helena in Shakespeare 4 Kidz’ musical adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the second time.

Poor Helena is unlucky in love in the Bard’s comedy. The boys – Demetrius and Lysander – have eyes only for sexy little Hermia while beanpole Helena is the butt of their jokes.

Things get even worse when Oberon’s sprite Puck gets involved and the insults really start to fly.

Claire went to Regina Ceoli Primary School in South Croydon, St Philomena's High for Girls in Carshalton, did an HND in Musical Theatre at the Charles Cryer Theatre in Carshalton, followed by the year-long course at the London School of Musical Theatre in 2004.  Now based in Wimbledon, she also has strong connections withthe Mitre Players.

Since graduating in 2004 Clare has played all sorts of roles from Cinderella to Boogie Nights and will be appearing in panto this Christmas in Sheringham. She also kicks up her heels in fine style and performed a great Celtic dance in S4K’s last tour of Macbeth.

What is it about Helena which just keeps Clare coming back for more?

"Helena is the most fun character and the most different character I have played since I left college," she says. "Even though she cries and wails a lot, there is so much comedy in her. I have fun every single day!"

"One of my favourite moments is when she is "enchanted" by Puck in the woods. It involves a squeaky, rubber bone and a spaniel impression!"

“She’s a hopeless romantic, ditzy but not dumb, utterly faithful, utterly loving and utterly desperate!” says Clare.