Arts
at
Henley
Performing Arts: News Archive
This page contains news articles from previous years.
AUDITIONS FOR NEXT COLLEGE PRODUCTION
The college theatre group is holding open auditions at 1.30pm on Wednesday 13th September in The Studio Theatre. The production this year is MACBETH. This is the first time the theatre group has mounted a Shakespearean production and is a break from the musical tradition. Director Nic Saunders promises that this production will blow away any preconceived notions students have about Shakespeare being boring or out of date and instead is planning a contemporary and fresh twist on the show in a similar way to which Baz Luhrmann re-invented ROMEO AND JULIET with Leonardo DeCaprio. All college students are welcome to audition, be it for on stage or behind the scenes roles.
FORMER STUDENT NOMIATED FOR EMMY AWARD
Jamie
Maclachlan is one of the thirteen nominees for “Best Actor In A
Television Movie” for his role as Roger Bannister in the TV movie
“Four Minutes” (pictured left) at this year’s Emmy awards.
Jamie left The HENLEY College after successfully completing the BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts. After Henley, he studied at East 15 School of Acting.
“Four Minutes” was Jamie’s big break and followed small roles in television series such as “Waking The Dead” and a handful of stage credits. For Jamie to receive a nomination for such a prestigious American award is staggering and surely hints at a very, very bright future for him.
The department congratulates him on his success and wishes him all the best at the awards in Los Angeles.
PRESTIGIOUS SUMMER PROJECT FOR COLLEGE DIRECTOR
Despite
a hectic production schedule at the college which has seen Nic direct
three productions this year, the Summer break won’t be providing
him with a well earned break.
Since 2001, Nic has run his own theatre company – Theatre 14167 – and has produced two productions to date, one at the Edinburgh Fringe and one in London. This Summer sees him mount the third production with his company – THE BEARD by Michael McClure.
Arguably the most controversial play of the Sixties and a landmark in
stage censorship, THE BEARD will run for three weeks in London at The
Old Red Lion Theatre in Islington before a likely transfer to Paris.
The production is likely to have a very high profile as it boasts a specially
composed piece of music by ‘The Godfather of Minimalism’ Terry
Riley and Michael McClure will be making a very rare UK visit to promote
the play. McClure’s CV is very impressive – not only is he
widely regarded as one of America’s finest poets, but his list of
collaborators reads like a who’s who of America culture and includes
Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Dennis Hopper, Allen Ginsberg,
Norman Mailer, Peter Fonda, Martin Scorsese and Jack Kerouac. Now Henley
College’s very own Director of Drama can be added to that list!
Further details of the production and tickets availability can be found online at www.thebeardplay.com.
GRADUATION PROJECT AT NORDEN FARM
The second year BND students finish their course with their final production
at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead in June. 
The ‘graduation production’ is a production of “Illyria”
by Bryony Lavery. Continuing the anti-war theme from the last production,
“The Visit”, the play tells the story of Maria, a young female
news journalist who leaves her safe, comfortable home for an assignment
in Illyria. Once a green, green land of dancing, stories and song, it
is now a worn torn, dangerous, suspicious, frightened play of horror with
a terrifying divide between those that rule and those that are ruled.
Director Nic Saunders, “It’s a dynamic and exciting show that
is both challenging to an audience both in the theatrical devices used
to tell it and the message being put forward. It’s a piece we all
feel passionate about and believe that with the current Iraq debate and
the so-called ‘axis of evil’ it has really important things
to say about war, peace, dictatorship and how we all choose to live our
lives.”
Tickets are available now from the Norden Farm box office and online at www.nordenfarm.org. The show runs from Thurs 15 – Sun 18 June. Start time – 7.45pm. Selected performances will be followed by a Q&A session with the director and principal cast.
DANCE SHOW
On the
18 and 19 May, performing arts students will be performing the annual
showcase evening of dance. The show promises a mix of solo and group work,
modern and classical, and will interest anyone interested in an evening
of dance.
Doors open at 7pm and the event takes place in the Dance Studio. Tickets are priced £5.00.
