Panorama - Eating disorders

Whilst yesterday’s disturbing programme with regards two Ballet Schools was harrowing, we wanted to remind our young people and parents of the Mental Heath resources page, and in particular, draw attention to the organisation called Beat, who focus on eating disorders.

Their resources page can be found here

Up-Stage is not a dance school, but we would always recommend asking for a Dance school or clubs policy on health and wellbeing of young people and staff. Any youth based activity should be a safe space. Please make sure it is.

Safe Space Policy

Every single one of us working at Up-Stage is entitled to work in a safe space: a space free of fear, a space free of bullying & harassment of any kind. We will work together honouring our differences & celebrating the gifts we each bring to the table. We will treat one another with politeness & respect at all times &, if we are subjected to or witness bullying & harassment, we will speak out knowing that our voices will be heard & we will be taken seriously. Together we can create a safe space.

BBC Article on the programme

And we're back

A "blink and you miss it summer holiday" and we are back! Of course, we had summer school in the meantime, which was excellent fun as always. So nice to see so many Up-Stagers there, quite a few for the first time. It really helps to build relationships. This term sees a few productions, which I will cover in more detail as we move forward. Don't forget to check the Calendar page for details of show dates all the way though to 2025! It's also really nice to be working on the new stage surface at the Village Hall. Up-Stage together with Barton Players have funded the resurfacing, and it already feels amazing to work on!

The new Stage Surface!

This week marks the start of our social media series on Sir Ken Robinson. For those of you who don’t know Ken’s work, he was an advocate for the arts in education, and creativity being key in all subjects…..The best way to introduce his work is via the following Ted Talk….

Unveiling the Benefits of Youth Theatre

Introduction

Youth theatre, often considered a fun and interactive extracurricular activity, offers much more than just a stage for young thespians to showcase their talent. From an academic standpoint, participating in youth theatre can greatly enhance a child's cognitive, emotional, and social development. In this post, we'll delve into the many benefits of youth theatre and why it is an invaluable asset to our children's education.

Fostering Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Youth theatre encourages participants to analyze scripts, dissect characters, and interpret emotions. This process hones critical thinking skills, as young actors learn to make informed decisions and contribute to the creative process. Furthermore, the unpredictable nature of live performance teaches adaptability and problem-solving, as young performers must think on their feet and adjust to unforeseen circumstances on stage.

Enhancing Language and Communication Skills

Drama involves reading and interpreting scripts, expanding a young person's vocabulary and comprehension skills. As young actors bring dialogue to life, they improve their verbal expression, articulation, and projection. Additionally, youth theatre enhances nonverbal communication skills, as performers must convey emotions through facial expressions, gestures, and body language.

Building Emotional Intelligence and Empathy

Embodying diverse characters allows young actors to explore various emotions, challenges, and perspectives. This process cultivates emotional intelligence, enabling participants to identify, express, and manage their emotions more effectively. Moreover, youth theatre fosters empathy, as young performers learn to understand and connect with the experiences of others.

Encouraging Collaboration and Teamwork

Theatre is a collaborative art form that requires individuals to work together towards a common goal. From directors and actors to technicians and stage crew, each person's contribution is vital to the success of a production. Youth theatre teaches the importance of teamwork, communication, and compromise, essential skills for thriving in academic and professional environments.

Developing Self-Confidence and Public Speaking Abilities

As young performers overcome the fear of performing in front of an audience, they develop self-confidence and a stronger sense of self-worth. This newfound confidence often translates to improved public speaking abilities, enabling students to present their ideas clearly and effectively in academic settings.

Encouraging Creativity and Imagination

Youth theatre stimulates creativity by encouraging young people to envision new worlds, develop original ideas, and experiment with various artistic choices. This creative process nurtures an innovative mindset, which is invaluable for academic growth and future career success.

Conclusion

The benefits of youth theatre extend far beyond the stage, enriching a child's academic journey and personal development. By fostering critical thinking, communication skills, emotional intelligence, collaboration, self-confidence, and creativity, youth theatre equips young people with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of life and excel in their educational pursuits. So, the next time you consider enrolling your child in Up-Stage, remember that youth theatre is not just about the applause; it's about cultivating the skills that will shine a spotlight on their future success.

New Term

Well after a restful (Up to a point) few weeks, we start again, this time it’s our 18th year! Looking back over the last year, it’s been great to get some sort of routine together after the pandemic, and actually put some shows on. It took a while of course, as these things always do. We noticed a difference in the youngsters when they came back to us, but I think we can safely say that we are back to normal (or our version of it)

The Summer School this year was tremendous as always, and we will be publishing the review soon. Next year is already in the planning stage, and we are already looking forward to it.

We also look forward to seeing some more new faces this year as well…

I look forward to seeing you all once again!

Keith

How to learn lines

Introduction

Memorizing lines is a skill that many actors have to learn. It's not as easy as it sounds, especially if you're nervous about forgetting your lines or feeling anxious about performing them in front of an audience. But with the right approach, memorizing lines can be a fun and effective way to prepare for your role. In this guide, we'll discuss different ways to memorize lines so that when it comes time for your next performance—whether it's on stage or in front of the camera—you'll be ready to nail those text passages without any stress whatsoever.

Create a routine.

