Drama@Staffs Blog

Student Finance....

2011-09-12T08:21:00.000-07:00

Anxious about student loans? Baffled about banks? Worried how university will affect your finances? Put your questions to our experts who will be online on 13 September from 12.30pm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/blog/2011/sep/09/live-clinic-student-finances

Graduation 2011

2011-07-20T06:13:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to our Graduating Students of 2011!

2010-11 Productions

2011-06-15T04:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy academic year.

Public productions this year have included:
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Level 6, May 2011)- Also Photograph
HEARTS AND MINDS (Level 5, April 2011)-three documentary plays surrounding people's responses to war.
ROAD (Level 5, November 2010)
THE VISIT (Level 5, November 2010)
BLUE REMEMBERED HILLS (Level 5, November 2010).

The Level 6's also produced 5 small scale independent pieces and a Live Art Showcase.

The Level 5's also produced an overnight site specific piece in the University Library.

The Level 4's presented 10 extracts from plays.

Pics from New York

2010-04-14T03:33:00.002-07:00

Some pics from New York residential:

Day Two

2010-04-08T05:44:00.000-07:00

What a couple of days!

As part of Live Art module at Level 3, students study Marina Abramovic. Shelley was able to take some students to the Museum of Modern Art here in NYC to see the work and exhibition of over 50 works.
www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/965
Abramovic also was perfoming a durational piece. I'm sure the students who have or will study this iconic figure will have gained much from this work.

As for myself and Chris, after a tour round Central Park, we met a group of students to see RACE, the new play written and directed by David Mamet on Broadway.
www.raceonbroadway.com
Typically Mamet, he explores notions of identity, racial politics and niggling prejudices. Using the vehicle of a lawyers office, the 4 characters battle through gutsy harsh language.. let's hope it transfers to the UK. Some fantastic acting with some powerhouses of performances with roots in the America method. Breathtaking.

In the evening it was a trip to the East side and Fuerza Bruta (look up)..a collision of beautiful imagery and aerial work. (oh.. which also included the students getting very wet!).. I tried to hold back from the water... but still ended up wet!

On Tuesday we also participated in a workshop at the New York Conservatory of Performing Arts. Actor Ed Lane took us through our strengths and weaknesses before putting some of the students through their paces as they did a casting for a commercial! (I'm buying that mouthwash now Jamie!)

Plus, visits to Staten Island on the Ferry, Battery Park, World Trade Centre site and Museum, Brooklyn Bridge.. and still two days to go!

Arrival in New York

2010-04-06T05:08:00.000-07:00

After a long day of travelling (including a 1 hour stop on the tarmac at JFK airport!) we finally crossed the bridge to be welcomed by the famous New York Skyline!

There are 41 of us in all- 38 students and 3 staff- and it's not easy moving that amount of people through customs and check in gates! Thanks to Shelley's organisation on this one it ran like clockwork!

At 11.30pm we checked into the Chelsea International Hostel and (following a wine in a local bar to unwind) finally hit the sack.

It is now 8.10am NY time, and our first day is just about to begin... The Malibu Diner, followed by a tour of a New York Drama School plus Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty and much more...

we will blog very soon with details and pics!

New York trip

2010-03-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

7 days to go until the New York residency!

New York and other things...

2010-03-02T14:12:00.000-08:00

New York is nearly upon us again.. In a month's time from April 5th students from all Levels will head over the Atlantic to New York to experience the city's theatre scene (and maybe just a little bit of sightseeing thrown in for good measure!).

There's going to be a mixture of productions, workshops and hopefully some more late night improvisation sessions will see the students (and Shelley!) testing their skills against some NYC actors!

We'll be sure to be blogging again daily so watch this space...

And before NYC there's the Level 2 Site Specific Performance taking place at the Etruria Museum and Level 3 Small Scale Theatre performances in Week 10 Week 9 will also see the Level 1 Script and Text extracts from the plays Widows and Memory of Water.

Phew! A busy month ahead (and then there's still all the work after Easter to come.....)

New Academic Year

2009-07-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Drama Team have been busy over the summer (and even during the end of the last semester) preparing for the new academic year and sprucing up the Performance Centre (below)

Plays have to be decided to produce at Level 2 (last year's production of Fen pictured) which is complicated, taking everybody's preferences into account, as well as sorting out all the practical and seminar groups for all three levels.

Then there's the maintenance, buying new state of the art Lighting equipment and PAT testing in the studios, office changes, and deciding on plays and any curriculum development for next year... and the odd coffee of course. On top of all this the team completed a successful subject review. Phew!

