Our specialist workshops are designed to give you the chance to explore and develop a number of performance skills.
Whether you're a budding actor or a shrinking violet (in need of a little encouragement!) the life skills you will learn at the King's Stage School will help to equip you on whatever path you choose.
The Stage School is broken into two distinct programmes:
Theatre Games [10:00-11:00] for yrs 5-8
Theatre Games is a fast-paced and short session with a lot of improvisation and drama games. Activities might include: tag-team improvisation, mime stories and who’s the storyteller?
The emphasis is always on having fun and creativity!
You will be learning something but most of the time you’ll be concentrating on the next game, exercise or activity. What better way to start a Saturday morning?
‘Theatre Games’ is a distinct part of ‘Stage School’ and there is no need to do one in order to do the other.
Stage School [11:20-13:30] for yrs 9-13 (and lower by invitation)
‘Stage School’ is a much more dedicated and thoughtful undertaking to ‘Theatre Games’. It can be seen as a stepping stone to more ambitious levels of performance. The main focus is on helping students to develop as performers and subjects such as voice, gesture, mask work, physical theatre and the system/method are covered along with many others.
Although the majority of students focus on their acting, there is the opportunity for some students to work as directors and writers.
Every term, ‘Stage School’ mounts a showcase evening or scratch night that features work in development as well as monologues and readings. The prospect of more finished productions will be under lively and enthusiastic consideration as things develop.
Stage school is run by James Hammond who, after a degree in Drama from Manchester University and a Masters Degree from Central School of Speech and Drama, worked as an assistant director for a number of acclaimed directors including the legendary Bill Gaskill, founder of the national theatre; at the Royal Court Theatre he was taught playwrighting by Simon Stephens and at the Young Vic he was schooled in directing by Rufus Norris, Mathew Dunster and David Lan. James has run youth drama workshops for a plethora of organisations including the Orange Tree Theatre and The Circus Space.
Whether you enjoy drama as a hobby or as a serious and powerful creative experience, Stage School can provide what you are looking for!
