[Fwd: Costume list for show]

COSTUME LIST FOR THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

All to have and all black costume + stage central polo shirt
All white costume
All a coloured t-shirt of own choice with no logo or writing just plain.
All winter hats and scarfs
Group 3 blue tops
Group 1 own fairy outfit plus slippers
Group 3 OAPs costume

Black jazz shoes would be preferable for foot wear

A thick piece of tinsel that could be worn as a scarf

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Latest letter to parents Saturday 17th Nov 07

STAGE CENTRAL
9 Alexandra Grove
Knaresborough
North Yorkshire
HG5 0PH
01423 540533
07940014448
www.stagecenral.co.uk
darren@stagecentral.co.uk

11/19/2007
The Spirit of Christmas
Hi all,
Just wanted to let you know of our forthcoming show on the 15th and 16th
of December. It is entitled "The Spirit of Christmas" and will be a
mixture of drama, dance and song. I feel that it is important for all
students to have equal opportunity to perform therefore I have decided on
a variety of work to be performed rather than a book show which limits
those who do not hold a main part. This show will have a festive feel and
performed well in advance of the Holidays.
On the 15th after Stage Central morning, students will be required to move
into the main hall for a dress rehearsal with lights and sound. We will be
hopefully finished by 4pm when they will need picking up. The Saturday
performance will start at 7pm and the Sunday performance will start at 4pm
so if you could get them to the school 45 mins before, that would be
great.

Tickets will be on sale as soon as we receive them but you can fill out
the ticket request form (on front desk) beforehand to let us know your
requirements.

After the Christmas break we will be starting the Lamda training, so do
let us know by the beginning of December if you would like your child to
part of that. We will also be working on a new exciting idea which will
give each group a show of their own. Each of the teachers will work on one
single show for each group so by the summer we should have three different
performances that we will show at the school with the possibility of
taking to other venues and competitions.

We are looking for written testimonials from the parents of our students
about Stage Central so if you have the time to write your views we would
appreciate it.
Many thanks
Darren
How has your child developed or changed since coming to Stage Central?

What qualities and skills have they gained since been at Stage Central?

How would you describe the standard at Stage Central?

What additions if any, would you like to see implemented at Stage Central?

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Don't miss out on this fantastic theatre trip to Bradford during the Easter break!!
Amy has managed to get 30 tickets at a massively reduced rate. You will be accompanied by Stage Central staff.

Please fill in your name if you want to go. Look for poster on Saturdays or ask Darren or Amy

The Wiz review

REAL WIZ KIDS

Stage Central’s latest Yuletide offering ‘The Wiz’ was- as I’ve come to expect from this production team- a real hit on it’s opening night, last Wednesday at St John Fisher’s, thoroughly deserving the full capacity audience it enjoyed across two evening performances. I was glad to have seen both and to see the young cast literally grow in confidence overnight!

The familiar and much loved story, based of course on The Wizard of Oz was certainly an ambitious project, opening as it did with a beautiful rendition by Holly Edmunds, of Eva Cassidy’s moving version of the classic ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’, which set the tone perfectly.

Though the story-line adhered to the traditional plot we all know and love, the production team gave it a thoroughly modern overhaul and energy in using a variety of musical styles and numbers, moving from the blues of ‘Ease on down the road’ through to traditional ballads and on to contemporary dance, allowing for a variety of choreography routines.

This not only makes the performance all the more enjoyable but the diversity really stretches the skills and talents of the young cast, who cannot fail to develop in confidence as a result.

The multi-functional but simple set gave a suitably dreamy quality and was used well and with ease to create different scenes and settings, complemented perfectly by a multitude of lighting effects (Michael Walker).

The leads- Dorothy (Sophie J Jackson, Ashley Kate Ayres), the Tin man (Leif Anderson), the Scarecrow (Joseph Moore) and the Lion (Liam Mumford, Jessica Barnard) were all strong, playing their parts with the innocence and charm that is central to the characters and crucial to the success of the story. They coped equally well with what at times can be somewhat technically difficult solo songs. Joseph Moore’s exuberant lion, who roared his solo ‘Mean ole lion’ with real flair and humour, was a real hit, as was Jessica Barnard’s in the subsequent evening’s performance.

Others who really shone included Elisha Ainsley as the wonderfully flamboyantly evil Wicked Witch, who gave a brilliant and much enjoyed performance of her solo ‘no bad news’.

As usual, the company ensemble set pieces were always most pleasing, particular highlights for me being the flying monkeys spooky routine and the tornado sequence.

