SOUTH HILL PARK SUMMER SCHOOL 2022 - WELCOME TO SOUTH HILL PARK ARTS CENTRE - WELCOME PACK
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SOUTH HILL PARK SUMMER SCHOOL 2022
I
WELCOME TO SOUTH HILL PARK ARTS CENTRE
CONTENTS
0. WELCOME - PAGE 1
1. DATES FOR THE DIARY - PAGE 2
2. AUDITIONS AND CASTING - PAGE 3
3. THE CREATIVE TEAM - PAGE 4
4. REHEARSALS AND PRODUCTION WEEK - PAGE 5
5. VENUE PICTURES - PAGE 6
6. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - PAGE 7
II
WELCOME!
SUMMER SCHOOL IS LEGENDARY
YOUNG PERFORMERS AND TECHNICIANS COME TOGETHER TO PERFORM A FULL-
LENGTH, ORIGINAL MUSICAL WITH JUST 9 DAYS OF REHEARSAL.
EACH SUMMER SCHOOL IS MADE FROM SCRATCH. WE BEGIN WITH A THEME AND
CRAFT AN ORIGINAL SCRIPT, WITH UNIQUE MUSIC AND LYRICS. THIS MAKES
SUMMER SCHOOL A MUSICAL-THEATRE COURSE UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
THERE IS A MAGICAL FEELING IN KNOWING YOU ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE TO BRING
THIS UNIQUE MATERIAL TO LIFE.
SUMMER SCHOOL KNOWS NO EQUAL
PARTICIPANTS ARE PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES IN SINGING, DANCE AND DRAMA
WITH EXPERT GUIDANCE FROM A PROFESSIONAL DIRECTOR, CHOREOGRAPHER,
COMPOSER, MUSICAL DIRECTOR AND VOCAL COACH.
THE COURSE TAKES PLACE IN OUR VERY OWN PROFESSIONAL THEATRE,
THE WILDE THEATRE, WHERE A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL LIGHTING, SOUND,
COSTUME, HAIR AND MAKE-UP DESIGNERS ARE ON STAND-BY READY TO PASS ON
THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND HELP MAKE THE PRODUCTION LOOK GORGEOUS.
SUMMER SCHOOL IS NOT JUST ABOUT PERFORMING
IT GOES DEEPER THAN THAT. IN JUST TWO WEEKS, PARTICIPANTS LEARN TO
WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM, QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY WHILE UNDER
PRESSURE. THEY HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF FUN AND FORGE LIFE-LONG
FRIENDSHIPS. THIS IS THE REASON WHY
SUMMER SCHOOL IS A SELL-OUT
COURSE YEAR AFTER YEAR.
GO TO CONTENTS Page 1
1. Dates for the Diary Monday 25 July 2022 - 9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 08.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Tuesday 26 July 2022 - 9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 08.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Wednesday 27 July 2022 - 9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 08.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Thursday 28 July 2022 - 9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 08.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Friday 29 July 2022 - 9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 08.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Saturday 30 July & Saturday 31 July 2022 - Rest Days Monday 1 August 2022 - 9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 08.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Tuesday 02 August 2022 - 9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 08.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Wednesday 03 August 2022 - 9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 08.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer Thursday 04 August 2022 - 9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 08.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer (This day will be our technical rehearsal) Friday 05 August 2022 - 9am-5pm. Drop-off opens at 08.40am Drop off: Wilde Theatre Foyer Pick Up: Wilde Theatre Foyer (This day will be our dress rehearsal) Saturday 06 August 2022 - Performances Performance 1 is at 2pm. Drop off at 12.30pm Performance 2 is at 7pm. Collection is at 9.30pm * Those aged 8 and under must be signed out 04.30pm - 05.30pm Sunday 07 August 2022 - Performances Performance 3 is at 2pm. Drop off at 12.30am Performance 4 is at 7pm. Collection is at 9.30pm * * Please Note: Children may be signed out between shows but must be signed back in 1h 30minutes before the start of the next performance. GO TO CONTENTS Page 2
2. Auditions and Casting The Summer School auditions are nothing to worry about and there is no need to prepare anything in advance. It is simply a chance for everyone to get to know each other and for the creative team to starting matching people to parts. Participants will take part in a two hour-long workshop which will include drama, singing and dance. No one will be made to do anything on their own if they do not want to. The audition sessions are also a chance for parents and guardians to meet the creative team. A summer school representative will confirm we have accurate information recorded for both the programme and performance licence. This year we have two audition dates scheduled. You only need to join us for one of these sessions. You can select your slot on the audition form. You will receive a reminder about your upcoming audition one week before the date you selected. If you need to change your selection for any reason, simply contact mark.hooper@southhillpark.org.uk Sunday 26 June 2022 - 02.30pm - 04.30pm - Recital Room Sunday 03 July 2022 - 02.30pm - 04.30pm - Recital Room Summer School is written from scratch with a large cast in mind. There are various categories of parts including ensemble, solo-singing with dialogue and solo-dialogue without singing. Casting is an art, not a science but when going through the process, we generally consider age, experience, and ability as demonstrated during the audition. Casting is set by a team including the director, choreographer, musical director and assistants. We believe all productions are made by the ensemble and not the individual. Everyone will always have an important role to play in the telling of our story. GO TO CONTENTS Page 3
3. The Creative Team
Mark Hooper: Writer, Director, Producer
This will be Mark’s seventh year as the Summer School director
and fifth year as writer. Mark is Director of Learning and
Participation at South Hill Park Arts Centre as well as a
freelance director and producer. Mark owns his own theatre
company called ‘Hit The Mark Theatre’ and works regularly for
the Berkshire Arts Academy (BARTA).
