We ran our 6 day summer school from June 14 - 19 at #ThePlaygroundTheatre, Latimer Road, London W10.

Emma Lucia Hands led sessions on #AMidsummerNightsDream, Philip Cumbus on #MuchAdoAboutNothing, Lucy Bailey and Michael Corbidge on #TwelfthNight and #TwoMerchantsofModena and Sarah Sayeed sessions on the Voice and Music with text.

Below is some enthusiastic feedback plus photos and short videos from Faisal Mohiuddin, Annette Probert, Valentina Vinci, Marilyn Homer and Lynn Strugnell.

Ages ranged from 20 - 79 and the participants came from Liverpool, North Wales, Hull, Glasgow, London, Newcastle, Milan, Milton Keynes, Warwickshire, Cambridgeshire, Berkshire etc with English, Welsh, Bangladeshi, Indian, Italian, Swiss, Greek, Australian and Scottish nationalities present.

THE SIX DAYS WAS A LOT OF FUN WITH PLENTY OF LAUGHTER. IT FELT GLORIOUSLY NORMAL TO BE TOGETHER, WORKING IN A THEATRE SPACE AGAIN. 

This course was one of the best things I’ve done in a long time. I took a risk as I had no idea what to expect, and it was brilliant. Thank you to you and the team for putting together a great week. Lizzie Miles

I just wanted to say that it was an absolutely stunning two days with Philip Cumbus. Not only did I learn so much, but there was such a warmth and openness and inclusiveness in the room. I was particularly impressed by the diversity of the collective brain, as it is unique to be in a group that has so many people from different experiences, ages, cultures all sharing and contributing and being brave and generous. That is a testament to your vision of the project and also to the teachers for being so empowering and encouraging! Elena Pellone

I very much enjoyed learning with top professionals; people who really know what they are doing because they have solid experience of theatre work and particularly directing. Julia Holden

Excellent combination of Lucy Bailey and voice coach Michael Corbidge. I really appreciated the detailed pre work Lucy and Michael put into the course. It was well thought out and structured to the right level. It was well paced but most of all tremendous fun. The best aspect was the fact that it was almost wholly activity based. The length of the 4 day module was perfect as was the length of the day and the breaks given. I cannot fault the programme in any way. David Choules

I have never wanted to act but discovered that being involved in the process all day long ( 10 - 4.30) really helped my understanding of the characters, their words and actions. I gained insight into the feelings and emotions behind them as well as their effect on me as I received and spoke the words.

I felt included, a part of something happening that was much bigger than me. Marilyn Homer

 

Stand up comedian and writer Mark Daniels won our short playwriting competition that we presented in conjunction with Props Mental Health with Corona Virus - A Great British Farce.
There were almost 100 entries so he faced a lot of competition.
He has expanded the two hander into a piece lasting 60 minutes - the run is on for 3 nights, August 2, 3, 4

Come and laugh the trauma away at this dark comedy, inspired by the writer's ridiculous lockdown diary entries.

 DON'T MISS IT!

From his website -

Latest News
👉 Tickets here 👈 My new play Coronavirus – A Great British Farce, is coming to Camden Fringe 2021. Hen and Chickens Theatre, 2nd-4th August. 👉 Tickets here 👈

My sitcom, Straight Faced, has just won Pozzitive Comedy’s FunnyDot competition and I will be working with them on a staged reading of it. Watch this space.

A sketch of mine recently appeared on BBC Radio 4 Extra’s podcast, The Skewer.

I am overjoyed to have been announced as a Writer in Residence for Broken Silence Theatre for 2020-2021!

The run of N89, my play set on a night bus, was sadly cut short due to COVID-19. But, you can now catch the bus online here!

My play Single Ticket was longlisted in the prestigious Bruntwood Playwriting Award and recently had a rehearsed reading by Dramatists Guild.

My short play, Safe Man, has been selected as part of Theatre503’s Rapid Write Response. Catch it here.

I’m working on an exciting screen project that involves writing a script about homosexuality during World War 2. Watch this space!

I’m working with a co-writer, Laura McGrady on a new piece about queer relationships. Working title: Billie Billy Lee Leigh. Hopefully coming soon!

www.markdanielscomedy.co.uk 

#standup #homosexualityinWW2 #TheSkewer #standupcomedy #youngmaleBritishplaywright #youngplaywright #LGBTQ+ #HenandChickens #CamdenFringe @PropsMHealth #PropsMentalHealth

Sarah Sayeed is a musician, vocal artist, composer, writer and workshop facilitator who has worked at both the RSC and Globe. She has more than 15 years of experience working collaboratively with a range of artists. She is currently director of Phakama Project, Queen Mary's University of London.
www.projectphakama.org

sarahsayeedartist.com is where you can read much more about Sarah's work

Over three evenings Sarah offers a range of workshops:

Free Your Voice - Discover your own natural voice, exploring different ways of working with range and dynamics. We will focus on expression, intent and clarity as we explore extracts from Shakespeare’s texts and dialogue. Monday 14th (5.30 – 9.30pm £65).

Composing Sound and Design - This session will explore ways of scoring a piece of Shakespeare’s text. We will discover natural resources the actor or performer can utilise in scoring using the body, through instruments and the voice. Tuesday 15th (5.30 – 9.30pm £65).

The Art of the Speech - What makes a good speech and how do we best approach it? Exploring different methods of approaching speech through language, meaning, voice work and delivery. Wednesday 16th (5.30 to 9.30pm £65) .

#Composer #SoundDesigner #MusicalDirector #Writer #performer #sound #sounddesign #speech #voice

STOP PRESS - on June 6th, Rakie won Best Supporting Actress at the #BAFTA's for her role in #Anthony on #BBC1

Film, theatre and television actor #RakieAyola said in a recent interview in the Financial Times that Bill Alexander was her mentor and set her love of Shakespeare.

#RSCHonoraryAssociateArtist Bill is an Associate Director with Shakespeare in Italy. We are planning to stage his abridged six-character version called A Merchant of Venice later this year at The Playground Theatre in London W10.

Rakie, who recently starred in the ITV drama #Grace was named best female actor in the #2020BlackBritishTheatreAwards for her performance in On Bear Ridge. Her other television appearances have included Anthony and Noughts & Crosses.

In the interview she says: “Director Bill Alexander, who I did a lot of plays with in the 1990s set my love of Shakespeare.” She also describes her drama teacher at school and head of studies at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, together with actor girlfriends in a creative network as being mentors.

She adds further: “I’d love to do a costume drama. In period drama you can be larger and fruitier and juicier!”

It was 30 years ago, she says, that she wrote to the head of drama at ITV and said “why do I never see black people in your dramas?” He gave her one line and it got her a job. “I've been running on that ever since. Saying the thing that people want to say, but don’t, for fear of never working again.”

Rakie stars in the #BBC1 crime thriller #ThePact which begins on Monday May 17th.

 #BAFTA #BestSupportingActress

 

Sharing Shakespeare Workshops - a week-long summer school of theatre courses | Line-Up (lineupnow.com)

Click on the link above to book.