Create a routine. Create a routine that works for you and your schedule, but make sure that it includes the right amount of time to learn your lines. If you don’t have enough time to learn your lines in one sitting, then break it up over several sessions or days.

Break down the text.

Learning lines is a lot like memorizing a recipe. The first step is to break the text down into smaller pieces, so that you don't have to think about it all at once. If you're worried about forgetting your lines, write them on index cards or sticky notes and put your card up in an obvious place where you can see it easily. When something new comes up in rehearsal, such as stage blocking or another actor dropping out of the scene, ask yourself what impact those changes will have on your character's motivation and voice in that particular moment.

Additionally, use any props available (if necessary) to help show what you mean when saying certain parts of your lines—for example: if there's furniture on stage that could serve as a bed, use it! If there aren't any beds available but there are chairs around which might serve as chairs, sit down when saying those particular lines until real furniture becomes available! This will not only give the audience something concrete for their imaginations but also help keep them focused on what matters most throughout this process: making sure everyone understands exactly why each word was chosen above all others so they know how best support their colleagues efforts."

Read with feeling.

If you want to learn your lines for a play, acting class or audition, it’s important to remember that learning lines is not about learning the words. It’s about using your body, voice and imagination to help you remember them. If a line doesn't match your body or emotion, think of how you would say it instead. Then try acting out this alternative version of the line while reading it out loud until it feels right.

If you want someone else's reaction when they hear their lines spoken by an actor in front of them at an audition or on stage during rehearsals (and who doesn't?), find opportunities outside of class when people are available to listen – friends and family members make great practice audiences!

Read out loud.

Read out loud.

This is the best way to learn your lines, because it's more fun than just reading them in your head. You'll be able to get a feel for how they sound, and you'll remember them more easily because they're not just a bunch of words sitting in your brain anymore. There are many ways to do this:

• Read them out loud to yourself. This is great when you're alone, or if you want to practice as much as possible without making anyone else listen (which can be helpful if there are other people around). Just sit down somewhere quiet and start saying the lines aloud until you feel like they've become part of you!

• Read them out loud to someone else. If there's someone around willing hear them—a friend or family member—ask them if they'd mind hearing what you've written so far on the subject at hand, then go ahead and read it for them! It might seem strange at first but once again try not worry about it too much; just think of all those famous actors who did this before becoming famous themselves! They probably didn't have any problems either so don't let anything stop now!

Record yourself.

To help you practice and perfect your lines, you can record yourself reading the script. This will give you a chance to listen back and see what mistakes are being made or where your voice is unclear. You may also notice places in the script where you lose your place or feel stuck for some reason.

This is a great way to identify any problems that need fixing so that when it's time for shooting, those issues won't be present anymore.

Drill the lines.

There are several ways to learn lines, but the most effective way is drilling. You can use a partner, a whiteboard or mirror, a tape recorder and even an app on your phone. If you're using an app on your phone or tablet then chances are you'll want to make sure that it's something that works well with smartwatches too.

To get started with drilling:

• Pick out three or four different locations where you can easily get away from distractions and people who might bother you while doing this exercise (it could be in your room if there's no one else there).

• Write down each of the lines from memory onto note cards (or pieces of paper) so that they will not be forgotten when leaving one location for another. Remembering what comes next in the line helps keep track without having any props like notes nearby at all times during practice sessions later on in training sessions; this means less risk involved because there isn't anything physical left behind which could potentially tell others what has been done during practice time!

Use your voice and body.

You might have seen actors or actresses who keep their hands in the same position throughout a performance. They're not just doing this because they're tense or nervous (although they probably are!), they're actually doing it to help them remember their lines. If you want to learn lines, make sure that you don't hold your body still while rehearsing them—move your arms and legs, shake your head around a bit and do whatever else comes naturally.

When you are working on a script with others, make sure that everyone uses their whole bodies as well as their voices when speaking lines. It doesn't matter if you're playing an old man or a young woman: using gestures will help bring the character to life for everyone involved!

Memorize lines using these techniques.

To memorize lines, you will need to create a routine. To do this, first break down your text into small chunks so that you can learn them without getting overwhelmed. Next, read the text out loud to yourself several times while imagining how it would feel if you were performing in front of an audience. Finally, record yourself reading the lines and listen back to them until you're comfortable with how they sound coming from your mouth—and make sure no one else is around when they hear!

You should also use your voice and body as much as possible when learning lines. For example: If there's music playing during rehearsal or performance that goes along with what's happening on stage (for example, if it's a musical), try singing along with it while reading through all those big words again just before curtain call (which might not even happen).

Conclusion

If you want to learn your lines and be ready for the audition, then these techniques will help. Remember that everyone has a different way of memorizing their lines so try out different techniques until you find one that works best for you.

Why do we improvise in drama?

Introduction

Improvisation is a part of theatre that many people don't think about. I mean, you go to see the play and when you watch it you're watching the script, right? But there's a lot more to it than that! Improvising can be fun and keeps performance fresh. It also helps us get over stage fright, build up characters, understand our characters better, come up with new ideas...the list goes on!

to get over stage fright

Stage fright is normal and to be expected. You're in a new place, with new people and being watched by an audience who have no idea who you are or what your talents are. It's easy to feel like everyone in the room knows how nervous you are, which can cause even more nerves. This feeling is often heightened for actors because we aren't used to being observed so closely in our daily lives. In fact, many of us would go out of their way to avoid it!

