Performing Arts Report Term Two December 2007

Written by Josie Williams, Community Arts Development Officer

Ability Follows Enthusiasm. 

Where did this year go? Seems like it was only Christmas a blink of an eye ago! The joys of working in a full on environment ensures that there is never a dull moment. So as the Yuletide fast approaches can I take this opportunity to thank you one and all for all your help and support and to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a fab
New Year.

Term two has been busy and interesting. Sadly we say goodbye to Deputy Head Andy Dyer who moves on to his own headship in Southampton. Andy was the catalyst to set the ball rolling for applying for our performing arts status. His steadfast character and dry sense of humour will be missedand a new rock will have to be found.

We welcome Dave King, new editor of the Swindon Advertiser who has stepped into the shoes of Mark Waldron who has gone to lead a newspaper in Southampton. Dave, our new patron, is very much a family man and cares deeply about the community. He visited school on 29 th November and was impressed with the works of talented artists that adorns the walls. Dave came to the Evening of Entertainment and first hand experienced Commonweal performing arts in action.

As the lead school for the 14-19 Creative Media Diploma which starts in September 2008, we were honoured to be visited by Kevin Brennan, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Children, Schools, and Families (DCSF). Kevin was accompanied by Anne Snelgrove MP for South Swindon and they and other dignitaries toured the school to view our performing arts facilities in action before dropping into a cross curricular lesson in art and music. Kevin and Anne delighted in taking part, their brief to listen to a piece of music and through art respond to it on an emotional level. Kevin was very impressed by the commitment of both the teachers and students. “I love the positive energy here,” he commented.

Below is a round up of events that have happened this term.

Busk thirty one Yr 7, 8 & 9 students took part in a dance workshop on 1 st October when professional dancer Banxy came into school to put the students through some of the moves from his new show Busk which the students watched at the Wyvern Theatre on 22 nd October. “Dance is really fun, and Banxy was really energetic and I love his dancing.” Megan Pidgeon, 8W1.

“The dance was fabulous, it’s been really good learning this style of dance.” Eve James 8W2.

Year Seven Gambian Day The entire of Yr 7 were off timetable on 8 th November to experience the arts and culture of this region of Africa. We were very lucky to have local Gambian people in to deliver workshops which included, drumming, food, story telling and dance, presented in a carousal style enabling all students to participate. At the end of the day the year group assembled in the hall and watched performances of drumming, dance and a video of their work throughout the day. Judging by the roars of excitement it was indeed a very successful project which also fulfils one of our Arts Mark Gold objectives regarding understanding the arts and culture of a country other than our own. This also addresses the schools citizenship programme.

Paul Christensen, Regional Coordinator for the Specialist Schools And Academies Trust made a school visit on this day and was delighted by the way the students engaged with our Gambian visitors.

Besides the Yr 7 Day during that week we held a Gambian fund raising programme. “ Students have been working hard to raise money for the school’s Gambia link fund. We are now able to donate £500 to the Gunjur Community Pre school which will be used for building maintenance and support staffing and educational resources, in this small school in the Gambia. Many students supported the Gambia fund raising week, taking part in a variety of events including sponsored trampolining, a lunch time music concert, a year seven Gambia disco, dance workshops, cakes sales and a raffle of a signed Swindon Town football shirt. All in all in the region of £1000 was raised.” Commented Sue Derrick Head of Performing Arts.

To aid cross curricular opportunities Ms Rose, head of ICT set a module of work in which students had to create a spread sheet on running the Gambian Disco.

Motionhouse 18 Yr 10 students studying GCSE Dance took part in a inspiring workshop on 5 th November prior to seeing Motionhouse’s performance of ‘Driven’ at the Wyvern Theatre on 6 th November. Driven fuses live action and film integrating striking theatrical imagery. The workshop focused on ‘contact’ which they are currently studying. “I really, really loved it. This has given me a lot more confidence and inspiration.” Charlotte Whitbread. “The dance leader was really nice. I learnt to express myself in different ways.” Lauren Brown.

Big State Work Experience As a performing arts school the quality of experiences available to our students is paramount. Needless to say, not all students will follow a career in the industry, but lessons learnt are transferable to all areas of adult life. However, the students that shine need the best we can offer.

