PRIMARY CLASSICS Cottesloe Theatre
The Wonderful Life and Miserable Death of the Renowned Magician
Dr Faustus
February 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25 at 11am
February 10, 11, 20, 23, 24 at 2pm.
Running time: 50 minutes. Tickets: £4. Suitability: 8+ yrs.
The National Theatre Education Department, the Art of Regeneration
and Theatre Royal Plymouth present a new version of the classic Dr
Faustus, specially devised for 8 - 11 year olds. Part of the Primary
Classics education programme, it is adapted from Christopher Marlowe's
play and other tellings of the myth with new material created by Carl
Grose. The production is directed by Rebecca Gould and Mervyn Millar,
with music composed and performed by Ansuman Biswas (the team who
brought The Little Tempest to the NT last year). The designer
is Jane Linz Roberts.
A story about what might happen if you want too much, what might
happen if you meet the Devil and what might happen if you spend a
lot of time looking for sausages.
Actors, puppets and live music combine to tell one of the most enduring
stories in world literature, in a production packed with magic, poetry
and humour.
Primary Classics is an extensive education programme spanning two
terms. It involves a series of 12 artist-led workshops covering history,
citizenship, storytelling, music, movement, design and puppetry and
a theatre visit to watch the production. The programme culminates
in the Primary Classics Festival at the Albany Theatre, Deptford from
29 March - 1 April 2004, which will showcase the pupils' work. There
are 13 South London and 6 Devon primary school classes currently participating
in the project.
Tickets for the show are available for both members of the public
and school groups. Teachers can download application forms for a preparatory
in-school workshop and supporting resources from www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/education.
Stagework.org.uk
A new National Theatre website will go behind the scenes of four
major productions at the National Theatre and selected regional partner
theatres, including the upcoming NT production of His Dark Materials
based on the novels by Philip Pullman.
Stagework.org.uk is one of the first seven projects, recently announced
by Arts Minister Estelle Morris, commissioned under the new (DCMS)
Government arts and education initiative, Culture Online.
These performances, and those responsible for making them, will be
brought to interactive life on the Stagework.org.uk website, which
will include video streaming of rehearsals and performance, and interviews
with actors, directors and designers.
Designed by new media and television production company Illumina
Digital, the site will not only give users an insight into the productions,
people and the process of creating theatre, but will provide new learning
and teaching materials for studying English, drama and citizenship
in schools. It will also include guidance on careers in the creative
industries and serve as a beacon for some of the best current performance
practice.
Among the productions featured on the site will be the National Theatre's
recent production of Henry V as well as His Dark Materials,
both of which are directed by Nicholas Hytner, the National's Director.
The first phase of Stagework.org.uk will launch to coincide with the
opening of His Dark Materials on 20 December.
DfES London Challenge
NT Education has been asked by Tim Brighouse, Commissioner for London
Schools, to work in partnership with the London Challenge Team, part
of the Department for Education and Skills.
NT Education will be touring three of its well-received productions
to a selection of London secondary schools. They will be supported
by INSET training days designed to enhance the skills of teachers
and aid the teaching of Citizenship, English and Drama.
The Stones is a powerful drama raising complex questions without
easy solutions. It explores the age of responsibility, legal/human
rights and responsibilities, basic aspects of the criminal justice
system and how it relates to young people.
Shopping for Shoes is about peer pressure, consumer politics,
youth culture, and globalisation.
Wam Bam is a piece of Forum Theatre, which poses problems
dealing with pregnancy and sexual health.