THE VISIT
The latest production from the ever busy Performing Arts department was a provocative and politically charged adaptation of “The Visit” by playwright Friedrich Durrenmatt.
The play is an allegorical tale about the dangers of fascism and was written in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Image:
James Ashby as Alfred Ill is pushed to breaking point
In the current political climate director Nic Saunders felt that now was
the perfect time to engage students in a play that asks difficult questions
about what sort of leaders we want and just how far we should go in the
name of retribution. The Completely Cuckoo Theatre Company, comprised
exclusively of the college’s BTEC National Diploma in Performing
Arts students, tackled the material with their normal enthusiasm and produced
one of the best plays for years. In the principal roles Hannah Banks and
James Ashby gave performances that belied their age and inexperience.
All of the hard work was ultimately rewarded by four completely sell out nights at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead. However, the biggest reward came in the form of the review in the local paper when they wrote “With this production, The Completely Cuckoo Theatre Company have once more marked themselves out as one of the outstanding theatre companies currently at work in the Oxfordshire area.”
The next production from the Company, and the last of the year, will
be “Illyria” by Bryony Lavery and will again be performed
in the Studio Theatre at Norden Farm in June.
NEW DRAMA PRODUCTION
Following two sell out productions at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead, The Completely Cuckoo Theatre Company (made up of BND Performing Arts students) return to Norden Farm with their latest production, “The Visit”.
Durrenmatt’s play tells the story of Clare Zachanassian’s
return to her childhood home of Guellen. Having been forced to flee the
village in shame as a pregnant, unmarried teenager, Clare’s return
is motivated by the desire for revenge against the man she feels responsible
for her exile. Having now amassed great wealth, Clare offers the villagers
the sum of one million pounds if they will murder him and present her
with his body.
The play works on two levels. Firstly, as a pure thriller – will
the villagers take Clare up on her offer and what are the moral implications
if they do? And secondly, critics have read the play as Durrenmatt’s
observations on the Swiss and German people in the wake of Hitler’s
rise to dominance. Whatever, level you read the play on, it is undoubtedly
a powerful piece of theatre that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth afterwards
and is rightly regarded as a classic of modern theatre.
The play runs from 23 – 26 March. The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are available over the phone on 01628 788997 and online from www.nordenfarm.org. Certain performances will have a Q&A session with the director and cast – these are to be confirmed and the venue should be contacted for more details.
Reviews for both of last year’s Norden Farm productions can be
found in the Productions section of this website and this show is bound
to sell as well – so book your tickets early.
NATIONAL DIPLOMA STUDENTS VISIT DISNEYLAND
Every
year the BND First Year students get a chance to experience first hand
one of the world’s most successful entertainment parks. As part
of their course, students are encouraged to experience dance and drama
in all of its forms and this trip provides a unique opportunity to see
behind the scenes at Disney. The trip also provides a break from the hard
work of rehearsing the first year production – details to follow
very soon.
COLLEGE PREPARES FOR LIFT OFF
A new academic year brings with it a new cast and crew for the annual
Christmas production and this year they are fastening their seatbelts
aboard “Scientific Survey Flight Number Nine” for a production
of “Return to the Forbidden Planet”.
A
bizarre cocktail of American sci-fi B movies from the 50’s and Shakespeare,
the show tells of Captain Tempest and his crew as they do battle with
the mysterious Dr Prospero. Loud, colourful and a lot of fun, the show
contains many well known songs such as “Good Vibrations” and
“The Monster Mash” that are sure to have the audience clapping
and cheering in the aisles.
The production runs from 6 – 10 December and will take place in
the college’s largest auditorium, Rotherfield Hall. Tickets will
be available from The College reception, Music World in Henley and over
the phone on 01491 579988. Tickets will go on sale in November. So book
early and prepare for lift off
HENLEY STUDENTS IN LOCAL CHARITY CONCERT
BND students
from the department recently performed extracts from their Musical Theatre
module (taught by Juliette Caton) at a charity concert in Reading organised
by Sophie Caton.