The real successes though, for me, are always the highly stylised, choreographed and costumed group performances such as the delightful Munchkins (‘He’s the Wiz’), the Kalidahs, the hypnotic Poppies, the Winkies and the Yellow Bricks, who all personify the land of Oz so well with it’s forest, emerald city and yellow brick road.

It is here where this production team really come into their own in creating interesting and unexpected versions of well-loved but much seen classics.

Stage central never shy away from the challenge of ambitious projects like this and excel in taking the less-expected but more difficult route of combining traditional story telling with somewhat more experimental dance and music styles. Because of this, the cast and crew believe they can do anything. Well, they can and they do, and like the Tin Man, the Lion and the Scarecrow, they do it with new-found intellect, courage and heart.


SARAH TEECE

A Winters Tale review

I was lucky enough to be invited last week to the Fraser theatre in Knaresborough to see and review “A Winters Tale”, the first production from the theatre school Stage Central. This new venture, run by Darren Roberts (a former professional actor) is a term time school open to youngsters aged 6-16 who receive coaching in drama, acting, song and dance. The school aims to develop skills and confidence as well as to just have fun.


It’s that time of year when Christmas plays, pantos and nativities are staged with varying degrees of gusto and talent in school halls and churches up and down the country. With all due respect to these productions unless your own son or daughter is Mary, Joseph or third shepherd from the left they can be a bit sentimental. It was certainly surprising then, that not only did I thoroughly enjoy it, at certain points in the production I found myself sniffling along with the best of them!

It was enjoyable not just because of the fantastic youngster’s performances, but also because it managed to steer clear of the more predictable and somewhat limited traditional nativity and instead focused on a more modern moral interpretation of Christmas. It used contemporary dance and music along side classic favourites. In short, it was enjoyable because it was different and because it was done well.


The story began with some enchanting music and the curtains partially opened to give a glimpse of the imaginative world we were about to enter, a charming Christmas tree where children dance as clockwork toys, teddy bears, robots and fairies amongst others. They push the curtains aside and leave us with the familiar scene of three children writing Christmas lists. Mum asks them not to expect too much, as their father is not working. They react angrily and decide their parents don’t love them anymore so Jack, Holly and Robin runaway to find a better Christmas elsewhere. What then unfolds is an original and moving journey in which the children try to find their way home, both literally and metaphorically.

This production takes you through a plethora of sound and vision wherein we are shown Christmas’ s past, present and future, each symbolised by three wonderfully gothic guides reminiscent of Scrooge. From becoming lost in the Deep Forest (as dark and fearful as those trees you remember from the wizard of oz) to seeing the lives of starving children elsewhere in the world, the story remains fresh and has universal relevance.

Highlights for me included a genuinely unexpectedly moving recital of “Where Is Love” by Kitty May Watson. (I could have wept like a baby but managed to keep some dignity!) as well as other individual singers Elisha Ainsley and Alice Coggan. The choreography (Paul Petty) was strong throughout whether it be group performances (the Deep forest Dancers, for example) or individuals- the little snow queen’s lovely solitary performance. The ensemble dance numbers were a real treat, particularly the Three Kings memorable performance to the gospel song “Praise You”.


The real beauty of this production though was that, like all good classic Christmas stories, it worked on many levels. This was a show for both adults and children, with the simple language and structure of a children’s fairy tale on the one hand, with the darker imagery and more subtle undertones of morality on the other.

Of course, there was a suitably happy and uplifting end to this production, concluding with up-beat dance numbers, flashing Santa hats and a veritable feast of Christmas carols.

This production had everything you could want from a Christmas play; a powerful and original story, a charming and talented cast, sparkling costumes, musical diversity (any one who can get me to enjoy Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas” gets my vote), with humour and pathos in equal measure.

It’s a real credit to all involved and anyone with children aged between 6 and 16 with a flair for the dramatic arts should take advantage of the creative team behind Stage Central Theatre Arts. Contact Darren Roberts on 01423 861463 or 07940 014448 for details. Oh, and have a merry Christmas!

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Stage Central Info

About Stage Central

Welcome to Stage Central Theatre Arts! Our aim is to provide first class stage training to all ages and abilities
Our School offers training in the three disciplines of Theatre Arts: Acting; Dance and Singing.
Stage Central training develops confidence, articulation and communication skills whilst encouraging creativity and stretching the imagination.

Dance
Our dance classes are geared towards “Movement for Actors” rather than the strict formula of dance schools. Our aim is to provide the confidence to be able to feel at ease and appear natural on stage and free with movement.
Performers need to be in touch with their bodies, with its flexibility, suppleness, strength and free enough to express themselves through this exciting form.
Classes will be taken at a sensitive pace, building confidence and poise whilst having fun.
Our dance teachers are fully experienced in the different techniques of dance/movement and will fully warm up the student to avoid injury.

