under 11s performances 2008
Now celebrating it’s 11th year, the Under 11s scheme is part of the theatre’s Soho Connect education and community programme and works with Year Six students in 5 Westminster and 5 Hackney primary schools. It gives students a practical, enjoyable and inspiring introduction to playwriting and aims to stimulate their creativity, boost their confidence and sharpen their powers of self-expression.
Each class takes part in two workshops, run by a member of the Soho Team, and supported by two professional actors.The first workshop focuses on characterisation – on how to create and develop a character, to get to know them in detail and leads participants to work in groups to write a short scene for two characters. All the scenes are then performed by the actors. This is an effective way of showing that playwriting is about writing for performance – to be brought to life rather than simply read on the page. The second workshop explores how to structure short plays and how to use scenes to move your plot forward. Again participants work in groups but this time to write a whole play. At the end of the session all the plays are performed.
As the schools in the two boroughs take part in the project they are paired up with another school and encouraged to share letters, emails and scripts.
The next stage of the project is a competition. All students are invited to write a short play (roughly 5 minutes), about any subject they choose. This is deliberate as we are keen to give them freedom in not just what they choose to write about but also how. One of the delights of the scheme has been to see the range of styles, voices and subjects of the students’ plays. Each year, all the submitted plays are read and then judged and then given a showcase at Soho in July using professional actors. There are schools performances for all those who’ve taken part to attend and a public performance on Saturday to allow other friends and family to attend, as well as industry.
To supplement the scheme, there is an archive on our website of winning plays. Also, during the rehearsal period, the production team and cast keep a rehearsal diary on the site that the students can access to follow the progress of their plays.
For all information please contact: Suzanne Gorman: Soho Connect Director on 0207 478 0114 or Suzanne@sohotheatre.com
Each class takes part in two workshops, run by a member of the Soho Team, and supported by two professional actors.The first workshop focuses on characterisation – on how to create and develop a character, to get to know them in detail and leads participants to work in groups to write a short scene for two characters. All the scenes are then performed by the actors. This is an effective way of showing that playwriting is about writing for performance – to be brought to life rather than simply read on the page. The second workshop explores how to structure short plays and how to use scenes to move your plot forward. Again participants work in groups but this time to write a whole play. At the end of the session all the plays are performed.
As the schools in the two boroughs take part in the project they are paired up with another school and encouraged to share letters, emails and scripts.
The next stage of the project is a competition. All students are invited to write a short play (roughly 5 minutes), about any subject they choose. This is deliberate as we are keen to give them freedom in not just what they choose to write about but also how. One of the delights of the scheme has been to see the range of styles, voices and subjects of the students’ plays. Each year, all the submitted plays are read and then judged and then given a showcase at Soho in July using professional actors. There are schools performances for all those who’ve taken part to attend and a public performance on Saturday to allow other friends and family to attend, as well as industry.
To supplement the scheme, there is an archive on our website of winning plays. Also, during the rehearsal period, the production team and cast keep a rehearsal diary on the site that the students can access to follow the progress of their plays.
For all information please contact: Suzanne Gorman: Soho Connect Director on 0207 478 0114 or Suzanne@sohotheatre.com
