RESOURCE PACK

HARROGATE THEATREEDUCATION

Harrogate Theatre’s Education (HTe) department prides itself on developing learning through creativity. HTe workshops start from as little as £60 and can be adapted to suit your class and learning objectives including support to achieve Arts Award Discover and Explore. Here are a selection of the workshops we offer for primary schools.

FULL DAY WORKSHOPS

Play in a DayA fun team-building activity for Years 5 and 6. Challenge your pupils to put on a play in a day and see them raise their game. Pupils will spend the day exploring interesting characters, staging the story and creating the props they will need to put on a very special show at the end of the day. This can be adapted for a story of your choice.

Production DayGive your pupils a head start on their end of term performance (and save yourself a lot of time!) with a Production Day from Harrogate Theatre. Our practitioner can come in for a full day to work with your pupils on character and plot and get you started on staging the script of your choice.

LONG TERM PROJECTS

After School Drama ClubsHarrogate Theatre’s After School Drama Clubs give your pupils the opportunity to work towards their own performance at Harrogate Theatre.

Each school will work with a Harrogate Theatre practitioner over 10 weeks in a 60 minute after school drama club. In the 11th week the club are invited to the theatre to spend the afternoon touring our historic Victorian building and rehearsing for an evening performance held in our intimate Studio Theatre, complimented by full lighting and sound support. Participants build in confidence, creativity, teamwork and most importantly work towards a tangible end product that they can be really proud of and share with their friends and family in a free ticketed performance.

Production DirectionPutting on a school play is loads of fun, builds teamwork and confidence and the memories can last a lifetime but it takes a lot of planning. No time to choose a script? Hit a wall and need some new ideas? Why not book us to direct your school play for you? We’ll start with a full production day and then come in as much as you need us to make sure your pupils are excited and confident about putting on a fantastic show.

ONE OFF WORKSHOPS

History Workshops

Spa HistoryThis workshop is an inspiring way to kick-start your Harrogate topic as we meet Betty Lupton, smell the sulphur water and act out key moments from Harrogate’s watery past to bring local history to life.

Our local history workshop has been developed in partnership with Harrogate Museums and Arts.

Children of the Blitz What was it like for children in the Second World War? How did it feel to be an evacuee? Participants will be encouraged to empathise with the feelings and experiences of evacuees and the family members left behind through using photographs, posters and poetry as source material to explore history through performance.

Greek TheatreThrough re-telling a Greek myth the class will learn about the origins of modern theatre and how it links to the ancient Olympian gods and goddesses. The workshop will include mask and chorus work to practically explore Greek Theatre style and bring the myth to life.

Literacy Workshops

ShakespeareThe best way to learn about Shakespeare’s plays is to act them out. Join us as we recreate the world and characters of a Shakespeare play of your choice, and see your pupils engage with complex language with excitement and confidence.

Pantomime Storytelling, improvisation and movement are combined in a drama workshop that explores the world of pantomime. Ideal before or after your visit to the annual Christmas show this is a fun introduction to a uniquely British institution which can result in a short performance suitable for sharing in assembly for KS2 pupils.

Traditional TalesThis drama workshop introduces traditional tales to KS1/2 pupils through trying out archetype characters, physically creating key locations and re-telling a traditional tale of your choice. This workshop also supports pupils understanding of adjectives at KS1 and similes and metaphors at KS2.

Enchanted Forest Through reading Into The Forest by former children’s laureate Anthony Browne the class will consider character’s feelings and act out scenes they devise based upon the text. Where’s Dad? Why is Mum upset? How will the story end? This drama workshop is designed to support story and script writing work through developing basic drama skills.

Theatre ToursTake a tour of Harrogate Theatre and find out about the workings of a professional theatre. Discover what goes on behind the scenes, and how each department contributes to the performance on stage. Find out about the history of the building, some of the famous names who have appeared here, everyday sayings that have their roots in theatre and superstitions that have grown up around the stage. Tours last approximately one hour and are £2 per pupil.

PricesOur workshops can be adapted to suit each Key Stage. Prices are broadly as follows:

ONE OFF WORKSHOPS FULL DAY WORKSHOPSKey Stage 1 workshops (1 hour for up to 30 children): £60 £200 Key Stage 2 workshops (1.5 hours for up to 30 children): £75Key Stage 2 (upper) workshops (2 hours for up to 30 children): £90

LONG TERM PROJECTS: After School Club: £605. Production Direction: On discussion of the project.

Please note travel to schools outside 10 mile radius will incur additional travel costs.

We can also come into your school for the day and work with every class. Prices are competitive and vary depending on the number of classes you would like us to work with.

Do you need a workshop not listed here? Drop us an email or give us a call to discuss your learning objectives and we’ll design something specifically for your class / school.

