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

Autumn Update

Hello everyone.

It may be well after the summer programme now, but Whirlwind are very busy with new plans and projects. Since Brilliant the Dinosaur and after a well earned holiday, Mike and Myette have been putting things together for the forthcoming year.

Newsletters have been sent out to everyone on the mailing list along with an oder form for Brilliant photographs and DVD's. If you have not had one of these and wish to order then please contact the office. Posters from the last four Summer productions are also available at the bargain price of £2.50 each, so why not take a trip down memory lane and order all four? (They look great side by side.) After a slight hitch with the Whirlwind T-Shirts these should now be with everyone who ordered them and are now available to order once more.

If you run an out of school club or youth organisation, have you thought about having whirlwind in to run a session? Sessions can be an hour, half a day or a day, tailored to meet your needs and are variable in price according to length and structure? Why not talk to Mike and Myette and see what they can contribute to your organisation?

Finally, and saving the big news until last. In the New Year Whirlwind are planning to start running sessions for children on a weekly basis. More details will be announced shortly, but keep watching this spce, the website or the facebook group for news of this exciting development.

Brilliant the Dinosaur Photographs.

Photographs from the summer 2008 production can be seen on the website here.

Do have a look and enjoy. There will be news next week about photographs and dvds for sale.

Whirlwind Facebook Group.

For all you internet addicts out there in blogland, Whirlwind now has a Facebook group. Do come over to Facebook and join us and have some fun discussing the up and coming production.

The group can be found by following this link.