Summer Schools with THE REP
In addition to our main youth theatre companies, The REP runs one off workshops and sumer schools, but independently and in partnership with other organisations. These opportunities are advertised to our database of young people. For more information on getting involved with future summer school projects, email learning@birmingham-rep.co.uk
Below you can read blog entries from the young people involved with our 2011 summer school projects.
UFA Summertastic ‘Notes from the Past’ @ Highbury Hall
DAY ONE
Today we did lots of exciting things like making up songs and drama. My favourite was drama, but my favourite part of drama was working in small groups making freeze frames it was really fun! I am looking forward to this week and doing more of the exciting things we did today. As well of having fun we learnt some facts in a fun way! I learnt that when you were in the war and got injured sometimes you had to go without food (starve) and that would kill you so you just end up dying anyway! Also I just can’t wait till the end of the week (Friday) to perform our drama and music show it’s going to be a great week!
By Jordan
DAY TWO
Today we started of singing and learning a song once we learned the song we added our own verses that we found funny. Next we did drama we did a scene where the family of Joseph Chamberlain sat down to have dinner and me and holly pretended to be the two sons! Next we wrote a rap about Joseph and his family and we called him Jo-c. Then we had lunch played some games and then went inside. Then we went into the wood to get inspiration for stories one of the fun things we saw was a door in a swamp which gave us lots of ideas. we had so many ideas that we couldn’t agree on which ones to chose so we settled for everyone telling stories about how the door got there. We enjoyed the adventure of going in to the wood.
By Holly and Chianna
Hodge Hill Summer School @ The Pump
DAY ONE
When we first started, I thought it would be straight into the drama but when Tom said what we would be doing, it got me more interested. It got even better when he said we might perform an original piece of performance before the showing The Importance of Being Earnest which is a play from the 1800’s. So it made me want to enjoy doing it all. Then we played games like “Bang” and “Action, Reaction” to get us in the mood for doing plays. But we did some serious stuff after that, like acting in one funny scene where two children fight over a toy and then a really serious scene. So I really enjoyed the first day of the Drama group.
By Charlotte
DAY TWO
MORNING
I’ve really enjoyed the second day of the drama group, I thought, because yesterday we’d focused more on being comfortable in the group and getting to know each other, that today would be basically the same but I was pleasantly surprised that we’ve progressed more into working on our acting skills. So far we have worked on projecting and training our voices by using a number of breathing techniques. I’ve personally enjoyed this subject the most and because I’m a singer I feel it has helped me already and if I regularly keep doing these I can improve in the long run. I’ve enjoyed taking part in the group and I can’t wait to see what other new things we’ll learn.
By Sofia
AFTERNOON
Hey hey people my turn, so this afternoon so far we have had breakups and proposals, friendship losses and er well air guitar. :/ Well did you think a youth drama group would be anything less than dramatic? Okay well there was a purpose to it – weve looked so far at exploring the theme ‘actions speak louder than words’. With a collection of music we were let loose to interpret the music in whatever way we thought best. The first being a poignant piece well lets say the atmosphere was tense but was soon rectified with “Mr Blue Sky” and everyone exploring summer days. Everyone’s shining – were a talented group ;) weve got dancers singers and some pretty good mimes stay tuned as next Fridays performance is looking good ;)
By Zara
DAY THREE
MORNING
An excellent morning took place here at The Pump today. The day began with a warm up game in order to wake us all up whilst waiting for some of the remaining students to arrive. Once everyone had arrived we took part in physical theatre. In doing so, we learned of how actions are better in presenting specific times of the day, as well as emotions, in relation to words. Both games we played: ‘Action and Reaction’ and ‘Movement to Music’enabled us to develop our actions as well as take away a lesson; we learned that physical theatre was an effective way in which you could present your emotions, as well as, how to become aware of your body in order to tell a story through your actions. This activity was highly effective and very enjoyable. We also learned of how music is highly effective in changing the mood and enabling the audience to learn of the emotions of the character in question. Overall, I had a brilliant morning and look forward to the afternoon. :D
By Farah
AFTERNOON
Hey Sabrina and Haleema here, well what an evening! So far we’ve spontaneously and dramatically played games which test our ability to listen, learn and to also be able to really project our voices. After lunch we started to script write as a team we sat in a circle and Tom handed us paper each, we then wrote to lines of speech and passed the paper around, doing this it concluded in every person writing one line of play write on each page, this triggered our minds to be able to think for ourselves and also to make each of us think that we could write script easily. After we did this task Tom asked us to sit as pairs, we then wrote a series of replies and responses to our thought on the spot conversations which made us think about what to write it was imaginative and enjoyable throughout, some scripts were funny and unusual.
By Sabrina and Haleema
DAY FOUR
MORNING
Hey folks! Its Aanisah and Arshad, a fantastic day so far as we have with played silly games to warm us up. We had to be loud, enthusiastic and quite simply camp. Later on, we picked out two actress and actors to act out the complex play The Importance of Being Earnest which has themes of love, lies, and lust. It’s been the best day so far because of the unique chemistry that the performers (us) conveyed in their scenes. More on this later, that’s all folks!
By Aanisah and Arshad
AFTERNOON
Helloo! This afternoon we worked on our directing skills, this may sound really basic, however whilst 27 other kids are doing the exact same thing its pretty difficult. Trying to move people to act in a part of a scene that you are directing is one of the most important and vital, yet difficult things to do in theatre.
