SOUTH HILL PARK EASTER SCHOOL 2019 PERFORMANCE DATES: 17-22 APRIL 2019 I
C O N T E N T S 1. WELCOME 2. DATES FOR THE DIARY 3. AUDITIONS AND CASTING 4. THE TEAM 5. REHEARSALS AND PRODUCTION WEEK 6. VENUE PICTURES 7. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 8. OUT THE DOOR CHECKLIST 9. EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS PHOTOGRAPHS ON FRONT PAGE: MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL ADVENTURE, EASTER SCHOOL 2018. PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAVANNAH PHOTOGRAPHIC II
WELCOME TO EASTER SCHOOL THE PERFECT HOLIDAY TREAT IT DOESN T MATTER IF YOU RE TREADING THE BOARDS FOR THE FIRST TIME OR IF YOU RE AN EXPERIENCED, YOUNG PERFORMER, EASTER SCHOOL IS A FANTASTIC HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE FOR ANYONE WITH A PASSION FOR PERFORMING. IN JUST FIVE DAYS, THE EASTER SCHOOL PERFORMERS WILL LEARN ALL OF THE ENSEMBLE NUMBERS FROM THE SHOW. THEY WILL THEN JOIN UP WITH THE ADULT CAST TO CREATE ONE SEAMLESS PRODUCTION WHICH IS PRESENTED IN THE WILDE THEATRE. A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS WORK WITH A COMMUNITY CAST AND THE EASTER SCHOOL PERFORMERS TO CREATE A PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY PRODUCTION. THIS IS TRULY A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE MEMORIES MADE HERE WILL LAST A LIFETIME. Everyone involved was brilliant with the children, the chaperones, the cast, the other children taking part. Just a great experience. PARENT, 2018 "Excellent course and highly recommended. My daughter built her confidence immensely and the staff and other actors were amazing! PARENT, 2018 1
Dates for the Diary - Rehearsals Monday 8 April 2019-9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 8.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Tuesday 9 April 2019-9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 8.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Wednesday 10 April 2019-9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 8.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Thursday 11 April 2019-9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 8.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Friday 12 April 2019-9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 8.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Saturday 13 April - Day Off for EASTER SCHOOL Sunday 14 April 2019-10am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 9.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer (Technical Rehearsal - All Groups) Monday 15 April 2019-6pm-10pm. Drop-off opens at 5.40pm Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer (Dress Rehearsal - Group One) Tuesday 16 April 2019-12pm-4pm. Drop-off opens at 11.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer (Dress Rehearsal - Group Two) Tuesday 16 April 2019-6pm-10pm. Drop-off opens at 5.40pm Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer (Dress Rehearsal - Group Three) We are always on the lookout for parent chaperones for rehearsals and performances, so if you have a child involved in the show, hold a chaperone licence and would be willing to help out on the performance days we would love to hear from you. 2
Dates for the Diary - Performances Please note: Children aged 8 years or young will need to be signed out and taken off site for one hour between shows in order to comply with the law and performance regulations. Drop off and pick up will be in the Wilde Theatre Foyer for all performances. SHOW ONE - GROUP ONE Wednesday 17 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 12 NOON DROP OFF: 10.30AM PICK UP: 02.30PM* (under 8 and those wishing to sign out) RETURN TIME: 03.30PM SHOW TWO - GROUP ONE Wednesday 17 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 4PM DROP OFF: 03.30PM PICK UP: 06.30PM SHOW THREE - GROUP TWO Thursday 18 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 12 NOON DROP OFF: 10.30AM PICK UP: 02.30PM* (under 8 and those wishing to sign out) RETURN TIME: 03.30PM SHOW FOUR - GROUP TWO Thursday 18 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 4PM DROP OFF: 03.30PM PICK UP: 06.30PM SHOW FIVE - GROUP THREE Friday 19 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 2PM DROP OFF: 12.30PM PICK UP: 04.30PM* (under 8 and those wishing to sign out) Drop off/pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer SHOW SIX - GROUP THREE Friday 19 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 7PM DROP OFF: 04.30PM PICK UP: 09.30PM 3
SHOW SEVEN - GROUP ONE Saturday 20 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 2PM DROP OFF: 12.30PM PICK UP: 04.30PM* (under 8 and those wishing to sign out) SHOW EIGHT - GROUP ONE Saturday 20 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 7PM DROP OFF: 04.30PM PICK UP: 09.30PM SHOW NINE - GROUP TWO Sunday 21 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 2PM DROP OFF: 12.30PM PICK UP: 04.30PM* (under 8 and those wishing to sign out) SHOW TEN - GROUP TWO Sunday 21 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 7PM DROP OFF: 04.30PM PICK UP: 09.30PM SHOW ELEVEN - GROUP THREE Monday 22 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 12 NOON DROP OFF: 10.30AM PICK UP: 02.30PM* (under 8 and those wishing to sign out) RETURN TIME: 03.30PM SHOW TWELVE - GROUP THREE Monday 22 April 2019 SHOW TIME: 4PM DROP OFF: 03.30PM PICK UP: 06.30PM 4
Auditions and Casting The Easter School Performers do not need to audition for this fantastic experience. Once you have booked your space, you have a guaranteed role in the ensemble. The team will work with the entire company to get the up to speed in their ensemble roles whatever their age or experience. No auditions. No worries. No pressure. 5