Drama
Through drama you will explore characterisations and be given the process of building a character. You will work extensively on voice, speech and improvisation to enhance your character building

Voice and Singing
Through training the voice, communication becomes more effective. As one of our main sources of communicating our feelings and emotions, emphasis lies strongly with the voice. Our voice and speech classes will encourage the student to become more expressive and aware of its flexibility and strength.
The singing workshops allow the voice to find its musicality and encourage the students to express themself through a different and emotive discipline.
We have qualified teachers who have professional experience in instructing voice and singing.

Performing
After an initial period of working through: dance; drama; and singing, focus will fall on rehearsal and performance.
You will perform in different productions. Once rehearsals are underway you may be required to attend additional sessions until performance.
We believe strongly that the opportunity to work towards, and to put in practice, performance, takes your training to a different level

6-18 yrs
Our classes are designed for students from the ages of 6-18 years. Each class will split into the appropriate grouping and the class will be restricted by numbers.
The weekly training will last for three hours (2 hours Wetherby ) but may require additional time when rehearsing for a performance. There will be a charge for extra rehearsals. The students will rotate around the teachers, gaining the different disciplines.

Performing is a valuable tool and will be included in the training program, to show work-in-progress and a showcase of the student’s achievements.

Principal
Darren Roberts
Darren started his career in acting locally, training at Harrogate College, in Performing Arts, he then went on to study acting in London at the Arts Educational Schools for three years.
Darren Has worked with such companies as The Royal Shakespeare Co in Stratford-upon-Avon, the West End and Broadway, The Royal National Theatre London and various other regional Rep companies. He has worked extensively in Film and Television.
Darren has taught Performing Arts in schools, colleges and Stage Schools for the last 8 years and is currently the Community Arts Manager for St. John Fisher Catholic High School and all its feeder primaries, delivering drama workshops to over 300 students per week throughout the term

Our staff
Our staff are experienced teachers, most of whom come from a professional teaching or performance background. Our staff are C.R.B checked for working with children and venerable adults.

Emergency Aid
There is an emergency aid officer on site at all times to deal with first aid or distraught children. Emergency contact numbers must be forwarded before we can accept any student. You can do this through the application form.

Times & Venues
Stage Central Harrogate
Term Time only
6-18 yrs Saturday mornings 9.00-12.00am.
St. John Fisher Catholic High School
Keelan Center, Hookstone Drive, Harrogate


Contacting us
For application:
www.stagecentral.co.uk
Write: Stage Central
9 Alexandra Grove
Knaresborough
HG5 0PH
call: 01423 540533
E-mail darren@stagecentral.co.uk

Collection of children
Parents must make sure they pick up their children as close to the end of the sessions as possible or to give us written conformation that they are allowing them to make their own way home.
Fees per session
Harrogate £15 Wetherby £12
Registration Fee £15 non refundable paid in advance
Parents will be invoiced for any unattended sessions without prior notification. Written conformation is required should you wish to terminate your place with Stage Central
Places will be offered to those on the waiting list should any existing student miss more than 4 sessions without notification
Waiting list
Due to the high demand for places at Stage Central, a waiting list is in operation

What to wear?
You will need to wear comfortable clothing that is non-restrictive to aid freedom of movement.
Available to order are our popular Stage Central polo shirts all sizes available from £9 at front desk.
Footwear
Clean comfortable trainer type footwear ideally Jazz or dance shoes available through dance outlets or through Amy

Refreshments
Refreshments are available at the breaks which include juice and a biscuit for a small cost of 20p paid at registration. You may bring your own refreshments however if you take water into the rehearsal space you must make sure that they are brought in non-spilable containers
Wallet
Each student will be require to bring with them each week, a wallet to keep all scripts and music safely and available for further rehearsal.
Although we do not charge for photocopies, we may have too if original copies have been mislaid

Individual tuition
We offer Lamda solo acting examinations throughout the year for those who want to take the training further.

Stage Central Casting
Stage central operates a professional casting agenty for those identified for representation. Castings may occur for television, modeling and commercial work.
Being part of Stage Central Casting in no way guarantees professional engagements.
A head and shoulders shot will be required to add to brochure and website. Those identified will be required to complete an agency enrollment form.
There will be a joining fee should any client wanting representation, not already be part of our schools.
Stage Central reserves the right to discontinue its training to any unruly or misbehaved pupil
We believe that the Arts should be accessible to all!
Gain the confidence to succeed!