New Term

We're back.
After a well deserved (at least we think so) break the Children's and Youth theatre is starting up. The younger group started on Saturday and we were very pleased with the number that turned up and with the excellent work they all did on their first day back. The older group starts this Monday and we are all looking forward to the year ahead, working towards a production of The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe. More details as the year progresses.
More updates later this week.

Whirlwind Theatre is now taking its annual break and will be back in action on the 10th August. Anyone wanting booking information please e-mail your details to enquiries@whirlwindtheatre.org.uk. Leaflets and newsletter about our forthcoming weekly youth theatre working towards The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe will be sent out on the first week of September. You will find most of the booking information on the Website and you need to reserve your place by telephone or by e-mail.
Whirlwind Theatre is always looking for volunteers to support the children during workshops and help with front of house duties including meeting and greeting at the start of each session. If you would like to help in this way send us a message.
Just to remind people that the Whirlwind Theatre facebook site is an open forum and I have added a discussion point this week if you would like to add your comments. Will be updating this with news and reviews after the short break.

Website Update

Hi all.
Just been spending a bit of time updating the website. Taking a little longer than expected as the online editter keeps timing out on me!
Also, keep losing information about links and things so have to keep going back to find them. Maybe I should write them down somewhere sensible?
Will try and keep this updated a bit more regularly as well.
Bye for now - back to the website.

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Whirlwind Theatre’s Youth Music theatre company is searching for youngsters to be a multitude of fantastical characters in their forth coming musical production of ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’ by CS Lewis and adapted by Adrian Mitchell. This production had rave reviews when it was first commissioned and performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1998, it is now due a come back and what better than performed by Lancaster’s children’s theatre company Whirlwind Theatre. It is full of fun and memorable songs that every one will continually hum and enjoy for many days after. Workshop based rehearsals start in September at The Storey in Lancaster, every Saturday for the 5 – 9 year olds and every Monday evening for the 10 – 16 year olds. The Youth Theatre will be joining the professional company later to stage the production next year (dates to be announced). There are many rolls to fill including Edmund, Lucy, Peter and Susan and Whirlwind Theatre does not hold auditions so parts are filled during the weekly workshop sessions, which also includes design and prop making.

The story is set when four children are sent to live with Professor Kirk to escape the Blitz. Whilst hiding from a strict and rather scary house keeper, Mrs Macready, they stumble across an old wardrobe that is the gateway to Narnia, and the adventure begins…

Whirlwind Theatre is special in that it is Ofsted registered, has high standards of childcare and with this, some people can claim fees back through child tax credits or pay with Busy Bee vouchers (there are discounts for the unemployed, parents and guardians who are full time students and carers- who are unable to claim the above) . For more booking and price information please all 079505903229

Theatre groups and Childcare Vouchers.

These new groups are due to start very soon now, after the half term break and we have lots of plans for them. Parents, you may be interested to read about Busy Bees Childcare Vouchers as we will be participating in this scheme which may be able to help you with fees and childcare expenses. 

During this next half term, leading up to the Summer holidays we will be looking at:

Animals, Fairies, Goblins and Magic Worlds,

where parents are strictly forbidden.

‘Alice’ falls down a rabbit hole, ‘Harry Potter’ finds a magic train station, In the ‘Narnia’ stories children go through a wardrobe to find an exciting new world, In ‘Toms Midnight Garden’ there is a slip back in time and in ‘Dog so small’ it is the imagination that carries the character – How can we explore finding a magical place? Is there a way through to other worlds hidden in the school play ground or some where at home? Where does the normal day become extraordinary? The work this term will be exploring the use of life size puppets in performance and ways to make these.

Whirlwind Theatre is a company that uses puppets and masks as integral to performance and these have included Giant Dinosaurs, Seagulls and birds of all sorts in the past. The young people will be learning styles and techniques including the warm up exercises used by the professional company when working towards a production. 

Whirlwind on the Move

WHIRLWIND THEATRE IS MOVING TO THE STOREY!

Commencing after the summer half-term break (June 09) Whirlwind Theatre is
starting an exciting and fun weekly Youth and Children's Theatre on a
Saturday morning and Monday afternoon (ages 5 -16 years), working towards
performances alongside the professional company - learning about theatre
from the inside out. The company's work is story picture-book  in style,
is inclusive working with all children who want to have a go, teaches
classical theatre and technique, retaining many theatre traditions, has
links with drama schools and the profession and ensures the
performance-based work is of the highest standard. The company has always
prided it self with the highest child protection standards, adhering to
Ofsted regulations. Please book a place as they are limited.

As well as the regular work and shows in September the
company will be starting interactive, traditional story-based
performances, for the under-fives, on a Wednesday morning. You and your
child can become a part of the story, be sly and greedy birds in 'How the Tortoise got his Bumpy Shell' or be a part of a fire breathing dragon in 'George and the Dragon',
make trees grow from the ground, work puppets and learn simple songs.
For booking details please contact the office on  Tel: 07505903229 or
E-mail: Bookings@whirlwindtheatre.org.uk.  Website: www.whirlwindtheatre.org.uk