But stage fright shouldn't stop you from learning how improv works with other people because there's always a way around it - even if that means taking a few breaks until the nerves settle down before returning for another round of improvisation after some water or tea/coffee has cooled down enough for consumption (or ice cream).

to build up characters

Improvisation is a great way to develop characters and their relationships with each other. When you improvise, you get to see how the character reacts in different situations and under different pressures, which you can then take into consideration when writing the script. You might find that the character changes from being confident to nervous in one scene or that he has a fear of dogs or heights. It's also an opportunity to explore hidden aspects of your protagonist's personality: maybe he had been bullied at school by older siblings? Maybe she has a secret crush on someone else? Whatever comes out in improvisation will help you build up more complex characters who feel more real than if they were only written down as words on paper.

to understand your character

Improvisation is a great way of finding out more about your character. Improvisation can help you work out the background, personality and motivations of your character. You can also practise reacting in front of others to different situations as well as working out how your character would react to other characters.

to come up with new ideas

You can use improvisation to help you think on your feet. If you've ever been in a conversation and felt like you didn't have a good response, or if you're someone who struggles with answers when asked questions, improv may help. You can practice thinking about what other people think of your character or story idea and using that as inspiration for creating new ideas.

This method is also beneficial because it teaches people how to be flexible in their thinking. It teaches them not to be afraid of making mistakes or saying something that doesn’t make sense; instead, they learn how to use those moments as opportunities for growth and improvement!

so everyone has a chance to be in the spotlight

>Improv is a great way to explore your creativity and express yourself in a safe environment. Improv allows you to develop trust with your fellow actors, which helps you feel comfortable being vulnerable on stage. When I was younger I felt insecure about speaking up in front of my classmates or teachers because I thought they would judge me for what I said. As soon as we started doing improv exercises with our class, however, those fears went away because everyone was playing off each other's words and actions instead of thinking about what they looked like or how others perceived them (or perhaps even themselves). It also helped that there were only four other students in our improv class—which meant there weren't too many people watching us at once!

If you're interested in taking an improv class but don't know where to start looking for one near you, check out this website: [Improvisation Institute](https://www.improvinstitute.com/community/?ref=home).

because it's fun

Improvisation is fun because it allows you to try new things, be creative and be spontaneous. You get the chance to be silly, which is something that we don't necessarily get to do as much in life. Even if you're not playing a character, when you take off your mask and become yourself again, it can be nice to let loose and have some fun for a moment.

Improvising is fun and keeps performance fresh.

Improvisation is a great way to keep performance fresh. Improvising is fun, and it allows actors to explore the character in ways that would not be possible if you were simply reading lines off a page. In addition, improvising helps you understand your character better by allowing them to come up with new ideas on how to handle certain situations or how they might respond in particular situations.

Improvisation can also help build up your character's background story which is often something an actor will do during rehearsals for a play; however, this process can be done while performing onstage and may even lead to the development of new scenes within a play that weren't originally intended by its author!

Conclusion

Improvising is a great way for performers to get over stage fright, work on their characters, come up with ideas for scenes, and have fun. Improvisation is also a good way to teach students about collaboration, teamwork, and leadership. It can be used as an assessment tool or even just as a way to practice skills before performing them in front of an audience!

Drama is not a soft subject

Introduction

You don't have to be on stage all the time. You don't need a cast of thousands to put on a play. It's not all "thespians" this and "thespians" that. These are just some of the misconceptions about studying drama at university. But here's another one: you can do quite well out of it. Not that there aren't challenges, but in many ways – particularly in terms of employability skills – drama is every bit as rigorous as other subjects such as law or engineering. Drama teaches you to be a better problem solver, it teaches you how to communicate effectively with other people, how to research topics quickly and efficiently, how to take direction from someone else and most importantly, perhaps, it gives you an opportunity to develop your own creative ideas and bring them into fruition with the help of your peers."

Drama is not the soft option.

In case you didn't know, drama is not the soft option.

The subjects of English and Drama share a common misconception—that they're easy. But this couldn't be further from the truth! Both are challenging and thought-provoking, but for different reasons. English is obviously a subject that involves reading and writing, but it also includes some elements of mathematics. Drama has much less emphasis on reading and writing; instead it's all about performance and presentation skills (which can take years to develop). Teachers in both fields often find themselves working with students who struggle with self-confidence or stage fright; so while both can be stressful at times, they remain extremely rewarding when you see your work pay off in front of an audience or in an essay test

Drama makes you a better communicator.

Drama is a language. It uses a lot of different words, tones and expressions in order to communicate messages. You’ll learn how to speak in front of people, how to listen and respond to others, as well as how to understand the other person’s point of view. This skill is essential for anyone who wants to work in any field that requires communication with others such as sales or management (and pretty much everything else).

In drama class you will also have the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds than yours which makes it easier for you when communicating with people outside your usual circle later on in life!

There's more to drama than acting.

Drama is not just about acting.

Drama, at its core, is about making the world a better place. It's about learning more about yourself and others through thought-provoking activities that push you to think outside of your comfort zone. These activities are meant to help students express themselves in new ways that may be uncomfortable at first but ultimately lead us out of our shells and into an understanding of ourselves as well as our roles in society.