Part of our bid was to increase student up take in Arts related work experience placements, starting at 10% of cohorts and rising to 15% over the course of the subsequent three years. Not a problem if your school is situated in a city dappled with an array of theatres, but problematic in a young and provincial town like Swindon! Thinking hats on! The first year we hit the 10% target but in work placements which to be quite frank for the most part were boring; who wants to lick envelopes!

The idea developed for the students to work with professionals to create their own theatre company. This included coming up with a company name, a mission statement, filling in a grant application forms, developing ideas for scripts, plot development, multimedia, staging, lighting and sound techniques. Each student was allocated a task from director to publicity officer. Big State Theatre led the sessions and our partners The Wyvern Theatre donated the use of Studio One. The feedback from students has been fantastic. The first Big State Work Experience project was delivered in school in November 2006, but a lesson was learnt as students didn’t like the idea of remaining on school premises for their work experience, so this year I brokered the partnership with the Wyvern Theatre

“We called our company CIA which stands for ‘Comedy In Action’ and the piece we devised was called ‘Straight Outta Guildford.’ It was about a boy who moved from Swindon to Guildford and fitting in to a new school. The play was about stereo types and how people see younger peoples and how we see each other.” Said Joely Woolford, aged 15.

“Big State treated us like adults and gave us independence and confidence. The week was great and much more creative than working in somewhere like Sainsburys.” Commented Tom Fletcher, aged 16.

‘Straight Outta Guildford’ was performed to an invited audience at the end of the week and as they play was of such a high standard they were invited to perform at the school’s Evenings of Entertainment on December 5 th & 6 th. Prior to that they performed to Yr 10 GCSE students & the entire of Yr 11 to inspire and entertain.

“Our aims and objectives have been fully met and I know that this will impact on the quality of their drama practical exams.” Commented Headteacher and drama specialist Keith Defter.

BBC Inside Out The BBC came into school during the October term break to film local muralist Ken White as he painted two beautiful pictures of Diana Dors and Billie Piper onto boards outside the dining room. This was part of a feature about Ken who is famous for his murals worldwide and perhaps best known for his scarlet lady that adorns Richard Branson’s Virgin planes. The video is on our web site www.commonwealarts.co.uk under ‘Events 2007-2008.’

Theatre Trips. Thanks are extended from myself and Heather Birkbeck to Debs Browning for organising a host of theatre trips this term. These include: Pinter and a pair of Chekhov’s Shorts at the Arts Centre on 13 th November. Big States new show, ‘Fallen Angels’ at the Arts Centre on 16 th November. Yr 11 attended this show, 15 of which were in the Big State work experience. They thoroughly enjoyed seeing their mentors in action in their professional capacity. Debs is also organising a Yr 9 Blood Brothers trip to the West End on 13 th December, a Yr 10 & Yr 11 Billy Elliot evening trip to London on 23 rd Jan and an all years trip to see Joseph – London on 23 rd April

The National Theatre and BT Connections, The school will be part of this national competition in Spring 2008. Heather Birkbeck, head of drama, recently attended a three day director’s workshop at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough. From this she selected the play, ‘A Vampire Story’ and audition aimed at Yr 9, 10 & 11 began late November. The date of the show is yet to be confirmed.

Boost is a dance video produced by Polly Long our sports coordinator who we share with Churchfields. Dancers from both schools created the DVD which is designed to wake up students in KS2 prior to their lessons and thus get them in the right frame of mind to work on lessons. This was launched at Lethbridge School in November and was led by some of our Yr 11 girls. The DVD will be available to all primary schools in Swindon.

St Lukes Winter Festival The programme ran from the morning of Wednesday 28 th November, all day Thursday 29th and on the morning of Friday 30 th. Commonweal paid for Big State to attend and also supplied them with Nick Weaver and Andre Pysanczyn.

“Each day began with Helen Hewitt from ‘ Big State’ leading drama games in the school hall. All students and staff joined in with these.“On Wednesday, the student group was then divided into two. One half remained with Helen to begin movement work, portraying a ship at sea, while the rest began painting depictions of an island and a ship. Helen next began video making work with small groups
and individuals.

