Shakespeare Schools Festival Cast Workshop

Excitingly, we took all 33 children (cast and production) team to the SSF cast workshop on Monday 30th September at the Secombe Theatre in Sutton!

We had a chance to see the venue where we are going to perform. The theatre has a massive stage and 340 seat capacity. Wow!

We had a brilliant and really helpful afternoon with the SSF team. Everyone worked amazingly hard. We were joined by another South London primary school performing Macbeth in the same theatre as part of the SSF. It was really great to participate with another school and see how they are tackling such a different play.

The afternoon for the cast consisted of some warm up exercises, some really valuable drama exercises intended to improve performance and finally a chance for us to show off some of the rehearsal work we have been doing. Although we have only had one proper rehearsal, our cast performed the opening scenes and were brilliant - they had even learned all their lines. We can't wait for the real thing!

The production team were equally busy. The team joined the director and producer for a meeting with the SSF coordinator. We discussed our amazing plans for marketing and costume before being joined by two lighting engineers to talk through our initial lighting ideas. We got some great advice!

We can't wait for our next rehearsal on Friday. And in the meantime, please support the children and buy lots of tickets!

Theatre Club Trips - Quick update

We have got a brilliant 65 seats booked for Puss in Boots at Greenwich Theatre! I have now given final numbers to the theatre so can't accept any more bookings.

As there have been a few queries from parents, to clarify everyone who has handed in a payment for Puss, Dora and Henry V within the deadline has a ticket. I have emailed people who have missed the deadline separately so if you haven't heard from us - you are coming!

Please note don't give out tickets for these trips. They are arranged on a school group booking. This means we just meet at the theatre 30 mins before the show in the foyer and go in together on one group ticket. We are usually seated together so children and parents can sit beside friends. I will send out a reminder details to everyone who have booked the week of the performance.

Really pleased so many of you are joining us this term!

SSF - tickets now on sale!

Exciting news! As you may have heard Rosendale Primary is participating in the Shakespeare Schools Festival, the UK’s largest youth drama festival (www.ssf.uk.com). This fantastic nationwide event gives children in Y4 upwards the chance to perform Shakespeare live on a real stage and supports them every step of the way. There are 1000 schools performing this year – and for the first time Rosendale is one of them. Tickets are now on sale for our chosen play - A Midsummer Night’s Dream! And the marketing team have been busy putting up posters!

The show will take place at 7pm at the Secombe Theatre in Sutton on Monday 11^th November. Tickets are £8.50 adults and £6.50 children. You can purchase tickets directly from the box office up to the day of the performance (subject to availability) by calling 0208 770 6990 or online at www.suttontheatres.co.uk

However! We have reserved 100 tickets at the bargain price of £6 (adults and children) until Monday 7^th October. Letters will go out in book bags shortly. If you would like us to buy tickets for you at this price and sit with other Rosendale parents and children, please complete the slip on the letters and hand it to the office with payment NO LATER than Monday 7^th October (preferably by cheque to Rosendale Primary School). Please ensure the envelope is clearly marked F/A LISA STATHAM, THEATRE CLUB – SSF to ensure I receive it. As there are four schools performing and only 290 seats available, we would encourage all parents, friends and family to buy tickets ASAP to avoid disappointment. Come along and support the children and the school!

Children attending the play must be accompanied by an adult with up to four children per adult. The accompanying adult is soley responsible for the safety and well being of the children under his/her care. Please note that both adults and children do need to have a ticket.

We would love as many children as possible to come and enjoy the show. If cost is an issue for you, please contact rosendaletheatreclub@gmail.com as we may be able to offer financial support. NB All such enquiries will be treated confidentially.

The Shakespeare Schools Festival is a charity and its role is to heavily subsidise and support schools to participate in the festival. Ticket sales are a major source of their funding so please spread the word and get as many people (family, friends, school staff) as possible to come along. We look forward to seeing you on the night!

Great theatre club news!

Thanks everyone for their payments for Puss in Boots. We have about 30 seats so far. If you do want seats on Saturday 30th November at 7pm at Greenwich Theatre at the bargain price of £10 each then please let me/the office have your payments by Monday 30th September.

As there have been some queries all our weekend trips are for group tickets. This means we have one ticket and all go in together. We can meet in the foyer 30 minutes before the show. If you are late or miss us don't worry - just let the usher know your are part of the Rosendale Primary group.

Some other great news - All of Year 1 and Year 2 are going to see the Christmas shows at the Unicorn for their festive treat this year! I will still run weekend trips to Twas the Night Before Christmas and Cinderella so don't worry about missing out if your child is in a different year group! Letters will go out before half term.

Finally I have signed up to help The Unicorn as a Family Ambassador, giving them feedback and helping them promote what they do. If you have any comments on what you liked or what they could do better please email rosendaletheatreclub@gmail.com and I will pass your comments on to them.

Shakespeare for Schools Festival Week 2

The cast started work on the first scenes this week. We were really impressed by their enthusiasm and progress. So many children had also learned their lines - well done!

The production team have been working hard all week too. On Friday we were joined by two parents Mrs Patten and Mrs Firminger who kindly are helping us with costume. The team had some brilliant costume ideas and they are really taking shape now (see the creativity going on below!) 

The whole cast and production team are going on a trip to the theatre on Monday afternoon to work with the SSF on all aspects of the show. We can't wait!

Last but not least, tickets for the performance on Monday 11th November at 7pm at the Secombe Theatre in Sutton will go on sale next week - please support us and come along. I will post an update as soon as they do.

Exclusive Theatre Club Christmas panto offer!

I am not going to send out letters, as we already have 2 trips to Christmas shows at the Unicorn planned, but I have an exclusive schools offer on Greenwich's Theatre's acclaimed Christmas panto Puss in Boots on Saturday 30/11 at 7pm. It is a family show (recommended age 2 upwards).

Tickets on a school booking are just £10 each (normal price £26 adults, £13 children). We need minimum of 10 seats to get the school booking. Along with Hackney Empire it is always on the Time Out critics top 10 list.

No frills, no celebs, just plenty of top notch larks from the Greenwich Theatre's ever enjoyable festive blow-out.

TIME OUT 

Shows are selling out fast (and some are already sold out). I have reserved 20 seats for now. If you would like to come along with your child/children please make a cheque or cash out to Rosendale Primary School and put it in an envelope CLEARLY MARKED (as theatre trip money has been getting mixed up with dinner money) with:

F/A LISA STATHAM

Theatre Trip

Puss in Boots 30/11

Parent accompanying

Name of child and class

Your mobile

Your email

by the deadline of Friday 27 September to the office.

Please note that this trip is on the same day as our trip to the Unicorn to see Cinderella at 3pm. The good news is that Greenwich is only 10 minutes or so from London Bridge by train... So you can come to both!

Shakespeare for Schools Festival Week 1

We now have the cast all the parts!

Rehearsals began in earnest this week for our performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Secombe Theatre in Sutton at 7pm on Monday 11th November. This week we had a full read through - it was amazing!

Tickets will go on sale very soon and our production team of five children are working on a marketing campaign. There are 330 seats but four schools performing so please snap up tickets for this quickly. For one week only the price will be just £6 - please buy! I'll keep you posted.

If parents would like to offer your help with marketing, design, costume and/or lighting please let us know at rosendaletheatreclub@gmail.com. The children have some fantastic ideas but there is not much time!