We're looking forward to welcoming our new Level 1's in September and to welcome the return of Levels 2 and 3 and to get the blog up and running with all theatre related information.

Rob Marsden's Documentary and Verbatim Theatre

2009-04-01T06:50:00.000-07:00

As well as directing one of the Level 2 Documentary plays on Broken Britain, Rob is currently in Belgium creating a piece of site specific documentary based on the testimony of the Great War veterans.
Sites are including Ypres Menin Gate, Hill 60, Tyne Cot Cemetary, Yorkshire Trench, Polygon Wood, Essex Farm and Field Hospital amongst others.
Featuring actors Sean O'Callaghan, Dominic Meir and Kevin McGreevy.... more info to follow.

New York Picture!

2009-01-13T00:15:00.000-08:00

The full cohort assemble outside a traditional diner after breakfast on Tuesday 6th January.

On this day the group would visit Greenwich Village, Staten Island, see the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Centre site and museum, Equus on Broadway as well as Times Square... phew!

Shelley's New York continued...

2009-01-11T15:05:00.000-08:00

Thursday 8th January

On Thursday, following yet another huge breakfast,we headed into the city for another exciting, if exhausting day. Chris, Rob and myself headed towards NYC library, which is a truly magnificent building. The film, 'The Day After Tomorrow' is set in the library and we could see why. The library houses the most remarkable collections and paintings, including Shakespearean portfolio's - it was difficult to drag Chris out of there. We were tempted by an action figure of Mr Shakespeare himself, with a removable quill from the library gift shop - but perhaps for another time...The afternoon I spent shopping for gifts to take home. I was particularly startled to find a fairground big wheel in Toys r us in Times Square! After spending far too much money I headed back to the hostel in order to take our students to see an evening of NYC stand-up comedy.

Thursday evening was spent with much hilarity and laughter - it was remarkable to think that a group of students and staff from Staffs' were sitting in a small, gritty NYC venue, seeing authentic stand-up comedy. When I initially arranged the trip I wanted the students to see work they wouldn't get a chance to see elsewhere. Whilst we saw some really good and outstanding work on Broadway, most of the shows have run in the West End. But, the comedy we saw Thursday evening (and the impro' session Wednesday night), was unique to NYC and made the trip worthwhile. The evening ended with lots of talk and laughter (and a little beer).

Friday 9th January.

Its difficult to believe that we are heading home today. We have done so much in such a short space of time that the days have flown. Before we left for home I persuaded Rob to go ice-skating on Central Park. Needless to say, I have bruises to prove it! But, it was a final experience I would not have missed for anything. At 2pm, after pooling our remaining dimes to buy cake for the journey, we boarded the coach for JFK and then flew back home to LH. We arrived back in Stoke midday Saturday, totally exhausted but thrilled with our NYC adventure. I'm sure that we will bore you all with our trip for many days/weeks/years to come.

Brits on Broadway

2009-01-11T07:11:00.000-08:00

Read Susannah Clapp's article (including detail on All My Sons!):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2009/jan/11/theatre-broadway-closures-successes

From Chris Martin...

2009-01-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

This is my first visit to New York and, like Shelley, I have 'celebrated' (if that's the word) yet another birthday. Everything about this city is dramatic and passionate and noisy and exciting. The food tastes extra good and the senses are stimulated every minute of the day. I feel exhausted but alive. The two Broadway shows I saw were really satisfying; good plays and the best of acting. Apart from the obvious locations I was impressed by the NY Public Library....a fabulous building and the Lincoln Centre; especially the Library of the Performing arts. If the students have got half the pleasure I have experienced it must have been worth their while. I'm not sure I'm coming back!

ALL MY SONS on Broadway

2009-01-08T14:03:00.000-08:00

Arthur Miller's ALL MY SONS starring a magnificant John Lithgow as Joe. This seminal piece of work was directed by Simon McBurney of Complicite on Broadway... I hope that it transfers to London for UK audiences to experience... for an experience it was. McBurney placed a definite Complicite 'style' onto the piece without in any way negating the demands of the text nor indeed one which interferes with the need for realistic characterisations.

Lithgow put in a powerful and overwhelming performance- myself and Chris Martin became hooked on every word with McBurney instilling a contemporary resonance as sons go off to war in Iraq and Afghanistan as I write. A conquering, muscular Method (without being self indulgent) style of acting brought grit and energy, especially amongst the triptych relationship of father, mother (Diane Wiest) and son. After the students took photos of katie Holmes coming out of a limo flanked by bodyguards ('Where was Tom Cruise?' asked one!) they were then able to see her Broadway debut.

