Events
Other Events at Shanklin Theatre:
‘Prom Night’ - Friday 13th January 3.30pm
‘Prom Night’ - Friday 20th January 3.30pm
‘The Baker Street Irregulars' - Friday 3rd February 3.30pm
‘Channel Hopping’ - Friday 10th February **Sorry this performance has been cancelled due to the severe weather conditions in France preventing the children travelling over from France**
‘Fast Food’ - Friday 24th February 3.30pm.
'Bad Hair Day' - Friday 23rd March 12.30pm *Please note earlier performance time*
'Channel Hopping' - Friday 30th March 3.30pm
A Musical to be performed in English by a group of young French people
Back in 1996, at the instigation of David Redston who was running Shanklin Theatre at the time, a proposal was made to an International school in the Paris suburbs to organise a 5-day theatre workshop for their students, the idea being to give them an opportunity to practice their English in a completely different context from that of the classroom, while introducing them to musical theatre – a genre which is rarely encountered in French schools.The students who participated were very enthusiastic about their week and many of them signed up for subsequent trips, but also spread the word to friends in different schools.
Fifteen years later word is still spreading and we now have about ten different groups every year (so over 300 students) including groups of completely bilingual students as well as many who have only been learning English as a foreign language for three or four years. Several previous participants have gone on to become professional actors and pretty well all of them have gained enormously in self confidence.
The students work extremely hard to master the various skills required of them in such a short time, particularly those who are working in a foreign language, but are often disappointed at the small number of people who turn up to see their performance.
The shows are entirely free of charge, everybody is welcome and your presence and applause would be greatly appreciated.
This performance runs for around one hour There is no interval
MORE.......
THEATRE WORKSHOPS FOR FRENCH STUDENTS OF ENGLISH
WHAT THE STUDENTS THINK.
In only four days we produced a Musical Comedy in England!
Thirty-three students from the 2nd European Year ( Year 10) of the Notre Dame de Sion School in Paris came to stay on the Isle of Wight, where three teachers from a Stage School were expecting them. The story of this “extraordinary linguistic immersion” is told by two of the students, Eloise and Igor, both fifteen.
Eloise. Born, 29th June 1995. She says that her English Teacher in Year 6 helped her love her English studies. In July 2010 she spent two weeks in York at an International Camp.
After twelve hours of travelling by ‘Bus and Ferry, the arrival on the island was magical. Beautiful countryside, rocks, cliffs and little houses looking like fairy houses. We were welcomed in an hotel overlooking the sea, and we felt at home, although we were far from our Parisian haunts. Before we left I would have thought that it would be impossible for me to learn a musical comedy in four days and then perform in it. However the Music and Choreography Tutors, together with the Stage Director took us under their wing with such incredible efficiency. The story-line to “Fast Food” is a parody of what happens in a MacDonalds, with an added farcical Science Fiction theme containing aliens and inter-galactic events. I was especially pleased to dance, as I practiced classical dancing for seven years and this brought back some lovely memories. On the other hand I always thought I couldn’t sing, but that wasn’t so: after a few days I realised I could cope with the role. Well, it was the small part of a young girl cooking fries! As I shared the dialogue with my friend Solene, we improvised and did mimics. The tutors trusted us and were so motivating and enthusiastic. Also we practiced English in an unusual situation when we had to go out and meet the people of the village and convince them to come and see our performance. On the Friday afternoon when the curtain lifted in front of about twenty spectators we felt very stressed, but also delighted. I only regret one thing: not to have had the chance to really discover the Island. But everything was so intense and so thrilling. Also, I made new friends, one of them being Elise. The atmosphere was right for it and we were in shared rooms with two or three beds. On the return journey the teachers mentioned the development of this very strong bond of friendship when they had their meeting. This trip contributed a great deal towards this.
Igor. Born, 4th August 1995. In February 2009 he participated in a trip to San Francisco with his Form. In July 2010 he travelled to Montreal to take part in Rock Music Training with professional instrumentalists.
I play the guitar, so a Musical comedy was attractive to me. And also the “Mythical” Isle of Wight Festival in the Seventies was all about the music which fascinates me – Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan ........ However, I was not too happy because this trip would mean that I was going to miss a Concert which my mates and I had reserved seats for, five months earlier. Happily there was always a good atmosphere in the group, and also, I loved the countryside: I felt like photographing everything. All the same, there was a small concern; speaking in front of others, and perhaps being judged, all this was worrying me; I am rather shy. Also dancing is not my forte! However the Director presented the scenario so well that I was amused and determined to make the effort. After morning and afternoon rehearsals the tutors seemed to transmit their knowledge at an incredible pace. I grew in confidence and felt liberated; just as well because the casting gave me the part of the “Fast Food” Boss. I had a rather long script. Obviously I’ve progressed with my English, and that week will remain truly incredible.
WHAT THE TEACHER THINKS
Christine Drieux, English Teacher, Lycee Notre Dame de Sion, Paris.
This Theatre Workshop, which took place in November 2010 in a little town on the south east of the Isle of Wight, has not only allowed all the pupils of this Class to progress with their English, but it also reinforced the friendship links between pupils who did not know each other very well. A success, mostly due to the organisers, Alain and Barbara Flechais; she is English and her husband is French; and also to the tutors, Jayne the Choreographer, Dom the Stage Director and David the Musical Director. For many years they have taught English or French pupils, provided they were motivated. Ours were! The Musical Comedy related totally to the tastes of their age group. However they had to dare to throw themselves into it, dancing, memorising their script, singing in English and at the same time, improving their pronunciation. The shy ones had to overcome their reticence and what talents were revealed! Since our return, the English lessons have become even livelier!
Updated - 20/02/11 01:30