Drama teaches you to be a better problem solver.

You will be faced with many problems in your life, but drama will teach you how to solve them. In fact, problem solving is a key skill that you will use in every job. If you can learn how to solve problems effectively and efficiently, then there's no limit as to how far your career could go.

You don't have to be on stage all the time.

So what if you're not an actor? That doesn't mean you can't be a part of the drama club. You can still be a producer, director, writer and all the other crew positions that are crucial to putting on a good show! There are many different ways to get involved with drama in high school and college. No matter what your interestsare - writing or costuming may be more up your alley than acting - there will be something for everyone.

You don't need a cast of thousands to put on a play.

In the world of drama, having a large cast is not necessary. Not only can you stage a funny show with just three actors and one crew member, but it's also easier to manage smaller casts because there are fewer people involved and less pressure on any one person to do their job perfectly.

You can cast smaller numbers of characters for shows like The Importance of Being Earnest or Romeo and Juliet . In addition to being easier to stage manage, these plays are often funnier than those with larger casts because they force actors and audiences alike to think about what's happening in terms of relationships between characters instead of relationships between people onstage—which is where most of the humor comes from anyway!

And if you want your show to be more serious? Then try casting even fewer roles: Hamlet only has three major parts; Blythe Spirit has only two; Uncle Vanya hosts just five speaking roles total (three male leads plus two female supporting roles).

A drama qualification can lead to many opportunities and help you develop transferable skills that will come in handy in all walks of life, from interview technique to problem solving, research, communication and teamwork.

Drama is a great way to develop your communication skills. For example, drama teaches you how to speak clearly and with confidence in front of an audience, which is useful for anyone who wants to give presentations at work or school. It also helps you learn how to listen carefully when other people are speaking – another skill that’s useful in the workplace.

Drama can help you develop your problem solving skills too because it gives you opportunities to think creatively about problems and come up with solutions together as part of a group (like a team). You may have heard that teamwork is important but what does teamwork actually mean? Well, it means working together towards common goals as part of a group where everyone has different skills and experiences but all contribute equally.

Conclusion

We've only covered some of the reasons why drama isn't a soft subject. If you're keen to pursue a career in drama, or just looking for an exciting and challenging subject that will help you develop your skills, then drama could be for you.

Who was Stanislavski?

Stanislavski is a famous actor, director and teacher. He was the creator of the Stanislavski Method, which is widely used today. This method has been used by John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier, who learned it from Stanislavski himself. Stella Adler also studied this method, and she later taught it to actors such as Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro. The Stanislavski Method is useful for all kinds of acting, whether theatre or film, even if you're just playing video games on Twitch!

Stanislavski created a method of acting that is still used today.

Stanislavski developed a method of acting that is still used today. He was a Russian actor and director who worked with the Moscow Art Theatre. He developed his method while working with this group, which also included Konstantin Stanislavsky (his brother) and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko.

The Moscow Art Theatre's style was very naturalistic, which meant that actors tried to make their performances seem as real as possible. The troupe believed that it would be easier for audiences to believe in their performances if they were able to use everyday actions instead of only using exaggerated gestures and facial expressions. Stanislavski's technique helped actors avoid these pitfalls by focusing on creating realistic characters based on observation and research rather than relying on stereotypes or preconceived notions about how people behave in certain situations.

John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier both learned from him.

Gielgud and Olivier were both famous actors who studied under Stanislavski.

Stella Adler was so impressed by him she studied his method.

Stella Adler was an actress and teacher, the daughter of one of Russia's most famous actors, Jacob P. Adler. She wrote more than 30 plays and produced or directed more than 100 others on Broadway. In 1948 she founded the Stella Adler Studio in New York City to teach Stanislavski’s method to American actors. She is widely considered one of the most important influences on modern acting techniques in America; her students include Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando and Warren Beatty

His method has multiple levels of analysis, which can be tricky to learn.

You can learn a lot about the Method by studying its three levels of analysis. The first level is the script. Stanislavski developed an approach to analyzing and breaking down scripts like this:

• The playwright's words are given two different interpretations—one literal, one psychological (or "in character").

• The character's psychology is explored in terms of their inner world (what they think) and outer world (what they do).

Stanislavski believed that the most important aspect of acting was transformation. He called it "building a life," and said it involves three steps: 1) building up an idea of who your character is; 2) giving free reign to your imagination; 3) finding a way to convey that idea physically on stage or film.

Actors need to know something about life to portray it well.

Actors need to know something about life to portray it well. They must be familiar with some particular aspect of it, such as human nature and emotions, human behaviour and relationships, or even motivations. But what is this knowledge? How do you acquire it?

The best way is through observation—observing people in their natural state rather than observing them in a classroom setting or on stage. As Stanislavski says: "An actor should have an innate understanding of life."

The method is applicable to theatre, film, or even video games.

The method is applicable to theatre, film, or even video games. In theater, you can use it to help create a believable character - one that people in the audience will believe is real and not just an actor playing someone else. In film, the same applies - your goal as an actor is to make the audience believe that you are this person who exists outside of their world and that they're watching a movie because they want to know what happens after it ends.

