Performing Arts: News 2002 and earlier

News from 2007
News from 2006
News from 2005
News from 2004
News from 2003

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