The students were just a small part of a much larger event organised
by Sophie to raise money for Rosie's Rainbow Fund. The fund was set up
after the tragic death from vasculitis of eleven year old Rosie Mayling.
Rosie was a student at Redrooofs Theatre School in Maidenhead which was
attended by both Sophie and Juliette. Joining the Henley students were
students from Redroofs itself, Reading's Starmaker Theatre Compnay as
well as a host of West End professionals. Entitled "Joyful, Joyful"
the evening raised over five thousand pounds for the charity and the department
was honoured to have been included.
EX HENLEY PERFORMING ARTS STUDENT LANDS LEADING FILM ROLE
EX BND student Jamie Maclachlan is currently filming a TV movie in Canada alongside veteran screen and stage actor Christopher Plummer.
Christopher
Plummer has been cast as track coach Archie Mason in the upcoming ESPN
Original Entertainment (EOE) movie, Four Minutes, the inspiring true story
of one man’s courage, passion and sheer determination in accomplishing
what was considered impossible – running the first sub-four-minute
mile. Jamie Maclachlan will play the lead role of Sir Roger Bannister.
Principle photography began in Toronto on May 6 -- the 51st anniversary of Bannister’s historic run. Four Minutes will premiere Thursday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2 in Canada. It will later be broadcast worldwide.
Four Minutes was written by award-winning journalist, author and sports commentator Frank DeFord. The movie will be directed by Charles Beeson, whose roster of work includes Second Sight starring Clive Owen and Agatha Christies’s The Pale Horse. Four Minutes will be executive produced by award-winning TV and movie producer Gerald W. Abrams of Cypress Point Productions (The Mystery of Natalie Wood, Nuremberg) and acclaimed Olympic filmmaker Bud Greenspan.
This is a major break for Jamie and the Department, along with everyone
at Henley, wishes him great success.
UNCOMPRIMISING NEW DRAMA PRODUCTION: 4.48 PSYCHOSIS
Tickets are available online from Norden Farm or by ringing the Box Office on (01628) 788997
In a
brave move, the Drama department are staging perhaps their most challenging
production to date – Sarah Kane’s 4.48 Psychosis.
Under the direction of Nic Saunders, the second year BND students are
performing the play at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead between
the 9 – 12 June.
Written shortly before her suicide at age 27, Sarah Kane’s play
explores the dark and difficult issue of despair. The play was both embraced
and rejected when it first opened at The Royal Court theatre in June 2000,
but now just five short years later is generally regarded as one of the
most important works of the last fifty years by a modern British playwright.
The challenging play is sure to provoke much debate, through both its form and content, so after each performance the director and cast will be discussing the piece in an open forum session.
BRECHT COMPANY VISIT COLLEGE
The work of German playwright and director Bertolt Brecht is such a significant feature of all the courses, that the college played host to a touring theatre company recently. The company – Scene Productions – brought to the newly refurbished Studio 2 their dynamic and innovative production of “Fear and Misery in the Third Reich”.
The production was designed to highlight Brecht’s working practise particularly for students and was followed by a lecture and practical workshop. The entire day was extremely valuable to students and will without doubt help many in their forthcoming exams. The visit of such a company continues the department’s promise to provide students with the chance to work with industry professionals
YERMA
Hot on the heels of the success of “Grease” in December, the College is now busy rehearsing their next production which could hardly be any more different. “Yerma” deals with the subject of a childless couple and is set against the backdrop of rural Spain. Lorca’s play is generally regarded as one of the greatest tragedies of the European stage and in an age where designer babies and controversial IV treatments make the headlines, a revival of the play seems very topical.
The play will be performed over 4 nights (10-13 March 7.45pm) and, unlike “Grease”, will not be performed at the college but in the professional setting of Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead. Tickets are already on sale from the venue and can be purchased in person, over the phone or online. Details can be found at http://www.nordenfarm.org.