In video games this principle applies in different ways depending on what kind of game you're making: if it's an RPG (role-playing game), then making sure your characters are believable becomes even more important than with other genres. Whether or not people like or hate your character will have a significant effect on how much fun they have playing through your story!

The method requires its own set of tools for analysis, but the tools are similar to any other tool for theatre acting such as microphones and scripts.

It's important to note that the method requires its own set of tools for analysis, but the tools are similar to any other tool for theatre acting such as microphones and scripts. In order to help an actor understand the character, play and audience, he or she uses these three specific modes of communication—the script, director's notes and performance analysis—with which they can make their own unique interpretations.

The Stanislavski Method is an important part of acting and you should be familiar with it

The Stanislavski Method is an important part of acting and you should be familiar with it. The Stanislavski Method is a method of acting that was developed by Constantin Stanislavski. In this lesson, we'll discuss what the method is and how it can help actors improve their performances.

Constantin Stanislavski (1863-1938) was an actor and theater director who helped develop a new way to teach acting. He did this through developing his own system called the "system," which some people call the "method" or "system." This system focuses on an actor's ability to draw from their own experiences in order to create realistic characters on stage or film. It includes four different types of exercises: physical rehearsals, emotional analysis, behavior rehearsal, and repetition technique (or “rehearsal”). The first three are meant for training purposes before going into production mode while repetition technique allows actors to fine-tune their characterization after they have already been put into rehearsal mode so that they can achieve maximum effectiveness when performing live onstage or filming movies/TV shows/etcetera

Conclusion

The Method is a powerful tool for actors and directors. Stanislavski himself said that some of his actors had achieved magical transformations on stage thanks to the Method, and he was right: many great actors have used his techniques to achieve their success. It’s worth learning more about him if you want to become an actor or director yourself because there are so many good things you can take from what he did with life experiences as well as tools like microphones, scripts, props, costumes etc...

Why we play drama games

Introduction

Drama games are a great way to introduce drama. They are an effective way for the students to warm up and for me to get to know them. Often times, I am the teacher, who also takes on the role of directing our plays, but with drama games; I am one of the students as well. The following are my top reasons why we play drama games during our time together:

Drama games are essential in two hour workshops

Drama games are essential to two hour workshops. They're a great way to get people to work together, think on their feet and be creative. Drama games can also help build confidence if you're new and don't know anyone at the workshop.

Drama games encourage students to think on our feet

Drama games can help develop your students' thinking skills. While it's true that there are some drama games that require memorization, many of them involve quick thinking and decision-making. This is because most drama games are played in front of a group, so students will be expected to think on their feet and react accordingly.

The key to using drama games well is knowing which type of game works best for the situation you're dealing with. For example, if you want to teach participants how to deal with an unexpected event at work or home, try a roleplay activity where they have limited information (i.e., “You've just been promoted! But then…”). On the other hand, if your objective is simply learning new material through participation (i.e., “How do I make this recipe? Let me show you”), consider using improv games like “Speed Dating” or “Storytelling with Questions Only."

Drama games build creativity and cooperation

• Creativity is about being able to think outside the box. Drama games build creativity in a couple of ways. First, they help students develop their imaginations by requiring them to imagine what their character might do or say in different situations. Second, drama games encourage creative problem-solving because the challenges faced by characters are often not predictable: students need to come up with solutions on the fly and act them out as part of their performance.

• Cooperation is about being able to work together with others—which can be challenging at times! Drama games require students to coordinate their actions and share roles with one another; this teaches them how much fun it can be when everyone works together!

Drama games increase confidence at a young age

Drama games are a great way to build confidence at a young age. They're also a fun, safe environment in which children can be creative and learn.

When you're playing drama games with your child, you'll pick a character for them to portray. Then you'll have them act out different scenarios using the character they played. For example, if your child is playing the role of Cinderella in one scenario, they might ask you to pretend that they've just lost their shoe and need help finding it before the ball starts!

The act-outs are often silly and make everyone laugh—but it's important for kids to see adults having fun too! This helps kids feel comfortable being themselves when playing drama games with adults later on in life (like telling jokes at work).

Drama games are the reason we love drama

Drama games are the reason we love drama. They help us to feel more comfortable in our bodies, with our voices and with each other. If you're new to a community or group of people, drama games can help you to become more confident and comfortable in front of others. They also teach us how to express ourselves through our bodies and voices.

Drama is fun!

Drama is always a great thing to do. It's fun, you can play it anywhere, and it doesn't need an audience! All you need is some friends and a little imagination. Drama games are great because they help people get better at acting skills so they can make friends and be more confident in front of others. Drama games are also fun because they teach kids how to express themselves through movement, words and feelings.

For example: You could pretend that your hand is a horse walking down the street towards someone else who pretends to be their friend - but then before they reach each other there's an earthquake! Now both people have to run away from the earthquake together while still holding hands!

Conclusion

We are big fans of drama games in all our workshops, and we encourage you to try a few for yourself. Drama is about the process of telling stories: telling them well, telling them with style, and above all else, having fun doing it! We hope you have enjoyed learning more about the benefits of playing drama games with your friends and family—and we wish you the best of luck on your own dramatic journey!

Why Shakespeare is still relevant to `Young People

Introduction

Shakespeare is an amazing writer. His stories are fun to read and you can find them in many different forms today. He was the most popular playwright of his time and he is still very famous today! Shakespeare changed the way people speak and write today because he made up so many new words when he wrote his stories, plays, and poems.