Tim Cumper: Musical Director, Composer
This will be Tim’s tenth Summer School at South Hill Park. Tim
first performed at South Hill Park in a Jazz-Rock band called
‘Dick Lizard’. Tim taught music for the prestigious drama
school Redroof’s for many years and is constantly working on
projects in the locality - including Pantomime! Tim composes
all of the music for Summer School from scratch and is
responsible for hundreds of ear-worms!
Holly Hermon: Choreographer and Movement Director
This will be Holly’s first Summer School, but by no means her
first musical. As well as training at PPA and a regular star in
South Hill Park’s in-house musical theatre performances, Holly
is also a teacher for Stagecoach and Choreographer for
BARTA Theatre School.
Jan Allen: Head Chaperone
Jan has worked as a chaperone in theatre, film and TV for
past 18 years and has worked on feature films including ‘St
Trinnians’. For the past six years, she has been Head
Chaperone for South Hill Park’s pantomime and various in
house projects including ‘Madagascar’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Seussical’
and ‘High School Musical’.
We are always on the lookout for parent chaperones, so if you have a child involved in the
show, hold a chaperone licence and would be willing to help out on the performance days
we would love to hear from you.
GO TO CONTENTS Page 44. Rehearsals and Production Week Summer School is a huge amount of fun and by the end of the experience, we hope all participants walk away with immense feeling of pride in relation to what they have achieved. To stage a full-length musical in 9 days is no small feat and professional actors would struggle to realise such an ambitious task! The core Summer School values are to: • Build confidence • Create an opportunity to have fun • Encourage inclusiveness • Support the creation of life-long friendships • Broaden horizons, challenge expectations and develop self-worth • Foster a culture of teamwork From the first minute of the first day, the team work to a tight schedule. This tends to be on a rotation between acting, singing and choreography. Depending on part allocations, some participants may spend longer in one discipline than another. The intensity of the schedule means participants are constantly active. Days one through five are what we call ‘blocking’ days. This is where we work together to create the show, learning all of the staging, choreography and musical numbers. During this time we welcome input and creative suggestions from all of the participants. As arts professionals, the team understands a performance is made richer by listening to all participants involved, so never be afraid to make a suggestion. It’s hard to believe, but by day 5 we will have learnt the entire show! Days six and seven are what we call ‘polishing’ days. This is where we plug any gaps and tidy up the work of the previous week. Day eight is a technical rehearsal. In case you have not been involved in a technical rehearsal before, this is the moment we bring the performance to life. We plot in the lights and sound, we work out how scenery will come on (be set) and be taken off (struck). This rehearsal involves all of the actors, but it is primarily for the technicians. We may only perform snippets of the scenes, rather than running the entire show from start to finish. Day nine is a dress rehearsal. This is where everything really comes together. Performers, musicians and technicians run the show all the way through as if an audience were watching - we call this ‘under show conditions’. And finally, days ten and eleven are our performance days and the pay off for the hard work over the previous two weeks. GO TO CONTENTS Page 5
5. Venue Pictures This year we will be rehearsing in the Dance Studio and in The Wilde Theatre. There are some pictures on the next page, in case you have not visited South Hill Park before. GO TO CONTENTS Page 6
6. Frequently Asked Questions
When will I get my script?
One week before the first day of rehearsals, all participants will be sent a digital copy of
the script. There is no need to print a copy as all participants will receive their own when
they arrive on the first day, there is also a chance minor changes will be made in the script
in days leading up to the first rehearsal.
A script and a pencil are the two most important tools for any performer, make sure you
bring them to each rehearsal and keep them safe.
Replacement copies of the script will be charged at £10 per copy.
We like it if participants can come to the first rehearsal having read the script through at
least once.
Should I bring in my own water?
Yes. We will be active and sometimes the weather over this period can be very hot
indeed. We recommend you bring 2 litres of water with you each day in a clearly labelled
bottle.
What do I do with medication?