The Team A big hello from the Easter School team. Mark Hooper: Director This will be Mark s third year as the Easter production Director. Mark is the Associate Director of Learning and Participation at South Hill Park Arts Centre as well as a freelance Director and Producer. Mark also owns his own theatre company called Hit The Mark Theatre. Mark has over ten years experience working with children and young people on projects in the UK and internationally. Tim Cumper: Musical Director This will be Tim s ninth Easter production as Musical Director. Tim first performed at South Hill Park in a Jazz-Rock band called Dick Lizard. Tim taught music for the prestigious drama school Redroof s for many years and is constantly working on projects in the locality - including the South Hill Park Pantomime! Tim also composes all of the music for Summer School and is responsible for hundreds of ear-worms! Charlotte Steele: Choreographer This will be Charlotte s third Easter production as Choreographer. Charlotte works as a freelance Vocal Coach and Choreographer and sings in a girl group called Remember Monday. Jan Allen: Matron/Head Chaperone Jan has worked as a chaperone in theatre, film and TV for past 18 years and has worked on feature films including St Trinnians. For the past four years, she has been Head Chaperone for South Hill Park s pantomime and various in house projects including Madagascar, Macbeth, Seussical and Private Peaceful. 6
Rehearsals and Production Week Easter School is a huge amount of fun and by the end of the experience, we hope all participants walk away with immense feeling of pride in relation to what they have achieved. The core Easter School values are to: Build confidence Create an opportunity to have fun Encourage inclusiveness Support the creation of life-long friendships Broaden horizons, challenge expectations and develop self-worth Foster a culture of teamwork. 7
! From the first minute of the first day, the team work to a tight schedule. This tends to be on a rotation between acting, singing and choreography. Days 1 to 3 are called blocking days. We work together to create the show, learning all of the staging, choreography and musical numbers; it s hard to believe, but by day 3 we will have learnt everything we need to! Days 4 and 5 are what we call polishing days, tidying up the work we completed during days 1 to 3. We then move from the studio into the theatre, ready to begin our technical rehearsals. In case you have not been involved in a technical rehearsal before, this is the moment we bring the performance to life. We plot in the lights and sound, we work out how scenery will come on (be set) and taken off (struck). This rehearsal involves all of the actors but it is primarily for the technicians. We may only do a snippet of a scene and move onto the next one, rather than running the entire show from start to finish. All groups will be called to the technical rehearsal. Attendance is vital for health and safety reasons. If you miss any or all of these rehearsals, for whatever reason, you may be unable to perform. Finally, each group will have their own dress rehearsal. This is where everything really comes together. Performers, musicians and technicians run the show all the way through as if an audience were watching - under show conditions. We are then into the performances and you will be called according to your group allocations. 8
Venue Pictures This year we will be rehearsing in the Dance Studio and in The Wilde Theatre. There are some pictures below, just in case you have not visited South Hill Park before. 9
! Frequently Asked Questions When will we receive our script? Your child will receive their script on the first day of rehearsals. A script and a pencil are the two most important tools for any performer, make sure they bring them to each rehearsal and keep them safe. Replacement copies of the script will be charged at 5 each. Which group is my child in? Your child will be allocated a group shortly after you complete the registration form. Groupings will be based on your child s age and height. Siblings will always be kept together. There s no guarantee friends will perform together, but we will try wherever possible. No one group is preferred and grouping are not streamed or based on ability. Should my child bring in their own water? Yes. We will be active and sometimes the weather over this period can be very hot indeed. We recommend you bring 2 litres of water with you each day in a clearly labelled reusable bottle. 10
! Will my child have solo lines? In this production, the Easter School performers fulfil the role of the ensemble. While there may be occasional lines or small-features, their involvement is primarily group based work. What do I do with medication? If your child requires medication while attending the Easter School, it should be placed into a clear, sealed plastic bag. This bag should be clearly labelled with the name of the medication, your child s name, the dosage, and handed into a member of staff at the start of each day. These will be returned to parents/ guardians at the end of each day. You will be required to complete a medical form, outlining what the medication is and the frequency/dosage. South Hill Park Staff are not legally allowed to administer medication unless presented with a life or death scenario. How do I purchase tickets to see the show? Tickets for the performances are now on sale. We recommend booking as soon as possible as they tend to fill up quite quickly. There are no restrictions on how many tickets you can purchase. Please ensure you purchase tickets for the day your child s group is performing. The schedule included in this pack will help you to decide which performance(s) to book. You can visit the Box Office in person, book online or call 01344 484123. southhillpark.org.uk 11