There are many versions of his plays and stories you may be familiar with, like Lion King and Ten Things I Hate About You.

There are many versions of his plays and stories you may be familiar with, like Lion King and Ten Things I Hate About You. His work has been adapted for film, TV, and theatre as well as children and young people. It's also been adapted for adults who want to see a modern version of one of his stories or plays. Shakespeare's work has even been adapted for different cultures around the world!

His plays retell stories we still tell today, but he told them first.

As you'll see in the examples below, Shakespeare's plays are still relevant to modern audiences. They tell stories that we still tell today, but he told them first.

• Romeo and Juliet: The tragic love story of two teens from feuding families has been adapted many times over the years, including a 1996 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. In this version, the two meet when Romeo goes to the Capulets' ball with Benvolio (his best friend), where he sees Juliet for the first time and falls instantly in love with her. Later on in their relationship, they have a brief break-up when Romeo hears rumors about his friend Mercutio being killed by Tybalt; however, they reconcile before Romeo dies from wounds inflicted by his dagger while trying to save Juliet from committing suicide after learning she was pregnant with his child!

• Othello: Shakespeare's tragedy is one of most famous stories ever told—and yet we still see adaptations today! In 2016's film "O" starring Kenneth Branagh as director/actor/producer Kenneth Branagh who played Iago alongside David Oyelowo (Othello), Michael Fassbender (Cassio) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Bassanio). It follows an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play "Othello". The story centers around General Othello who serves under Venice’s governor Brabantio until he meets Desdemona who falls instantly in love with him; however upon finding out about their impending marriage Brabantio tries everything possible--even hiring Iago to take care of this issue--to stop them from tying together forever by having Desdemona killed!"

There is a modern translation of Shakespeare’s works! These are written in today’s language so you can understand the story better.

Shakespeare’s works are written in old English, which can be hard to understand. Luckily there is a modern translation of Shakespeare's works! These are written in today’s language so you can understand the story better.

Shakespeare wrote plays and stories to tell people truths about life. He shows you that nothing ever stays the same and everything changes in life.

Shakespeare wrote plays and stories to tell people truths about life. He shows you that nothing ever stays the same and everything changes in life. It might be better or worse, but it will always change. Shakespeare’s plays are timeless, because they are about the human condition and how people deal with love, hate, war, peace and death.

Everyone can enjoy Shakespeare’s work!

It's no secret that Shakespeare has been a hugely influential writer and performer throughout history. But many people think that his work is too difficult to understand or appreciate, and therefore dismiss it as irrelevant to young people. They couldn't be more wrong!

Here are some reasons why you should revisit Shakespeare's work:

• His plays are still popular today. They're performed all over the world in various languages, including English and Spanish (Hamlet en español!). In fact, newly translated versions of some of his best-loved plays are still being written about today!

• There are also tons of books available that analyze his works from different perspectives. For example, if you want a literary analysis from an expert who has spent years studying Shakespeare's work—and how it relates to what we know about life today—check out Stephen Greenblatt's Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare.*

Conclusion

If you think Shakespeare is boring because his plays are too hard to read and understand, then try reading one of the modern versions. You can find them at any library or bookshop. If you want to enjoy watching his plays, there are many movies based on his stories that you can watch. So if you feel like taking a break from your usual shows and movies, watch something different! It may help you think about life in a new way!

Why is drama so important for young people?

Introduction

The developmental benefits of drama for children are endless, and it's never too early to start introducing your little one to the stage. Drama can help build confidence and self-esteem, improve language skills, teach empathy, and aid in social and communication skills. All of these benefits make up a well-rounded child who is able to express themselves creatively whether in the classroom or on the playground. Let's explore more about how dramatic play supports your child's development at any age.

What is "drama"?

Drama is a form of theatre. It can also be considered a form of art, but not necessarily. Drama is a way for people to communicate with each other through stories and plays. Sometimes drama can be used as an educational tool to teach people about important issues in society, such as racism or bullying.

Drama is often used as entertainment for the masses, but it can also be seen as sport for actors who perform on stage or film sets!

1. Drama helps children develop important social and communication skills

Social skills are important for success in school. They help children develop the ability to work with others and deal with conflict. These skills can also be useful outside of school, especially when it comes to making friends or getting a job.

• Communication Skills: The ability to express yourself clearly and effectively can help you do well on tests, project assignments, and even presentations at work.

• Listening Skills: Listening is one part of communication; it means paying attention when someone speaks or reads aloud. If you're not listening carefully, your classmates won't feel like sharing their ideas!

• Speaking Skills: Speaking clearly helps people understand what you're saying when they hear it—and allows them know how you feel about things too (like whether you're angry).

• Reading Skills: Reading silently helps us think through problems before giving our answers out loud—which means everyone else will benefit from our thinking instead of being confused by what we say!

2. Drama helps children learn how to be part of a team.

Drama teaches children how to be part of a team, which is an important skill for young people. In drama, you learn how to work with others to achieve a common goal.

If you take part in drama classes at school or youth club, your child will begin to understand that they must listen and respect other members of their group if they want the project to succeed.

