29 September 2016

By Rachael Lundy

Greg Cooper (pictured above) is an actor, improviser, and tour de force in the field of children’s theatre writing. Somehow, between touring the country by night and writing his brand new play for Australia/New Zealand Playhouse, “Puss in Boots: Pet Detective”, by day, I managed to sit down with him and chat about the joy of writing plays for kids.

Rachael: Tell me about how you first become involved in theatre, and what drew you to script writing in particular?

Greg: I learnt speech and drama from quite a young age, and really enjoyed performing throughout my school life, particularly the improv stuff I did at High School. After that I was asked to join the Court Jesters [Christchurch’s Court Theatre Improv Group], they had only been going for a few years by that time, but they asked me to join, so I started working at the theatre. The Court wanted to start doing children's shows for the school holidays, so they got a couple of us to put together a show.

Rachael: Did you write that one?

Greg: No, not that first one, but I think by the second or third one they asked if anyone would like to write the script and I said, “Oh, I’ll give it a crack”. I’d never written a script before. That first one was called “Old McDonald Had a Farm.” Playhouse produced it again a few years back...I just kept going from there, basically.

Rachael: How long ago did you join the court?

Greg: Crikey! I think I had just left high school, so this will give my age away, but about 23 years.

Rachael: You have been with Playhouse since its inception back in 2009. Are you surprised by how much the group has grown since that first tour?

Greg:  I am and I’m not, I mean, knowing Mikey [Michael Bell, Company Director of Playhouse], he’s never one to go “I’m just happy with that”. He’s always looking to go bigger and better and bolder and further. The first tour, well, compared to what they are now, it was tiny! Every year there’s a bigger tour. I acted in that first Australian one for “The Big Sad Wolf” (2013) and that was only 6 weeks, now they’re 9-10 month tours, so it’s quite incredible how the company has grown.  In 2017, we're touring another of my plays, Puss in Boots: Pet Detective for Primary Students, also hopefully for a long time!

Rachael: You have written plays produced by Playhouse for almost 8 years, as well as countless other scripts for The Court Theatre, Anthony Harper Summer Theatre, and tons more. What is your favourite part of writing children’s theatre?

Greg: I love that children are so honest...people say, “Oh, it’s just children’s theatre” but I totally disagree with that sentiment. You can’t write down to them, they are very intelligent and they know when they are being patronised. You’ve got to engage them at almost an adult level. You’ve got to tell a good story but you also have to provide opportunities for them to contribute to the story. The joy of live theatre, and the thing that separates it from every other medium, is that the children can yell out and tell the actors things; you know, the classic panto “it’s behind you!” thing. That’s what I really like.

In 2017, Australia Playhouse are also touring Great Scott Fitzgerald: Gatsby Unleashed! for Secondary Students.

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26 September 2016

As most of us enjoyed a sleep in this morning, spare a thought for our SA colleagues. Their holidays are still a week away.

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25 September 2016

Third term has been HUGE.  Canny teachers are already booking for next year to make sure they get the dates that best suit. Alot of our incursions and an increasing number of our theatre shows are available for 2017.

Image: We're Going On A Bear Hunt - Touring nationally in 2017. Some Victorian venues listed already. Many more to come.

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19 September 2016

SA still has two weeks to go. Tas, Qld and Vic schools are already relaxing

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16 September 2016

Happy Holidays you guys!

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15 September 2016

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13 September 2016

 Mark Forsyth writes in his book, The Elements of Eloquence, adjectives are placed before the noun, strictly in this order:

opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose, Noun.

He says if you change this sequence, you will sound  like a maniac.

To illustrate this point, Forsyth offers the following example: “a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife”.

What do you think? Are you aware that subjective adjectives tend to appear further from the noun than concrete ones?

You would say boring French teacher rather than French boring teacher.

Explore it further here

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12 September 2016

Hurry and make your bookings for Term 4. With the end of term looming, lots of teachers are making bookings. Get in as soon as you can.

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9 September 2016

Lots of programs to choose from. Check them out here

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9 September 2016

Circus Oz have offered a performance and workshop package for Primary students at their new home in Collingwood since 2014.

We interviewed Anne Chamberlain, of Sandringham Primary, to find out why they keep coming back. Around 90 Yr 1 students see the show and do a workshop. 

Anne: We came back the second year because the feedback from parents was the kids thought it was just the best excursion. For us as teachers, it has everything. It really ticks all the boxes and it's great to take kids on an excursion that we know they'll really love.

SFS: How do you integrate the experience into the curriculum?

Anne: We have a play based unit 3 mornings per week with a circus area and a dramatic play area, so we can incorporate experience from the excursion into that. After we returned, we got out the beam and juggling balls and kids spent lots of time practising. It fits in with Phys Ed, Performing Arts, in fact it fits in with such a lot of areas. We can take it in lots of directions because the kids are excited and engaged.

SFS: What do you think of the facilities there?

Anne: Last year, the excursion was in October and it rained all day. The Circus Oz staff were fantastic in looking after us. It was good to have bus parking there and when you have alot of little kids, it's important there are enough toilets. There were and they were clean.

SFS: Do you use the teachers notes?

Anne: We actually do our own thing. We use the excursion as a jumping off point. We know the kids will love the interaction and dynamism of the show and be inspired to learn new skills.

SFS: Thanks Anne. See Anne talking about last year's show on the SHOWS FOR SCHOOLS Facebook Page

Stay tuned for an interview with Chris Rhyder from Burwood Heights PS, who brought Yr 5 & 6's in 2014 and is bringing the same year levels this year.

Image: School kids doing one of the workshops. We couldn't find a pic of Sandringham kids!!

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4 September 2016

It's a perfect time to plan for next term, if not next year! Lots on offer on SFS, just put in your parameters and search for the perfect event for your students

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2 September 2016

By Eleanor, Bell Shakespeare Players 2016

We often get asked by students (and teachers) how we keep three shows and so much Shakespeare in our heads! It has had me thinking, how did I learn so much Shakespeare in such a short time and what do I do to demystify Shakespeare’s language and put it into my own voice? 

See Bell Shakespeare's events here

Image Above: Bell Shakespeare Schools Tour Cast 2016 (c) Olivia Wynne

Image Above: Author Eleanor (left) and colleague (c) Olivia Wynne

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