GREASE
Colourful, brash and as cheesy as hell, it’s little wonder that it was voted the nation’s most popular musical. To celebrate this fact, The Henley College Theatre Group staged a production last December in Rotherfield Hall. After the more serious musical productions of recent years – last years harrowing “Cabaret” and before that the tale of Claude Bukowski’s drafting to Vietnam in “Hair” – “Grease” was an altogether more feel good, upbeat Christmas treat.
With a cast of almost 70 students, “Grease” was a great night
out for all the family. The show was once again directed by Nic Saunders,
with David Golby as Musical Director. Juliette Caton who has worked extensively
in the West End handled the choreography and technician Sam Scottorn had
been having sleepless nights on how to release Kenickie’s legendary
Grease Lightning on stage.
BLOOD WEDDING ON TOUR
After a successful run of 'Blood Wedding' at Luxters Barn in May, the production is off to Spain. The Completely Cuckoo Theatre Company have been invited to perform in Tossa de Mar, North East Spain. Under the direction of Liz Yates, thirty national diploma students are involved in the production and the show will be restaged for the new venue - a promenade performance around the old town. If anyone is in the area, performances are Sunday 18th and Tuesday 20th July 2004 at 8.30 pm
BLOOD WEDDING
This year's BND Performing Arts Graduation Show 2004 was 'Blood Wedding'. The play explores the emotional force and passion of instinct fighting against the constraints of tradition. Lorca himself felt
BLOOD WEDDING IN REHEARSAL
an outsider in a society so strongly bound by tradition. He was murdered by Nationalist sympathisers at the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War and his plays were not performed in Spain until after Franco's rule. This tragic tale, based on a true story, is to be staged in the beautiful Luxter's Barn at Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery, outside Henley.
Performances begin at 7.30pm on Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th and Thursday 27th May. The production will then tour to Tossa de Mar in Spain in July. Box office 01491 579988 or in person at Deanfield Reception.
BEAT THIS - EX STUDENTS TAKE THEIR PLACE IN THE PROFESSION APRIL 2004
Its always rewarding when students from the department get places at
university and drama school, but its even more rewarding when they begin
working in the profession.
Several ex-students are now taking their place in the industry. Michelle
Walsh has recently been professionally engaged at The Liverpool Empire
in 'Scrooge', alongside Paul Nicholas, after completing her training at
Arts Ed. From the same year group, Jamie MacLachlan (pictured) has now
graduated from East 15 Acting School and can be seen in the current McDonalds
tv commercial. Jamie, who played a variety of roles whilst training at
the College (see the Productions section), has also filmed a role in BBC's
"Waking the Dead" alongside Trevor Eve.
The department congratulates both of them and wishes them all the best in their professional careers.
If any other ex-students are now working professionally, drop us a line at the College and we'll post your news on this site.
POWERFUL POLITICAL DRAMA: THE COMMON CHORUS
The Completely Cuckoo Theatre Company will be performing a production
of 'The Common Chorus' by Tony Harrison between 22-27 March. The play
is a mixture of documentary style realism with the stylised poetry of
Greek Tragedy. Taking place at the height of the protests, the play centres
around the revolutionary actions of a group of Greenham women, led by
Laura Green.
In 1981 a group of women, angered by the decision to bring nuclear weapons
to the UK, organised a protest march from Cardiff to Newbury. Here they
set up the first Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp. Despite the efforts
of the protesting women, the first Cruise missiles arrived in Newbury
in 1983. Despite fierce local opposition, court cases and even imprisonment,
the protests remained front page news for most of the '80s. The last Peace
Camp closed in 2000 - 19 years after the first opened - and today Greenham
Common no longer belongs to the military.
" It's an incredibly powerful piece of political theatre. It vividly recreates a specific moment in time and explores what life was like living on the perimeter fence. The play pulls no punches and is an extremely frank take on events. Ultimately though, it leaves any moral judgements up to its audience." (Director, Nic Saunders)
More information can be obtained from www.henleydrama.co.uk. The venue is Studio One Theatre, Gravel Hill, Henley-on-Thames. Tickets are £6 / £5 and are available from 01491 579988 or from Deanfield Reception in person.