My child is nervous/they have not performed before. Is this normal? Yes. It is perfectly natural to feel nervous before hand. We find everyone settles in very quickly once we get going with rehearsals and friendships are often formed quickly. The team is always on hand to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome. Participants range in age from six to seventeen. This is one of the strengths of Easter School. The older members of the cast are encouraged to take the younger participant under their wing to support their growth in confidence and participation. Lots of our older members started their Easter School journey at six, so they know how the first day feels. It does not matter if you are an experienced performer or a complete beginner, everyone has to start somewhere and we ll make sure you are supported every Step-kick of the way. What does Relaxed Performance mean? This year, we will offer a relaxed performance of the show so that people with Autism and other special educational needs and disabilities will be able to come and enjoy our Easter School performance. This means we will have the sound a little quieter, the house-lights a little brighter and a relaxation room will be set up for those who need to leave the theatre for some R&R during the performance. What should I do about lunch and snacks? When we get into rehearsals, it is important all participants bring enough food and drink to last the entire day. We do not allow participants to go to the restaurant to order food or drinks this is to do with keeping the children safe and supervised at all times. We do not allow participants off site while under our care, regardless of age or licence status for the same reason. Parents should not visit during break times and lunch-times. If your child forgets to bring their lunch you can drop lunchboxes off at reception. If this is not possible the team will order a children s meal from there cafe for which you will be charged. 12
What do the performers need to wear? We do not have a formal dress code, we just ask participants come appropriately dressed in clothing suitable to dance in. Restrictive materials such as denim are to be avoided. Participants should wear trainers, dance shoes, jazz shoes or plimsoles to rehearsals. No flip-flops, sandals, Ugg s, sliders or similar. Do I need to sign my child in and out? Yes. If your child is under the age of 16 you must be sign them in and out at the start and end of each day. If your child is over the age of 16 and has completed their GCSE s they may sign themselves in and out. If parents are unable to sign participants in and out personally, they will need to allocate someone over the age of 18. To do this, permission must be given in writing and the letter handed to a member of the Easter School team. The performance days work in much the same way, but with some additional rules: Children may be signed out between shows but must be signed back in 90 minutes before the start of the next performance. CHILDREN AGED 8 AND UNDER, HOWEVER, MUST BE SIGNED OUT FOR ONE HOUR BETWEEN EACH OF THE SHOWS TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE LAW. South Hill Park complies with Local Authority regulations and the Law. To this end, these rules will be strictly upheld to protect children, staff and the organisation. Failure to sign participants in and out at the correct times may result in your child being removed from the performance early, or altogether. Do I need to provide costume? In most cases, all we ask is that students provide their own shoes (black plimsoles, dance shoes, jazz shoes). All other costume will be designed and made by hand for you by our costume designer and her team. Should you be required to provide any basic items (shirts, shorts, modern day dress) our matron will send a message to you before the dress rehearsal. 13
Can participants bring mobile phones and valuable property? We allow participants to carry a mobile phone but devices and other valuables are brought completely at your own risk. If communication between home and a student is necessary during a rehearsal, this must be facilitated by a member of the South Hill Park team. Students will not need to text or call home from a private mobile during sessions. Students may use their phones during break time and lunch time. Mobile phones MUST NOT be used to take photographs and videos. Will there be a video this year? Due to licence and copyright restrictions, this year s performance will not be recorded. Can I take pictures and film my child during the performance? No. Due to safeguarding practices, licence requirements and copyright restrictions, you are not allowed to take pictures or videos during the performance. Audience members who breach these rules will be asked to leave the theatre. How do I stay up-to-date with Easter School news? The primary method of communication we use for Easter School is email, however, all information is posted to the closed Easter School Facebook Group which can be accessed via this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ shpeasterschool/ We also use the Facebook group to share behind the scene footage and photographs as we go through the rehearsal process. 14
What is the Registration Form and how do I complete it? Along with this welcome pack, you should have received a link to complete an online registration form. It is important parents/guardians complete this as soon as possible as it will be used for casting and to secure a performance licence. Unfortunately, refunds cannot be offer to participants who are refused a performance licence due to information arriving late. Registration forms are sent out once you have completed the purchase of your Easter School space. If you have any further questions or queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch: mark.hooper@southhillpark.org.uk 15
Out The Door Checklist PACKED LUNCH WATER BOTTLES TO LAST THE DAY SNACKS MEDICATION IN A LABELED/CLEAR BAG CLOTHES TO MOVE IN APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR SCRIPT PENCIL 16
EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION SOUTH HILL PARK ARTS CENTRE RINGMEAD BRACKNELL BERKSHIRE. RG12 7PA 01344 484123 ASK FOR THE MATRON: JAN ALLEN 17