Although panned by certain critics, Holmes put in a credible performance; what was lacking in technique was made up for by a strong emotional connection with character and text.Fingers crossed this heads across the Atlantic....

Shelley's New York

2009-01-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

Monday 5th January

Well, it doesn't get much better than this! On Monday 5th January (my birthday!), 32 students and three members of the drama department (Shelley, Chris, Rob) headed towards NYC for our first international residential. We arrived early morning to a snow-filled campus and began the first leg of our journey to London Heathrow. It was hard to believe that by the end of the day we would be in NYC. We had a great journey, although checking in 35 of us in at the self-check in desks at LH was interesting to say the least.We had a great flight to JFK and most of the students refrained from singing show songs during the flight!

A few hours later we were at the top of the Empire State Building. It was absolutely amazing and wonderful to share with our students. We finally ended the evening in a NYC diner with 'eggs over easy'. Quite frankly, an amazing birthday and one that I think we will all remember for a long, long time.

Tuesday 6th January

For our first full day in NYC we headed towards, what will become our favourite diner, for a
breakfast of steak and eggs, pancakes and syrup and bagels to set up us for the day ahead.

We then made our way to Ground Zero and the World Trade Centre Tribute Centre. This was such an important trip and one that affected us deeply. We read stories of such terrible anquish and heartache and also true accounts of unbelievable courage, bravery and hope. A truly life changing experience.

For the afternoon (after a NYC hotdog), we sailed to Staten Island and waved to the Statue of Liberty. It was freezing cold and snowing, but that didn't stop us standing on the deck of the ferry. Then, being extremely brave we made our first subway trip to Times Square and saw Equus on Broadway. I am so pleased that this was our first Broadway Show, the students loved it. Overall, a most wonderful day!

Wednesday 7th January (Staffordshire Students and Shelley, perform at NYC Theatre)

Today (after steak, eggs, pancakes, syrup, etc, etc...) we spent the day at the Museum of Modern Art. We saw so many important works of Art, including key works relating to modules the students were taking. From an educational perspective this was a really important trip, but it was also really fun! I think the students really liked lying on huge sofas for a contemporary video art installation.

In the evening we made our way to Greenwich Village for a thought-provoking performance by a Dutch company. It wasn't the best work we have seen but then....

I persuaded a group of students to go to a late night comedy improvisational session. But, when we arrived we realised that we could perform with NYC actors. So, we did! Staffordshire Students (and Shelley), performed in a NYC venue with NYC actors. It was both terrifying and amazing. Perhaps you should read the students comments:

Wednesday night saw eight of us plus Shelley sign our dignity away to the Magnet Theatre's late night comedy impro event... Needless to say the 'Stafford- Shire students, plus their "hip" teacher, showed them how to do it. With scenes of ghost towns, pervy men, inappropriate funeral and female domination with one student David, the night was not one to be forgotten - especially for those who opted to watch rather participate - incredibly wise! (posted by James).

Bringing Down the Curtain

2008-12-19T08:03:00.000-08:00

From the Stage, an article on 2008's flops in London's West End. It doesn't always help to have a Hollywood star, or even 'sure-fire' source material like Gone with the Wind. I suspect Broadway is no different.

Free tickets!

2008-12-18T04:40:00.000-08:00

"Andy Burnham has unveiled a scheme that will see thousands of people under 26 offered the chance to experience great drama, free of charge, at 99 theatres up and down England," according to a report in today's Guardian. The full list of theatres will be announced by Arts Council England tomorrow, but looks like it will include most producing theatres such as the New Vic. Drama students would be mad not to make the most of the opportunity.

PS: Lyn Gardner asks the very pertinent question: are free tickets enough to attract young people to the theatre?

UPDATE: Here's the full list of theatres (via the Stage)

Peter Brook to retire from Paris theatre base

2008-12-17T05:29:00.001-08:00

Michael Billington from the Guardian has more details.

Also appearing on this blog: Derrick Cameron

2008-12-16T06:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Shelley (and Shaun) I've now got an invite to post on this blog. I'm not going to New York, so I'll be posting occasional theatre-related items. To start with, here's Parv Bancil asking 'What have multicultural arts policies done for us?'.

Welcome to the DPTA Blog

2008-12-16T02:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Drama, Performance & Theatre Arts Blog,

Our blog will give you a look at the activities, staff and students are engaged in.

In the first week of January, 33 DPTA students will travel to NYC for our first international residential. I will be sending back a short blog for each day, detailing what we have seen, experiences, educational background and context for the trip

Hopefully, I can get hold of internet facilities and upload some photos.

Keep watching!

Shelley Piasecka