Year 10 Drama - Improvisation Unit

Follow the link to an online quiz containing flashcards to help you learn your improv terms...

http://quizlet.com/21925683/improv-terms-flash-cards/

Bonnie Prince Charlie... newspaper links...

Links to newspaper coverage on "Bonnie Prince Charlie" for the Fringe Festival

OTAGO DAILY TIMES...

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/250402/speed-your-bonny-boat-these

 

STAR NEWSPAPER...

 

Dunedin pupils take up arms on the stage

By BRENDA HARWOOD 

 

   DUNEDIN high school pupils are doing battle this week, taking the role of Redcoats and Jacobites in the show Bonnie Prince Charlie for the Dunedin Fringe Festival.    A narrated dramatisation of the events around the 1745 rebellion of the Scottish Highlanders (known as Jacobites) against British rule, led by Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie involves pupils from John McGlashan College, Otago Boys’ High School and Otago Girls’ High School, part of a 55­strong cast which includes a contingent of 25 performers from Hamilton.    Bonnie Prince Charlie is being staged at Otago Boys’ High School Auditorium tonight and Saturday, at 7pm.    The show, which was devised by a group of Hamilton Celtic enthu­siasts led by producer David McLachlan, has been performed in the North Island.    Filled with action, music, sword fights and Highland dancing, Bonnie Prince Charlie aimed to bring a tragic and terrible episode in Scottish and English history to life, Mr McLach­lan said.    This production of Bonnie Prince Charlie has been co­directed by Cecilia Mooney in Hamilton and John McGlashan College drama teacher Kimberley Fridd, who have spent many hours Skyping and exchanging frantic emails.    ‘‘It has been a very interesting process working with the Hamilton team — it’s exciting to have our students involved,’’ Ms Fridd said.    ‘‘It’s a great opportunity for our keen drama students to get some stage time,’’ she said.    With a close relationship between the drama groups at the various schools, it was relatively simple to arrange the teams of young actors for the show.    To add to the fun, John McGlashan boys play the part of English Redcoats and Otago Boys’ High School boys play the Jacobites. ‘‘The boys are all about the battle scenes, so we’ve added that little bit of rivalry for fun,’’ she said. Dunedin Town Cryer Gregor Campbell narrates. A choir with soloists sings Celtic songs, and young people play bag­pipes and the fiddle. Tickets cost $10 and $5 and are available at the door.

Taking aim . . . John McGlashan College pupils (back, from left) Michael Glendining, James Mustapic, Tyler Baker (who also plays Bonnie Prince Charlie), George Dickson, James Burchell ( front from left), Quinn Campbell, Joe Corbett and Alfie Richardson prepare for their roles as Redcoats (English soldiers) in the dramatic reenactment of Scottish history Bonnie Prince Charlie this week during the Dunedin Fringe Festival. PHOTO: BRENDA HARWOOD

Final Wrap up on Bonnie Prince Charlie....

AN ADMIRABLE VENTURE

Dunedin Fringe 2013 BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE written by Alec Calderwood Adapted for this production by David McLachlan Directed by Cecilia Mooney Produced by David McLachlan Staged by Hamilton's Celtic Community at Otago Boys High School, Dunedin From 20 Mar 2013 to 23 Mar 2013 Reviewed by Terry MacTavish, 23 Mar 2013