3. Drama helps children overcome shyness and self-consciousness

Drama helps children overcome shyness and self-consciousness. It is often difficult for children to speak in front of others and even more difficult for them to do so when they are being judged by their peers or an audience. Drama provides a safe environment where children can overcome their inhibitions, fears of speaking in public, and fear of being judged. This prepares them to face the world in later life when they have to communicate effectively with others both verbally and non-verbally.

4. Drama helps children improve their language skills.

Drama is a great way to improve your language skills. It's not just about learning new words and ways of expressing yourself; it's also about listening to others and speaking to them in a way that they will understand you. For example, when playing with friends, you might say something like "My parents aren't home today. Let's go over there!" This is an example of using active grammar—the word order emphasizes that your parents are away because they're at work or running errands.

In drama class, students learn how to speak clearly and clearly express their thoughts in front of other people. This can be very challenging for most children who have shy personalities! They also learn how important it is not only having good ideas but also sharing those ideas with others so everyone can benefit from them.

5. Drama helps build confidence, self-esteem, and resilience in kids

Drama helps build confidence, self-esteem and resilience in kids. Children who take part in drama are more confident in their own abilities, opinions and ideas than those who don't. Drama also teaches children how to deal with negative feedback or criticism; if they hear something negative about themselves on stage they have to learn how to handle it gracefully.

6. Drama teaches empathy and understanding of others

Drama also teaches children to understand the feelings of others and how people live, think and act. Drama can be used as a tool to help children understand the world around them, including their own emotions. It gives them an opportunity for self-reflection, which is beneficial for their growth as human beings.

It is important for young people to develop empathy towards others because it helps them grow into well-rounded individuals who are able to contribute positively towards society at large.

6 Benefits of drama for children summary

• Drama helps children develop important social and communication skills

• Drama helps children learn how to be part of a team

• Drama helps children overcome shyness and self-consciousness

• Drama helps children improve their language skills

A child's development can be greatly enhanced by participation in drama as a school subject or as an activity outside of school.

Drama is a great way for kids to learn about themselves and others. It helps them develop communication skills and encourages them to work as part of a team. Drama also helps kids overcome shyness, self-consciousness and improves their language skills.

Participating in drama can help children develop social skills by working with others on projects. This is especially important when you consider that bullying has become more prevalent in recent years with online technology allowing people to say hurtful things anonymously.

Conclusion

Drama is a great way for children to have fun and make friends, but it also has many other benefits. Drama can help children develop social and communication skills, overcome shyness and build confidence. For young people with unique requirements such as autism or ADHD, drama can be an ideal activity to improve social skills such as taking turns and understanding others' points of view.

Oscars

The news has been awash with opinion pieces on the Will Smith/Chris Rock debate. I just feel it is a huge shame that this has taken the focus away from the winning film Coda. For 16 years we have put creativity and inclusion high on our agenda and Violence, Cruel jokes and silencing women do not feature. We promise to keep it that way.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10366460/

Solidarity

Whilst we remain apolitical as an organisation, we find ourselves in a position of huge frustration at the recent government announcement and, sadly, the predictable lack of clarity. We understand the seriousness of the Pandemic, and this is reflected in our processes, procedures and staff training in order to ensure we are as safe as we can be. We have, at no small expense, ensured that both ourselves and the venue we work in, are COVID secure. We work with young people who are spending all day in far less COVID secure Schools. There is a huge lack of common sense being applied to the the decision making around the lockdown. As far as we are concerned, our company provides a safe, secure educational environment for our young people. A place where they can leave their anxiety at the door. A mental health check in. We are not alone. All over the local area, similar sized organisations are feeling the same. We are entitled to no support. No financial help. We send love and solidarity to all of the other local organisations in the same situation as us.

We continue to seek clarity as to whether we can continue. We believe our service is essential to many, and also believe that we cannot really do this remotely.

Feed the Children

Our campaign to get Central Bedfordshire Council appears to be gaining some attention which is great. They have seemingly backed down under pressure from all angles, and announced that the Free School meal voucher scheme is being extended to include this half term. The fact that this was announced in a press release on Sunday afternoon tells you that there has been a bit of a panic. It is excellent news of course, but the fight is not over. This scheme does not cover the Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children who all get free school meals. Now many of those will be in a position to afford to eat at home. After all, we estimate that around 12% of children in Central Bedfordshire are entitled to free school meals. However, this does not tell the full story. COVID has hit many families very hard. Many of those kids who are entitled to free school meals usually will be in a parlous position due to huge gaps in funding and support. The free School meals campaign needs to include families who are working too, but who have suffered catastrophic losses to their income or businesses. We have the money. The government have spent less than half to support families than they did on the Banking crisis bailout. Local councils have been provided the funds to support those in need, but many of them are rather reticent on providing evidence of how and who they have supported. None of this matters though….If there is a hungry child, then we have failed. It is as simple as that. There are two things I suggest everybody read….the first is a facebook post from someone called Lucy Wood

Lucy Wood

23 hrs  · 

When I was a child my Mum spent all her money on alcohol. She left me home alone for hours often with empty cupboards. Once I was so hungry, I mixed everything I could find in the kitchen in a big pot and ate it. I was sick for a week.