“Large parts of Thursday were devoted to model making and stop frame animation work, in which all students participated. Also on Thursday and on Friday morning, students made masks and costumes for themselves and for each other. Students also contributed to making the soundtrack for the animated film.

“The show on Friday incorporated music made by Year 7 students prior to the festival, but with the festival brief in mind, as well as showings of the two films completed during the festival.

“Particularly noteworthy was the positive rapport that both Helen Hewitt and Nick Weaver were able to establish from the outset with all the students. All students worked in areas they were unfamiliar with and achieved successful outcomes that enhanced individual self-esteem. There was a good turn out of family and friends to help celebrate the students’ success in a positive and friendly atmosphere.

“Enormous progress was made in establishing confidence and positive attitudes to performing arts – areas of the curriculum to which all students have been under exposed. Very helpful ground was thereby laid for progression in the future.” Simon McNulty , Festival Arts Group leader.

RE cross curricular project with Dance. On 29 th November the entire Yr 7 took part in dance workshops to aid their understanding of the Hindu religion. Hindus worship through dance so the visit by dance teacher Monisha Bharadwaj was an ideal way to address this part of the curriculum. Monisha explained about the symbolism and how and when the dances are performed. The students learnt moves from her and then went into smaller groups to work on their own dances using the moves they had been taught. They then performed to one another before finally taking part in a questions and answers forum.

Last Orders, by Solomon Theatre Company was staged in school on 3 rd December and performed to the entire of Yr 9. Last Orders is a KS3 Alcohol Educational programme which also addresses sexual health issues and links to crime and anti-social behaviour.

 Developed by a team of doctors, police, NSPCC professionals and teachers, Last Orders looks at the consequences of binge drinking by young people.  It is written in an accessible, hard-hitting style that immediately captures the attention and imagination of its target audience.  Students are shown how alcohol affects the way people think – their inhibitions, attitude to risk and ultimately their self-control.

Following the performance, specially designed workshops explore the themes of anti-social behaviour, illegal purchase, attitude to risk and sexual health (including pregnancy and STIs).

Evening of Entertainment This year we held this over two evenings the 5 th & 6 th December to give our feeder schools the chance to showcase. Unfortunately only two school’s King William, dance, and Robert Le Kyng, choir, were able to stand by their commitments as they are very busy this time of year. Robert Le Kyng’s year 6 students were invited to sing with our senior choir and rock band for the finale of the evenings and King William Street put together a dance with the help of Louise Blake. The evenings involved over 170 students and tickets sold out nearly a week in advance! Thanks to Ali Sutcliffe and Nick for coordinating back stage leaving me free to arrange front of house. Thanks to staff and students who gave up their lunch times and after school to work on their pieces.

Family Drumming Workshop 27 people took part in the workshop on Saturday 8 th December. This involved families from our feeder schools and was delivered by our partners Music Alive. The session started with warm up exercises in which families used parts of their body to create a sound and say hello to another person in the circle. They then picked a percussion instrument and once familiar with the rhythm and tempo they exchanged with their neighbour so that everyone got to have a go on a different instrument. “I like trying out all the instruments and drumming together with my sister and Mum and Dad, it was nice to spend time together.” Lydia Browning age 11 a pupil at King William Street School. “ Lydia wouldn’t have had access to all the instruments to touch and feel. It was a good experience and a good chance to spend time together.” Said her mother Caroline. This was a partnership project between Commonweal, Music Alive, Family Learning - Learning and Engagement Team Community Directorate and Artsmad.

Little Shop of Horrors auditions have begun and already over 120 students have put their names down to be involved. Dance auditions will be held before Christmas followed by singing and acting auditions during the first week back in January. Licenses have been organised and music / scripts ordered to enable full steam ahead in the new year! Our feeder schools will once again be involved in this event as they have been invited to perform a prelude to the main performance. The show is staged from 7th - 11th July.

Music tour to Paris – Students have now fully paid for the trip and staff have been confirmed (Ali Sutcliffe, Helen Clements, Susie Whittington, Nick Weaver and Phil Leslie). After sending off a demo CD of both the choir and concert band Disneyland Paris have been in touch to confirm that we will be able to perform in the resort as we are good enough! We leave on Saturday 16 th February and return
on the 21 st.