Performing Arts: News 2005

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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.