I would turn up on peoples doorsteps that I knew in the area and ask for food. I was taken in by an old man named John who would feed me and I would often be sitting on my aunts doorstep when she came home from work. One such evening my aunt lost her temper, walked me to the pub my Mum was in, pulled her out and they started fighting outside the pub. Despite all the traumatic childhood memories I have, that one is so vivid. I was so desperate to stop that fight. I was six years old.

According to some small minded people, I deserved to starve as a child because my Mum shouldn't have given birth to me. I quite agree, I wish she hadn't, my childhood was a living nightmare but it was peoples kindness that got me through it. I dread to think how I would have turned out if it wasn't for the kindness of strangers, my aunt/my rock and moving in with my Dad when I was 10, saved me.

Don't be so quick to condemn vulnerable children to starvation, they should never be punished because of the actions of their parents. The Tories are scum because they have the power to offer kindness and a decent meal to children in need but they have chosen not to. All whilst they burgle the public purse to keep their cronies bank balances fat.

The second recommended read is a book by Kerry Hudson called “Lowborn”, which tells the tale of Kerry’s upbringing in poverty.

We are headed into another pandemic, that of poverty.

• An estimated 14.3 million people are in poverty in the UK

• 8.3 million are working-age adults, 4.6 million are children, and 1.3 million are of pension age

• Around 22% of people are in poverty, and 34% of children are

• Just under half (49%) of those in poverty are in “persistent poverty” (people who would also have fallen below the poverty line in at least two of the last three years). This is as of 2016/17

• Working-age people in poverty are increasingly likely to be in working families

• Most poverty rates aren’t all that different to what they were at the start of the 2000s. The most marked reduction has been in pensioner poverty, it is almost half as common as it was back in 2000, while rates for working-age adults are now slightly higher

• Poverty rates fell in the years after 2010, as the UK recovered from the financial crisis, but are now showing clear signs of rising again

For full information on the above figures and more click here

Please lets keep the pressure on those that can do something about this.

Sign our petition

Triple threat?

I’m often irritated by this phrase. For those of you who don’t know, it is a phrase, much loved in theatrical circles, to describe someone with acting, singing and dancing skills. We have worked with many young people who are excellent in all three of these disciplines, so my annoyance with the phrase is not targeted at them. However, there is an inbuilt implication that to only have two “threats” is to be deficient in some way. There is of course, an added complication. We worked with a young man around 14 years ago, who had never appeared on a stage. He is about to graduate from drama school with what I would call an “Octopus threat”, in that he can act, sing, dance and is a multi instrumentalist. He is quite brilliant. However, this does not make him better than Ian McKellen. Performance should not be about the acquisition of skills to make others feel deficient, but more about building your own personal skills and being the very best version of you. I worry that sometimes our drama schools are obsessing about the triple threat more than working on building the person.

Why Up-Stage?

I recently had a long conversation with a friend who asked me what was the difference between Up-Stage and other Youth theatre providers.  It's a difficult question to answer for many reasons.  I always make sure that we get across to our parents that we are independent.  This is not to criticise the big franchises that offer a similar service.  They have their place as much as we do.  I just pride myself that we know every child very well.  We know what they are confident about, what they are not confident about, and quite importantly, what they are not yet capable of.  Larger franchises tend to have their content chosen for them, and their techniques dictated.  This, of course, provides continuity, but I think our children deserve more than that.  We have recently said goodbye to one of our students who joined us when she was 8 years old.  We saw a small, shy child, flower into a confident performer, who is now pursuing a career in the performing arts.  We don't take the credit for that, she does.  What we do take the credit for is providing a caring, nurturing environment for young people to discover themselves.  The sessions are precious to them.  They want new people to feel welcome, but also want them to understand that the sessions are precious to them.  I am so very proud of the sense of pride that they have in their groups.  They create small families.  As a result of this, I tend to write a lot of the plays that we perform.  From comedy to tragedy, we ensure that the performers are given opportunities to think, create and develop within a framework specifically written for them.  We do perform others work of course, and the variety also helps, but I believe that we are unique on the offer we have.  

Drama undervalued

With the endless cuts and devaluation of the so-called "Soft" subjects in the education system, I suppose that I should be happy.  Surely, well-established companies like Up-Stage will benefit from the obvious taste for drama?  Well...no basically.  Once the subject starts to disappear from the psyche, it can remain elsewhere.  Drama should, and does, seep through into every subject, every day.  The life skills and confidence it brings are essential.  I have never heard of a scientist that doesn't use creative thought processes when working, and yet, the powers that be seem to be oblivious to this fact.  If I might also address the idea of "Soft subjects".  The arts brings in Billions of pounds to this country.  That is clearly not the only benefit, but if, like this government seems to think, that you can only judge value financially, then it still "wins".  The other values, the ones that every child I have worked with seems to understand fundamentally, are there for all to see.  The tourism, the mental health benefits, the everyday skills of teamwork....this is just the tip of the iceberg.  So no, I do not want to see drama disappear from Schools.  I see what we do at Up-Stage as something that enhances that.  In the meantime of course, we might be providing the only regular drama that children get.  If that is the case, then so be it.  However, I think we should all be fighting this.  I know of one local school that has removed drama from its timetable.  I worked in one that has now removed it as a regularly timetabled subject.  This is an attack on culture, and one on those, many of whom can ill afford to pay for drama privately.  We are working on many ideas to help this situation, but please, protest, complain and write to people.