Secondary
‘Long may The Watermill continue this exciting outreach work, reaching new young audiences.’ The Newbury Weekly News
As part of The Watermill Theatre’s Outreach programme we visit and host many schools throughout the year, delivering workshops and projects to hundreds of students.
For an informal chat about how we can support you, please call Beth Flintoff on 01635 570927 or email beth@watermill.org.uk .
To download our Education Brochure, please click here.
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR YOUR VISIT
Education Packs can be downloaded for free (please click on the button on the right).
Theatre Tours can be arranged for small groups on request.
For most productions in our theatre we provide a practical workshop introducing students to the play, either preparing them for their visit or developing their response afterwards. Tailored towards the specific level of your students, the workshop will explore the main themes of the production, look at the acting techniques used in rehearsal, and provide insights into the creative process behind the scenes.
This season (Spring/Summer 2012) we offer workshops attached to the following productions: OF MICE AND MEN, BEN-HUR, and LETTICE AND LOVAGE.
PROPELLER (Henry V and The Winter’s Tale)
For Propeller workshops, please contact Propeller directly by emailing Caro Mckay ().
For our Shakespeare with Propeller Inset Training Day on April 20th, please click on the Teacher Training button on the right.
WORKSHOP MENU (These workshops are available all year round)
ELIZABETHAN & JACOBEAN DRAMA (KS3 to Sixth Form)
For this workshop we will focus on your choice of a play from Shakespeare, the Revenge Tragedies, or another contemporary text of your choice. Students will experience professional rehearsal techniques allowing them to unlock the text and bring it to life, looking in depth at interpretation, character choices, and handling the verse structures.
Recent workshops include ROMEO & JULIET, THE REVENGER’S TRAGEDY, DOCTOR FAUSTUS, OTHELLO, and THE DUCHESS OF MALFI.
MASKWORK (Yr 12 - 13)
An introduction to one of the oldest forms of theatre, a hands-on, entertaining and exciting exploration of mask in performance. The power and strangeness, the wonderful characters and characteristics of masks in theatre will be explored in a fascinating practical workshop.
IMPROVISATION (KS3 +)
Using original games and exercises, combined with some old favourites, theatre will be created through improvisation, spontaneity and by leaving yourself at the door to the rehearsal room. It is remarkable what we all have in our heads just waiting to get out, and this workshop will look at how to release and sustain the kind of creativity that makes for great ‘instant’ comedy and drama.
DRAMA FOR ENGLISH (KS4 +)
Plays are meant to be performed, not read, but in practical terms it’s not always easy to bring the play alive in the English classroom. This hands-on workshop will focus on any of your set playtexts for English GCSE, AS or A2 from an actor’s point of view. Using practical rehearsal techniques we will look in detail at passages of the text, bringing it to life and exploring the ambiguities in the dialogue and stage directions.
THEATRE PRACTITIONERS
We have actors and directors who can share their experience of the methods of most well-known practitioners, such as Shared Experience, Complicite, Brecht, Stanislavski, Katie Mitchell, and Actors of Dionysus.
INTERVIEW SKILLS
This is an ideal session to support your students who are about to interview for university. We develop the students’ awareness of body language and give them the confidence to present themselves positively and enthusiastically. We look at commonly asked questions and how to answer them, then, using drama and role play, students practice their interviews on each other.
MONOLOGUES / DUOLOGUES / AUDITIONING FOR DRAMA SCHOOL
If you have students who are working on monologues or duologues, we can help them in their preparation. One of our actors or directors will take them through the text as if working in a professional rehearsal room, working on blocking, voice and interpretation.
As for drama school - we’ve been there, done that, and bought the T Shirt! We’ll look at suitable monologues and provide feedback and direction, offering tips and advice on what to expect.
GOT YOUR OWN IDEAS?
If the workshops on offer above don’t take your fancy, we also provide bespoke workshops on any aspect of drama or theatre tailored to your requirements. Please just give us a call for an informal chat about what you’d like (Beth on 01635 570927).
All workshops will be led by one of The Watermill’s professional practitioners. Schools workshops generally last 90 minutes and cost £160 per session (max 30 students).
For more information or an informal chat, please call Beth Flintoff on 01635 570927 or email
Our core Education and Outreach work is generously supported by The Dr. Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation.