The work produced by each company will have a common thread. Thursday 4th June will be loosely themed around "1920s (and all that Jazz)" whilst Thursday 11th June will see us fast forward a hundred years as we explore "2020 - #TheShowMustGoOnline", putting together performance work which reflects the here and now.

PERFORMING ARTS Head Start Programme

Thursday 4 & Thursday 11 June

We believe that the Performing Arts are about challenging audiences and practitioners into new ways of thinking, taking human beings on journeys, mental and physical, which change how they behave and interact with the world. The Bede's Faculty of Performing Arts is a place where we find ways for everyone to learn and to express themselves.

This practical based programme will provide an insight into the process of developing work for performance in the Sixth Form. Each Thursday you will have the option to select one art form from Dance, Drama or Music to specialise in for the day. You will have the option to specialise in one art form across the two weeks or to gain a head a head start in a new art form in the second week.

We see each Thursday as an opportunity to form three small companies of Dancers, Dramatists and Musicians who will collaborate for four hours. The performed work will be premiered on Thursday 18 June via YouTube.

HIGHLIGHTS

Musical Theatre and Dance

This will give you an introduction to our incredible dance department and as part of these workshops you will learn a variety of dances from Musical Theater productions such as Singing in The Rain, Hamilton, Come From Away and Moulin Rouge. These sessions will be high energy and focused on fun as you will also learn the songs that accompany the dances and will have a chance at doing some scene work from within the musicals too.

Music

A little taster into what it means to be a musician in the sixth form at Bede’s: someone who uses their practical and aural skills to become a better, more aware musician; someone who is thoroughly aware of their skills, but is ambitious to try new things, to explore new avenues and work outside their comfort zone. If you are a Classical musician, singer/songwriter, or simply love all things Pop and Rock, this taster course is designed to stretch your thinking, allowing you to see a world beyond GCSE Music.

In Conversation with Chris Key

  • An Associate Director of West End Stage shows, Chris Key, will be discussing his time in many west end shows including Les Miserables as a performer/dance captain and then as a director putting on productions all around the world

  • Chris Key will also be talking about his work as an Associate Director on School of Rock and the upcoming production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new take on Cinderella.

Drama

  • Undoubtedly one of the highlights in this subject is our weeklong residential at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2021. The Head Start programme in Drama gives us the opportunity to come together as a company and to begin to explore the creation of new material. Should theatre celebrate our past? Reflect our present? Or create a future?

TIMETABLE

DAY 1: Thursday 4 June

Pupils will choose either Dance, Drama or Music routes through the day. Whichever route they choose, they then follow a similar pathway.

  • Formation of the company

  • Exploration, collaboration and creation

  • Rehearsal

  • Performance and recording

8:30

  • Registration: 1920s and all that Jazz

Session 1: Period 1-2 AND Session 2: Period 3-4

  • MUSIC - An Improvisation masterclass on St. Louis Blues: Create a sophisticated evening of silky-smooth swing. It's time to take a trip back to the 1920's when the Jazz Bands ruled the town. This workshop is the ultimate swing sensation with Roy Hilton, Ollie Boorman, Andy Williams & Dan Humphreys. You will unpick the song, and exploring its harmonies and structure . You will listen to St. Louis Blues, learn sections of it: perhaps the melody, with harmony, or indeed get the ‘flavour’ of the whole song.

  • DRAMA - Scoundrels and Sirens: Enter the glamorous world of the 1920s and join the scoundrels and sirens of the silver screen. Draw inspiration from silent movies, expressionism and vaudeville performance to create an original piece of online drama straight from the hazy heydays of a century ago.

  • DANCE - Singin' in the Rain: You will need your umbrellas as we shower you with skills. You will be learning the lyrics, singing the song, dancing along and performing three sections from this classic.

2:30

An Associate Director of West End Stage shows, Chris Key, will be discussing his time in many west end shows including Les Miserables as a performer/dance captain and then as a director putting on productions all around the world. Chris Key will also be talking about his work as an Associate Director on School of Rock and the upcoming production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new take on Cinderella. Google Meet link here

DAY 2: Thursday 11 June

Pupils will choose either Dance, Drama or Music routes through the day. Whichever route they choose, they then follow a similar pathway.

  • Formation of the company

  • Exploration, collaboration and creation

  • Rehearsal

  • Performance and recording

8:30

  • Registration: 2020 - The Show Must Go Online

Session 1: Period 1-2 AND Session 2: Period 3-4

  • MUSIC - Mack the Knife. You will analyse the song as an introduction, using a workshop with Mr Hilton, Mr Boorman, Mr Humphreys & Mr Williams before being asked to add your own part, with additions from current Year 12 pupils.

  • DRAMA - Creation in Isolation. How do we respond to lock down? Reflect our reality or Escape our epidemic? We work as a company to create a performance to explore what it means to explore, to create and collaborate from a distance.

  • DANCE - West End Workout. It's going to be a busy morning! As we arrive at Victoria Station you will need to dance across the road to Hamilton's home at the Victoria Palace Theatre and from there we will "Dance to Yorktown ". Then a quick dash across Green Park as we head to The Phoenix Theatre to perform a scene from Come From Away. Celebrate the end of the day in style as we jump aboard the Eurostar and head to the Parisian Moulin Rouge for a quick song and dance; phew - just enough time to "Shut Up and Raise Your Glass"!

DAY 3: Thursday 18 June

A showcase of the work created on 4 June and 11 June will be premiered on YouTube at 5pm

VENUE & DATES

PERFORMING ARTS HEAD START PROGRAMME

Thursday 4 & 11 June

You can attend this programme via our online platforms from anywhere in the world. All the content will be delivered in a live, interactive manner and you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions of our experienced professionals. All you need is an internet connection; we will send you full details of how to access the programme well in advance.


WHO CAN ATTEND

The Programme is for students preparing to enter the Sixth Form who have the passion and ambition to get a head-start and start boosting their university/college applications and CVs.

You can register your place by clicking “Register Now”.