If you require medication during the course, you should put it in a clear, sealed plastic
bag. This bag should be clearly labelled and handed into a member of staff at the start of
each day. South Hill Park Staff are not legally allowed to administer medication unless
presented with a life or death scenario.
Should I count my lines?
No. This will only tell you how many lines you have and nothing about the role you will
play in the telling of the story.
How do I purchase tickets to see the show?
Tickets for the four performances are now on sale at the box office. We recommend
booking as soon as possible as they tend to fill up quite quickly. There are no restrictions
on how many tickets you can purchase.
You can visit the Box office in person or call us on 01344 484123
Alternative you can follow the link below:
LINK COMING SOON
GO TO CONTENTS Page 7I’m nervous / I have not performed before. Is this normal? Yes. It is perfectly natural to feel nervous before hand. We find everyone settles in very quickly once we get going with rehearsals and friendships are often formed quickly. Our team are always on hand to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome. Participants range in age from eleven to seventeen. This is one of the strengths of Summer School. The older members of the cast are encouraged to take the younger participant ‘under their wing’ to support their growth in confidence and participation. Lots of our older members started their Summer School journey at the age of six, so they know how the first day feels. It does not matter if you are an experienced performer or a complete beginner, everyone has to start somewhere and we’ll make sure you are supported every ‘step-kick’ of the way. What do I do about lunch and snacks? When we get into rehearsals it is important all participants bring enough food and drink to last the entire day. We do not allow students to go to the restaurant to order food or drinks as this is impossible to manage. We do not allow participants off site while under our care, regardless of age or licence status. What do I need to wear? We do not have a formal dress code, we just ask participants come appropriately dressed in clothing suitable to dance in. Young Technicians The young technicians learn how to manage the entire production. The stage management, lighting, sound design will be run by the team of ten young technicians during both production and performance. Incredible! A separate timetable of activities will be released in the coming weeks. Should my parents sign me in and out? If you are under the age of 16 you must be signed in by a parent/guardian at the start of the day and signed out at the end of each day. If you are over 16 you must sign yourself in and out. If parents are unable to sign participants in and out personally, they will need to allocate someone over the age of 18 to do this and permission must be given in writing and the letter handed to a member of the summer school staff. GO TO CONTENTS Page 8
The two performance days work in much the same way, but with some additional rules: Children may be signed out between shows but must be signed back in 1h 30minutes before the start of the next performance. South Hill Park complies with Local Authority regulations and the Law. To this end, these rules will be strictly upheld to protect children, staff and the organisation. Failure to sign participants out at the correct times may result in your child being removed from performance early or altogether. Do I need to provide costume? In most cases, all we ask is that students provide their own shoes (black plimsoles, dance shoes, jazz shoes). All other costume will be designed and made by hand for you by our costume designer Gil Albone and her team. Can I bring my mobile phone and valuable property? We allow participants to carry a mobile phone and actually use them as a rehearsal tool (to record vocal parts) but you bring devices and other valuables completely at your own risk. If communication between home and a participant is necessary during a rehearsal, this must be facilitated by a member of the South Hill Park team. Participants will not need to text or call home from a private mobile during sessions. Participants may use their phones during break time and lunch time. Will there be a video this year? This year we will share a private YouTube link free of charge. Parents will also have the option to request a digital download of the performance for home viewing anytime. Will I wear a microphone? South Hill Park have a stock of 20 radio microphones. This means it is not possible for every performer to wear a radio mic. In performances where there are not enough microphones for one each, the technical team will create a microphone plot and radio mics will be given to those with solo singing parts. If you wear a microphone, you may be asked to share it with another member of the cast. We call this ‘swapping mics’. Please note, microphones are only ever used to support performers, they should not be relied on for projection. They also do not mean one performer is more important than another. GO TO CONTENTS Page 9
How do I stay up-to-date with Summer School news? The primary method of communication we use for Summer School is email, however, all information is also posted to the Summer School Facebook Group which can be accessed via this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/shpsummerschool/ We also use the Facebook group to share ‘behind the scene’ footage and photographs as we go through the rehearsal process. What is the Registration Form and how do I complete it? Along with this welcome pack, you will receive a link to a registration form alongside your booking confirmation. It is important parents/guardians complete this as soon as possible as it will be used for casting and to secure a performance licence. Refunds cannot be offer to participants who are refused a performance licence due to information arriving late. Registration forms are sent out once you have completed the purchase of your Summer School space. Can I take photographs and videos of my child during the performances? We ask the all members of the audience to refrain from taking pictures and videos during the performance. An appointed photographer will take pictures of the rehearsals/ performance and a video will be made available online, after the show. If you have any further questions or queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch: mark.hooper@southhillpark.org.uk We look forward to welcoming you to the biggest Summer School adventure yet. GO TO CONTENTS Page 10
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