TRIP TO DISNEYLAND A BIG SUCCESS: FEBRUARY 2004
Trip to Disneyland a Big Success: February 2004
The First Year National Diploma students enjoyed a fun filled three days
in Disneyland, Paris at the the end of last month. The trip is unsurprisingly
one of the highlights of the first year of the course and is always an
enjoyable experience. The purpose of the trip is to experience one of
the worlds leading performing arts venues firsthand and the students get
exclusive back stage seminars with the park's designers and performers.
The trip now encompasses the new Film Park.
CABARET!
The Henley College Theatre Group's production of 'Cabaret' took place
in December 2003. The open auditions in September drew a large number
of students from across the college. The standard was high and the successful
thirty-two strong cast had been in rehearsal since the start of term.
Including technical support, front of house and band the company comprised
of over sixty students. The musical is an important event in the college
calendar and gives students the opportunity to experience what it is like
working on a show to professional standards. As the new Director of Drama,
this was Liz Yates's first year directing the musical, but she is no stranger
to the company having worked as choreographer on previous productions
including 'Hair' at this year's Fringe.
Liz said "it is a challenge to inject old favourites with new life
but hopefully this production will do just that. It is an energetic and
lively musical but there is a sting in the tale." 'Cabaret' follows
the story of Clifford Bradshaw, played by Ameer Choudrie, as he journeys
to Berlin to write his novel and becomes intoxicated by the Kit Kat Club
and Sally Bowles, played by Ali Prosser. But whilst the club provides
a means of escape from the realities of life, events in the city forebode
a more sinister turn of events.
TIE PROJECT NOW IN ITS 5TH YEAR: NOVEMBER 2003
In what has now become an annual event on the first year of the National
Diploma course, the students mounted their Theatre In Education in tour
this week.
The aim of the project is to create and tour a complete TIE experience
to local primary schools. The students are responsible for taking an idea
and transforming it into a performance piece and accompanying educational
workshop. This year the topic chosen by the schools was 'The Ancient Greeks'.
Naturally, the students chose to focus on the theatre of the Greeks. The
finished pieces merged influences as diverse as Harry Potter, the Spice
Girls and the legendary 118 Man.
The TIE tour is one of the highlights of the First Year's calendar and it is exciting to see college students out in the community with their work within weeks of joining the course.
HAIR AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVAL: WE NOW HAVE THE DETAILS!
The "Hair" machine has been working steadily and we are now able to confirm some really exciting details. The venue is now confirmed as The Studio of Augustine's Theatre.
The show dates are 12 - 25 August, meaning we are running for the two
peak weeks of the festival. Ticket prices are expected to be £5
and £3.50 (concs).
Really exciting news is the confirmation that the band will be joined
by a sitar player, Pauli Atzei. Pauli is a well established musician,
who has played with many bands incuding Cornershop.
Full information and tickets are available NOW from www.edfringe.com !
ONCE A CATHOLIC BY MARY O'MALLEY 17 - 21 JUNE 2003
"Once a Catholic, Always a Catholic. That's the rule."
The BND in Drama Graduation Show
This satirical comedy is a story of sexual awakening set against the backdrop of the rise of the teenager in the 1950's. In the Lady of Fatima Convent where everyone's called Mary, the girls fight for an individual voice against the dictatorial institutions of the school and church.
There is no room for questions and Mary Mooney soon finds herself compromised by naïve innocence and enforced ignorance.
Tickets on available from Deanfield reception in person or on 01491 579988
priced £6/£5 (concs).
THE CROSSING PATH: MAY 2003
Second year students on the BND in Drama were highly praised for their production of a new play 'The Crossing Path' by Maya Chowdhry as part NT Shell Connections when they premiered the production at the college in March. David McFeteridge from the National Theatre commented on the production as "a very good ensemble executed by a talented company". In May The Theatre Royal Bath hosted a festival of work in the region as part of the NT Shell Connections project and the company were invited to perform at The Ustinov Studio.
'The Crossing Path' company outside the Ustinov Studio with the NT Shell Connections promotional car!