It was really fun as trying to recognise where the audience will be sitting is the best part as it gains so much anticipation from the actors and the director too…
That’s it from me, thanks for reading.
By Sally
DAY FIVE
MORNING
Ceeeeeeeee J speaking ;) right this morning we were set a task by tom, this task was with the group split into two, create a play on any subject of our choice. In this play we had to include all the elements and drama techniques in which we have learnt throughout the whole week. My groups play has decided on Nayfen being the director as he did very well on the task of directing yesterday, firstly we sat down and decided on the genre the characters within the play and who would play who. So far we have completed the first two scenes. Yeaaaaaaaer
By CJ
AFTERNOON
Wahgwarn people, Dwayne and Nayfen here. This afternoon we carried on what we started this morning which was creating and directing our own pieces of Drama. As me and Dwayne were both directors of our separate groups we each had the final say on what our pieces would be about. Dwayne’s groups piece was about something that happened recently in the news about a woman who got her head trapped in some bus doors. My groups piece was thought up off the top of our heads about a girl who had been adopted, and was’nt told. I really enjoyed this piece as it used thinking power and acting abilities combined to create two pieces of amazing drama. WE OUT, PEACE!
By Dwayne and Nayfen
DAY SIX
MORNING
This morning we did a range of tasks and activities which challenged us to think about how our bodies move and made us aware of which parts of our bodies lead depending on the mood we are in. After playing a couple of the usual games tom shouted out a range of animals in which we had to act out in both animal and human form. During this we concentrated on how the relation of the animals and humans connected and how similar we are. After doing this the next task was for us to work solely alone in our own space and make up a character from scratch. We had a series of things we had to think about such as the name age and what achievements and fears our characters had. After doing this we got into a circle and read out what out characters were and see if anyone could relate their creation to another’s. Whilst this all going on and for the rest of the week there are participants who are fasting. This can be quite challenging for some as the early sunrise can make people tired and the hunger can make some vulnerable and tetchy. Concentration levels in the group are at an all time low however we still pull through and get things done at the best of our abilities.
By Sarah
AFTERNOON
I particularly enjoyed this afternoon. After lunch we joined back into the groups we had on Friday, I prefer working in these groups because I feel more comfortable and able to perform my best in a smaller group. Anyway in our afternoon session we began making a short scene for our final production on Thursday. Our play consists of rowdy school children who find out about somebody leading a double life, a bit like the play‘Ernest’. I’m looking forward to our final production and I feel already I have improved in my acting skills.
By Olivia
DAY SEVEN
MORNING
Today in the morning session, we incorporated phrases such as “lol”“omg”and “kmt” within our pairs creating a conversation between each other, as you would do on a networking site like “facebook”. We also mimed the process such as opening the laptop, turning it on and typing in the web address, but also adding a bit of comical effect to it.
By Trevelle, Cyrene and Debby
AFTERNOON
Hey, its Haleema and Zarka here. Today we did something really interesting here. First we were split into groups and we had to improvise and make a mini play using what we did in the morning, which is the internet and the miming. Our group made a mini play about how a group of posh, rich girls with a friend who is hiding a secret from them, which is that her family isnt really rich and and she has high ambitions and not like her friends, who want to be footballers wives and dependent on their fathers. This also shows the reality of the internet and how people hide things to make others like them more. Overall, yeah, it was really fun!! L-O-L :-)
By Zarka and Haleema
DAY EIGHT
TOMORROW IS THE PERFORMANCE.
That is what I’m worried about yet I’m very very excited for perform.
I’ve enjoyed seeing certain bits of other groups scenes becauses its so interesting, I’ve had such a fun and good time today working with my group, we finished and worked hard on our mini piece.
I didnt like that I started late into the project because I did not know anyone or what exactly would be the performance but everyone has been so helpful and friendly.
I’m going to be sad when this is over because I’ve made some lovely friends that will keep in touch with but sad not to see them & Tom and the other teachers!!
So excited for tomorrow, everyone will be fab!
By Toni
DAY NINE
At the start of the day we rehearsed the performance twice. During the week we thought the games were amazing but on the other hand, we liked performing better. We really enjoyed it.
By TJ and Shanice
DAY TEN
Below are some thoughts by young people at the end of the project.
During the past few weeks, I have become more interested in drama, seeing as I personally enjoy singing instead. This workshop has improved my confidence and social skills, and I’m grateful to be part of it. Peace out xxx
By Debby
During these weeks we have accomplished so much in little time, I personally feel that we have done our part in the performing arts and I feel that it has influenced me in the arts as well.
By Arshad
I would just like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone we’ve worked with. It’s truly been an amazing experience and I commend the rep for giving us the opportunity to have accomplished so much truly without the rep we wouldn’t have an opportunity like this as they come few in this are miss you already guys!! Xxx
By Zara and Shanika
These past two weeks have been amazing, a really good opportunity and I have met a lot of amazing people… thank you so much for this once in a lifetime chance xxx
By Sally
I have had such an amazing two weeks, so much better than I expected I’m going to miss everything from the acting to silly games and even Tom. I’ve met the most amazing people and I will make sure we all stay in contact … this isn’t the end xx
By Aanisah
The two weeks I have spent at drama have been absolutely amazing, we worked very well as a team, Tom was a very good director, and I have learnt a lot over the past two weeks whilst working with him, I found the whole two weeks interesting. xxx
By Katrina
