Monday, September 1, 2014
In a new regular post, Susan Elkin explores the resources available for self-improvement. Used as preparation for learning, or as study aids while training, these are the books, videos, webs…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AMThursday, August 28, 2014
I once attended a 10-day Shakespeare course at Girton College, Cambridge, in late July. Not only did I enjoy swanning about in the hallowed sunny portals pretending to be a proper Girton gir…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AMTuesday, August 26, 2014
Shakespeare's Globe, London: Fire destroyed the first Globe Theatre in 1613. Perhaps it was a carelessly fired cannon. Or maybe there was - and is - a terrifying, seductively sweet-voiced mu…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:09PMMonday, August 25, 2014
Drama school hadn’t been invented, so Shakespeare’s actors trained by serving seven year apprenticeships in established companies. No doubt to begin with they performed low level tasks s…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AMThursday, August 21, 2014
This is a good idea I wish I’d heard about earlier: stage a gritty new theatrical production of an Orwell classic at a working farm, using it as a springboard for students and new grad…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:00AMMonday, August 18, 2014
Last month I attended and enjoyed a performance of Closer at the Old Vic – and what a memorable, buzzy occasion it turned out to be. Old Vic Community Company was formed last year and̷…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:13AMTuesday, August 12, 2014
I am rather impressed by the number of training opportunities with the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin at the moment. For example, there’s a two-day Young Gaiety masterclass for over-…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:03AMMonday, August 11, 2014
What is it about children’s books and theatre? Last week I saw (and reviewed for The Stage) Hetty Feather at the Vaudeville in the Strand. It was the second time I’d seen it – I…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 03:15AMThursday, August 7, 2014
Vaudeville Theatre, London: This show has matured since it was at <a href="http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/39756/hetty-feather" target=_blank>Kingston's Ros…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:56AMIf you need to know about something in real depth you probably can’t, even in this high-tech world, do better than a book. Enter two new ones which take you through the detail of skills…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:13AMMonday, August 4, 2014
I’ve been thinking about ensembles. Slick ensemble work – which usually means it’s well directed – is something I often comment on in reviews. It’s the backbone of much work for ch…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 08:13AMThursday, July 31, 2014
I met Nathan (Nate) Leung, 11, in March when he was one of ten finalists for the Stage Scholarships at Sylvia Young Theatre School (SYTS) and I was, as usual, on the judging panel. Well,&#…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00AMMonday, July 28, 2014
Cadogan Hall, London: There's plenty to commend in this four-hander adaptation of Julia Donaldson's popular children's book. The cheerful farmyard set is effectively a three-d…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:55AMGoing to Dorset is always a pleasure. And not just because I spent all my childhood holidays there so I can get (very) nostalgic about Dorset. In recent years it has also been interesting to…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:10AMThursday, July 24, 2014
I often mention resources – particularly books – in these columns. Now I’ve come across something a bit different which is likely to be of interest to drama teachers working with scho…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:20AMMonday, July 21, 2014
Leicester Square Theatre, London: The story of Timmy (Harrison Spiers) floating off into space to consort with aliens who love to raid Earth to steal underpants from washing lines is fun. Bu…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 10:42AMHere’s a bit of good news. Next month fifteen adults with learning disabilities will become the first students to graduate with a diploma in performance making from the Royal Central Schoo…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:56AMThursday, July 17, 2014
Performing arts students – especially those doing acting – should be reading lots of plays. And that should include, obviously, plays of all styles and eras. You need the most eclectic …
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 04:50AMWednesday, July 16, 2014
Bloomsbury Ballroom, London: The round table format and low lighting in the basement nightclub-like Bloomsbury ballroom create quite an atmosphere for this annual competitive showcase as stu…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 12:38PMMonday, July 14, 2014
Last week I went to Arcola Tent to see National Youth Theatre’s Playing Up scheme in action. I was profoundly moved. This is an initiative which changes lives. So thank goodness the Arts…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:04AMThursday, July 10, 2014
Next week, Birmingham’s Billesley Primary School, which must be exceptionally adventurous, is tackling nuclear Armageddon. Directed by Craig Stephens and James Yarker, Any Fool Can Start …
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00AMMonday, July 7, 2014
New London Theatre: In this gentle yet spectacular children's play, a little girl, ably played by diminutive, shining-eyed Susan Harrison, is marginalised by her busy parents (Laura Cub…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:33AMLast week I went speed dating. Well not real speed dating as such. As many readers know, I’ve been happily and faithfully married for twice as long as most of the ALRA South and Italia …
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:09AMThursday, July 3, 2014
Schools and colleges are still auditioning for places on vocational courses starting next term. Good luck to all hopefuls. And I hope the colleges manage to recruit the right people for thei…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:30AMMonday, June 30, 2014
Boughton Monchelsea Place: Changeling Theatre's 14th touring Shakespeare takes, as usual, a fullish text to unusual outdoor venues, mostly in Kent. The traverse playing space has tradit…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:33AMRegents Park Open Air Theatre: This witty, entertaining and imaginative take on Shakespeare's most wistful comedy features water pistols, participative dances, a jazz band, a stage-side…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 06:07AMMichael Morpurgo seems to get everywhere. The War Horse musicians’ furore continues. National Youth Theatre rep company is doing Private Peaceful http://www.nyt.org.uk/private-peaceful/ca…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:15AMThursday, June 26, 2014
I’ve been talking to Brian Timoney who founded Brian Timoney Actors’ Studio in 2006 following the death of his method acting guru David Bennett. I interviewed him for The Stage’s Weeke…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00AMMonday, June 23, 2014
When I was in my first year of secondary school and just twelve we read A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We had terrific fun with it and then, eventually, performed act V to our parallel class&#…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:14AMThursday, June 19, 2014
I was leading a seminar about drama and performing arts training last year when a very keen wannabe actor asked me whether or not I thought she should learn to drive. Definitely, I told her&…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00AMMonday, June 16, 2014
I recently interviewed Arts Ed-trained Nathan Wright, a young actor who’s doing well and has just come out of an eighteen month stint in BBC’s Doctors. In passing he told me that he had…
SOURCE: The Stage Registration at 05:00AM 