THE CROSSING PATH 26 - 29 MARCH 2003
A new play by Maya Chowdhry
Take a journey with Rhiannon into another world
When you've lived in a community all your life and rely on tarot cards to make your decisions, a new adventure is daunting.
But what is her destiny and who will cross her path?
A youthful journey. Stepping onto the path with no fear of the future.
The Completely Cuckoo Theatre Company presents this new play as part
of NT Shell Connections, a celebration of youth theatre, organised by
the National Theatre
This production has been sponsored by Merril Commercial Consultants Ltd
NEW PRODUCTION OF LORD OF THE FLIES: MARCH 2003
Next week (Tuesday 11 - Saturday 15) sees the new production from the Completely Cuckoo Theatre Company, "Lord Of The Flies" by William Golding, adapted by Nigel Williams.
Golding's first novel is a modern classic. The story centres around a group of children who become isolated from the outside world when their plane crashes. Their survival on the island becomes a journey of self discovery as each child has to decide whether to cling onto the last vestiges of the world they left behind or descend into their "hearts of darkness" and become the savage that lurks within us all. The play adaptation loses none of the power of the novel as the cast reccreate this dark and chilling story.
Director Nic Saunders says "It's been a harrowing piece to work on. The situation could so easily be real and the questions the piece asks are very uncomfortable ones. The term 'powerful' is overused in theatre, but this piece really is and has had a profound effect on the cast and crew."
Kieran Hance takes the role of Ralph, Cheryl Grey is Piggy and Amy Roberts plays Jack in this innovative new adaptation.
STUDENTS GET CONNECTED: FEBRUARY 2003
The department is taking part in a genuinely exciting project this month as it joins forces with both The National Theatre and Shell in its celebration of youth theatre, NT Shell Connections.
The scheme allows student groups to tackle original work with the eventual hope of performing them on the South Bank. Under the direction of Liz Yates, the College is tackling "The Crossing Path" by Maya Chowdhry.
Further details will appear on this site, but information can also be found now at the NT Shell Connections website.
HAIR-RAISING: FEBRUARY 2003
As the dust settles on the christmas production of HAIR and before the Edinburgh bandwagon begins to roll, director Nic Saunders is pleased to announce that HAIR gave £100 to the college Amnesty International society.
"The show was all about promoting the message of Peace and, as people have said, very anti-war, so it just felt right to make a contribution to an organisation, such as Amnesty, that is committed to promoting that goal all over the world" commented Nic.
HAIR@THE FRINGE: JANAURY 2003
After the success of "Hair" in December - the big news is that the show is going to be revamped in July and entered in the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August.
At the moment details are sketchy and all venue news, ticket availabilty, etc will be announced here on the site as soon as they're known, but it promises to be a really exciting venture. The proposed dates for the Edinburgh show are 12 - 17 August.
The show will be reworked into a "darker, grungier feel" and, director Nic Saunders says "It will still have the same anti-war vibe as the original run, but gain more of an edge. We're going to try and create a more authentic look and sound this time round - more original 60's clothes, Hammond organs, and the like."
More details will appear soon - don't forget to check out the "HAIR" pictures and stuff in the Productions section. Keep watching the skies.
PEACE PROTEST MAKES THE PAPERS: NOVEMBER 2002
To raise awareness for the forthcoming production of HAIR, director Nic Saunders and assorted cast members took to the streets of Henley and the steps of the Town Hall this week.
The Henley Standard said:
"The Summer of Love will warm a wintery Henley next month when the
notorious 1960s musical Hair is performed by the Henley College.
Director Nic Saunders said:"Hair is a powerful piece of anti-war theatre and celebrates that brief moment in time when the flower was almost as mighty as the gun.
"This musical proclaiming the power of peace takes on a new resonance at the moment as we stand on the brink of international conflict."
A percentage of the profits will go towards the human rights charity, Amnesty International.
Nic said:"The Amnesty International link is simply because it does feel very relevant. If members of the audience are handed leaflets after the performance, perhaps they will think about the message.