Ye canna lay claim to the proud name o' MacTavish wi'oot your heart stirrin' at the skirl o' the pipes!*  And the pipers are here in full splendour outside the stunning Victorian Gothic castle that is Otago Boys High School. It is the perfect, appropriate venue for one of the most fascinating enterprises of the Fringe.  A group of around 30 passionate enthusiasts from Hamilton has actually saved the pennies to travel to Dunedin to present the sad, proud history of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Scottish uprising of 1745.
In a combined effort that doubtless rivals the battle plans of the Caledonians, many locals, including students from at least four schools, have been recruited to swell the cast. The performers of Hamilton and Dunedin, after rehearsing separately, had just one day to bring it all together. It is a phenomenal undertaking that results in nearly sixty dedicated performers of all ages sharing an experience they will not forget.
The tale of Bonnie Prince Charlie, his claim to the throne, and the terrible defeat inflicted by the English on the Scots at Culloden in '45, is both romantic and tragic. Though it has all the ingredients of a thrilling story, the outcome was so terrible it strikes a deep chord yet in the hearts of many Scots. The consequences to Scotland were far-reaching and, due to the infamous Clearances, in part account for Dunedin's very existence. It's odd we're looking to Hamilton to remind us, but we're grateful.
The format, scripted by Alec Calderwood, is straightforward: Gregor Campbell narrates the story to children sitting at his feet, while the scenes he describes are enacted without dialogue.  As the Young Pretender, Tyler Baker, bearing a resemblance to Prince William, accepts allegiance and raises his standard. The battles are vigorously conducted, and the crowd scenes are enlivened with bagpipes, fiddles and sword dancing.
An onstage choir in good voice sings the beloved songs of Scotland: Charlie is m'darling of course, and the Skye Boatsong, and somehow Marie's Wedding is in there.  Most poignant of all, as the young men go off to fight, “But me and my true love will never meet again, on the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond...”
The open stage of the Maurice Joel Theatre at OBHS is just right for the large cast and the scenes of combat or village life.  Slides of key events and people are projected onto the cyclorama, smoke billows over the battlefields, and the auditorium is creatively used, with highland warriors making their famous downhill charge from the back of the theatre. The costumes may not stand up to close scrutiny (and women didn't wear kilts in '45), but the overall effect is fine, with the tartans clearly opposing the smart red jackets of the English.
It is a frankly amateur production, and that is part of its charm.  You might call it folk-theatre, a community involvement where telling their own story truthfully, matters more than the egos of the actors. The stolid demeanour of the serious narrator with the beautiful Scots accent, the occasional jostling to remember positions onstage, odd bumps in the wings, the anxious tugging at a sleeve to conceal a modern watch, the bairns' sly peeks at the audience: all have an endearing quality because of the sincerity of the intention.
Even the cynical may find it hard not to shed a tear, when the families gather round the slain at the Battle of Culloden. The description of the virtual genocide that followed is shocking. And finally the Clearances, the actors drifting forlornly away as the Highlanders are forced to emigrate. Which brings us back to Dunedin.
This really is an admirable venture, for some the realisation of a dream, and deserves a full house on its second and final performance on Saturday. Welcome to the Edinburgh of the South, Hamilton!
*If there is any of Clan Campbell in trouble tonight, tak note – we MacTs rise for the Campbells of Argyll!  Not for naught is oor motto: “We do not forget!” – gie us a text anytime!

Drama Notices...

2013 has started with a hiss and a bang in the Drama Dept! 

We have loads of boys from Year 7 to 13 involved with the Fringe Festival performance of "Bonnie Prince Charlie - the story of the '45 ". This is an exciting and innovative project with Dunedin and Hamilton casts combining for the performance.

If parents and students wish to buy tickets - please follow the link: 
http://www.dashtickets.co.nz/tour/351 

Here is some more information on the show: 
http://www.dunedinfringe.org.nz/artist-events/view/bonnie-prince-charlie 

If you wanted to audition and were to late... don't worry... there will be more opportunities for drama things during the year! :) 


A lot of students have been asking about when Theatresports is getting up and running.. after it's huge success last year. It won't be running this term, because I am so busy with the Fringe Festival. Theatresports will begin next term with sessions during Tuesday lunchtime for Junior and Senior students. We will also be continuing with the hugely successful "Improv Jam" at Johnnies, OBHS, and King's every fortnight - where you will get to team up with students from schools around Dunedin and learn new improv games and techniques. Keep an ear out for the notices for when we begin!

John McGlashan College is in charge of the musical this year...and we should be auditioning by the end of term. So again, keep an ear out for notices.

That's all for now :)
Ms Fridd
T.I.C Drama Dept. 

Year 10 Arts Week 2011 (Term 4, Week 4)

All Year 10 students are fortunate enough this week to be participating in an Arts week.  Students have full immersion in a different arts related subject each day over four days and today I had 10RS with me at Otago University's Allen Hall for the Drama programme.

Martyn Roberts, the Allen Hall Theatre Manager and Designer, put together a Lighting and technology programme to give students an insight into the world of theatre technology. Today 10RS examined lighting design (learning how to rig lights & use a smoke machine), health & safety issues in relation to theatre technology, and sound design - where the students spent time in a University Mac Lab learning how to create a atmospheric theatre soundtracks using "GarageBand". 

In the afternoon, students honed the skills they had used in the morning sessions, to work in groups to devise small scenes using a range of props and lights. The four groups came up with some very creative scenes and it was great to see them being imaginative and thinking "outside the box". A rewarding day was had by all.

Below are some photos from the afternoon session, when the students were devising scenes and rigging lights.

Year 8 Drama - Greek Theatre model making

Today the Year 8 Drama class started making models of a Greek Theatre - here is a wee look at what some of the groups got up to....

What's going on in Junior Drama?

There is loads going on in the Junior Drama classes at the moment....

• Year 7 classes are in full on rehearsal mode for their performances of their Hero pieces for this Thursday. The boys have put a lot of time and effort into devising their pieces and am really looking forward to it all coming together with props and costumes!
• Year 8 are working towards their group Lip Sync performances - using the Bee Gees song "Staying Alive". Should be entertaining! Then they are moving on to their Greek Theatre unit...
• Year 9 are working hard learning lines for their scripted Duologue - using a scene from the musical 'West Side Story'. I have been really impressed by some groups - who have already learned their lines and are working hard on their blocking of movements on stage.
• Year 10 are in the middle of their ritual unit - working towards a group ritual performance... lots of research and devising to be done in the next couple of weeks.

Phew! Great work everyone, keep it up!