"Although Hair is set in the sixties, the protest we staged this morning on the town hall steps could have been for real." Hair achieved instant notoriety when it first opened in the late 1960s with a much publicised nude scene.
Set in 1968, Hair tells the story of a young man's struggle within himself as he wrestles with the decision whether to go to gight in Vietnam, set against the backdrop of the free-wheeling hippy movement." Click here for details of dates & tickets
THEATRE IN EDUCATION TOUR 2002: 19/20 NOVEMBER
As has now become a tradition at the College, first year BTEC students once again mounted a Theatre in education tour to local primary schools.
Aiming both to entertain and educate the children, this year focussed on the Victorian era and the Tudor period.
The two contrasting pieces told the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the writing of his masterpiece "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and of an adventure on the high seas as Thomas and Geraldine faced cutthroat pirates and savage cannibals.
Both pieces met with a positive reception and continued the deportment's drive to take drama into the community.
COLLEGE MUSICAL 'HAIR': 10 - 14 DECEMBER
( Hair will be Nic's last musical at the College after 5 years, as next year he takes up a place at RADA.)
Tickets for this year's musical have gone on sale this week. Demand is expected to be high and will get higher as they publicity drive really starts in earnest this week. The capacity audience each night is limited to 200.
Tickets this year are on sale from three Box Office outlets - the Deanfield Reception of The Henley College, Music World and The India Shop in Henley town centre. Further information and tickets can also be obtained by ringing 01491 579988. Tickets are priced at £6 and £5 (concessionary rate).
Director Nic Saunders comments "Rehearsals have been going well and the show is really coming together. The show is a real fusion of theatre and rock concert -I can't wait to see it. And it's really scary that the week tickets go on sale, Saddam Hussein is given a three day ultimatum about going to war - who said there wasn't a real need for a musical about the power of Peace?"
ORESTEIA AT BRADFIELD 20th JULY
"The Oresteia Project" can announce it's venue for the last stage of it's journey. After three very successful studio productions throughout the year (see Productions section) the trilogy will be performed in its entirety for one day only in the beautiful surroundings of The Greek Theatre in the grounds of Bradfield College, nr Reading.
The event will be staged on the 20 July 2002 and tickets are priced £12.50 / £8.50 (concs).
"This promises to be a very special event and the pinnacle of a years hard work. The chance to see The Oresteia in one go is quite rare and in the wonderful setting of this rural amphitheatre will one make it more memorable." says Nic Saunders, director of Parts 2 and 3.
Tickets will be available on the door or in advance from the college. Directions to the event are obtainable from www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk .
DANCE OFF - 27 to 29 June 2002
The academic year comes to a close with a celebration of dance.
The annual dance show provides a showcase for the best of this year's student dance. Performed in the purpose built dance studio, the show promises to be extremely dynamic.
"Dance off runs for three nights 27 - 29 June and tickets are available on the door or from the usual Box Office number.
STAGS AND HENS - 20 to 22 June 2002
The first Diploma course culminates in its end of year production, "Stags and Hens" by Willy Russell.
This light hearted play tells of the events of a bunch of men and women out on their respective Stag and Hen nights. Performed in Studio One, this production is the end result of the First Diploma course and is designed to give the students a chance to practice in performance skills they've been working on throughout the year. Under the direction of Caroline McDonnell, the show promises to repeat the success of last year's production of "Fen" by Caryl Churchill.
The show runs from 20 - 22 June and tickets are available NOW from the usual Box Office number
JUBILATION ! June 2002
Under the direction of Nic Saunders and Liz Yates, some department students were lucky enough to join the cast of "Jubilation".
"Jubilation !" was a large scale outdoor theatre event organised by the Henley Festival and Edinburgh Fringe winning director Toby Gough. The event, designed to celebrate the Jubilee, was staged at Fawley Court (a place familiar to the department - it was used as one of the tour dates for the "Antigone 2001" tour) on the 31 May and 1 June. The event gave students a chance to work within a professional cast, with a professional director and to gain an insight into the machinations of such a large scale event. The students contributed in all areas, most notably in "The Voyage of Discovery" section (a macabre walk through history staged in the woods) and as peasants in the main stage event.
Not only a great opportunity for students, but another step towards the
department's goal to intergrate student drama into the wider community.
Click here for pictures!
SWEENEY TODD IN HENLEY YOUTH FESTIVAL - 16 March
On Saturday 16th March, Karl Picton (Sweeney) , Bonnie Hurst (Mrs Lovett) and Lorna McAlley (Tobias) reprised their roles from the show for a one off "Highlights" performance.
Under the supervision of original director Nic Saunders and M.D. Phil Dennis, the three performed "By The Sea", "No One's Gonna Harm You" and "Priest" to tremendous applause.
The Henley Youth Festival is an annual event celebrating the performance work of the youth of Henley and the college was proud to be a part of it. Last year the college presented "Highlights" from "Jesus Christ Superstar".
ORESTEIA PROJECT OFF TO GREECE
Various cast and crew members involved in "The Oresteia Project" travel to Greece this week to visit the actual locations from the trilogy.
Head of Drama, Nic Saunders "It's a once in a lifetime chance to really bring the Project to life - to think that two weeks ago (with "The Choephori") we recreated these stories, situations and places and now we're going to be stood there. It makes it all so real."
Photos from the trip can be seen on the Trips section.
"The Oresteia Project" is an exciting, year long project in
which the College is tackling the "greatest triology in theatre"
Aeschylus' epic saga is rarely performed in its entirety and this is an
ambitious and challenging undertaking to say the least. Over the course
of a year all three parts will be performed separately before culminating
in a marathon festival day this summer in which audiences will be able
to see the whole work as one production.
The first part, "Agamemmon" was performed at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead, between 15th and 19th January. This received rave reviews - online soon!
Part 2 , "The Choephori" will take place at the Henley College
on 12 to 16 March 2002.
"This promises to be dark and menacing! " says the director.
For further details ring 01491-579988
Part 3, "The Eumenides" will follow on 11-15 June 2002. Studio One at The Henley College
Nic Saunders, Director, says "The final chapter brings this epic story to an end, but promises a few thrills and surprises on the way. The Eumenides is as action packed and dramatic as Parts One and two, but also contains a quite fascinating philosophical angle that will engage audiences"
For further details ring 01491-579988
SWEENEY MAKES THE HEADLINES: NOVEMBER 2001
Tickets for the College production Sweeney Todd are selling faster than hot pies since "Sweeney" made the front page of the Henley Standard.
This was great publicity for the show and reflects the depaertment's continuing drive to take college drama into the local community.
TUE 4 - SAT 8 DECEMBER
Tickets are available from the Henley College reception, Music World in Henley town centre and the Kenton Theatre. For all booking enquiries and further information ring 01491 579988.
THEATRE IN EDUCATION TOUR: NOVEMBER 2001
As part of their BTEC course, first year students recently toured their TIE projects to local primary schools.
The aim of the TIE is to educate through drama, and this year the students
produced pieces based on 'Brazil' and 'India'. Maureen Smith, acting deputy
head of Trinity C.E. Primary School in Henley, said "The children
were thoroughly entertained by the plays and workshops which made learning
enjoyable and fun"
In this piece "Dear Diary" students from the College entertained
and educated with a piece about India. In this scene the travellers are
learning a traditional Indian dance.
The TIE tour is now in its fourth year and has become one of the highlights of the first year of the course.
SWEENEY TODD BY STEPHEN SONDHEIM: OCTOBER 2001
The HENLEY College Performing Arts department are proud to present this years production.
Telling the story of the infamous demon barber of Fleet Street as he unleashes his bloody revenge on all those who wronged him, this is a darkly humorous reworking of the famous story.
Boasting a large, energetic cast the production hopes to build on the success of last years production of "Jesus Christ Superstar". The big news this year is the venue - the Kenton Theatre, Henley on Thames.
TUE 4 - SAT 8 DECEMBER
"Anyone interested in good theatre should keep an eye on the College" - The Henley Standard