Contact

For further information on any of the above contact:

Hannah Draper Head of Education

Call: 01423 502 710 ext. 108

Email: hannah.draper@harrogatetheatre.co.uk

Contents

Welcome

Brief history of pantomime

Brief history of drama

The Dame

The Buffoon

The origins of Dick Whittington

Character comparison table

Story hill template

How to set out a script

Story boards

Writing tasks

Newspaper template

Set and costume design worksheet

Class design activities

Set design template

Reviews

Music workshop ideas

Marketing and Media tasks

NOW BOOKING FOR EASTER 2017

A CONTEMPORARY TAKE ON THIS CHEEKY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON TALE, WITH MUSIC & SONGS

Harrogate TheatreTHU 6 - SAT 15 APR

£10

Fun for all the family during the Easter holidays. Show times vary. Call Box Office on 01423 502116 or visit www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk for more details.

The Emperor’s New Clothes

Suitable

for ages

5+

Welcome!

This Teacher’s Resource Pack has been designed to be a valuable resource in the classroom to deepen primary school children’s understanding, and appreciation of, their annual visit to the pantomime.

Engagement with the arts is a great way to promote teamwork, develop empathy and strengthen speaking and listening skills; key foundations of children’s success in school. At Harrogate Theatre we pride ourselves on developing learning through creativity and we have been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom badge in support of this.

Each task within this pack has a clear learning outcome and resources have been designed so you are able to differentiate the difficulty for ability and age groups and pick and choose tasks to suit your class.

There is a mix of background information for teachers, classroom activities and worksheets. We hope that this pack inspires you to explore the world of pantomime both in and out of the classroom. We appreciate all feedback and examples of the work your class have created. Please send it to hte@harrogatetheatre.co.uk or post it to us and we’ll feature the best examples in the theatre. Please note that once work is sent to us it cannot be returned.

We also offer Introduction to Pantomime workshops which can take place in your school for £60 (+ travel). Participants will be able to try on pantomime costumes and create their own panto characters in a fun 90-minute workshop which can be booked before or after your visit to the pantomime. To book, call Hannah Draper on 01423 502 710 ext. 108.

I hope you enjoy exploring the wonderful world of British Pantomime with your class.

Best wishes,

Hannah DraperHead of Education

Information for TeachersBrief History of Pantomime It is thought that a man called John Weaver presented the first pantomime in London in 1702. It was performed at the Drury Lane Theatre, London and was called The Cheats or The Tavern Bikers.

In British theatre, pantomime is traditionally a Christmas or New Year entertainment. The name ‘pantomime’ comes from the Latin word pantomimus, which means the player of many parts. During Roman times pantomimes were stories told through dance, with no words at all. Modern pantomime characters can be traced back to the 16th and 17th Century when the Italians improvised comic drama called Commedia dell’arte.

One of the central characters of a commedia pantomime was Harlequin, a clown who usually narrated the story. Harlequin became so popular that harlequinade became a genre of its own.

Many of the panto plots are based on folk tales collected and retold by the French writer Charles Perrault. His book Mother Goose’s Fairy Tales published in 1697 included classic stories like Puss in Boots, Cinderella, Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty.

As pantomimes used classic fairy tales more and more, the role of Harlequin diminished until he disappeared. New elements were added to the mix, such as slapstick and double entendre. Popular songs, topical humour and satire found their way into the script from the influence of British Music Hall as did audience participation and guest appearances by popular entertainers of the day.

Pantomimes today nearly always include certain elements:

• A man dressed as a woman to play the dame.• A woman dressed as a man to play the principal boy.• A theme of good conquering evil.• A slapstick scene which gets very messy!• Audience participation.• Colourful sets and costumes.

Did you know that good characters traditionally enter from stage right and evil characters enter from stage left?

This tradition of evil entering from stage left goes back to the mystery plays. The trap doors in the stage floor (through which the demon used to appear in a puff of smoke) can always be found in the downstage left position. This tradition also seems to echo medieval times, when the entrances to heaven and hell were placed on these sides. The tradition has also been attributed to story books as you read your books from left to right.

For ideas on how to introduce your class to pantomime please see tasks later in the pack.

Information for Teachers

Brief History of Drama

Cave Men2.5 millionyears ago

Egyptians16th – 11thCentury BC

Greeks 8th – 6thCentury BC

Medieval 5th – 15th Century

Elizabethan 1558 - 1603

Victorian 1837 - 1901

The art of ‘acting out’ stories started centuries ago. We know from cave paintings that cave men used to dance and act out stories of hunts to please their Sun Gods. The Egyptians were the first people to make a record of the plays they performed. The Egyptians had lots of gods to whom they performed plays, in the hope that the performances would make them happy. They wrote about these plays using hieroglyphics.

The Greeks were the first people to build theatres which they called amphitheatres. They could hold thousands of people and were semi-circular in shape. The Greeks worshipped a god called Dionysus who was the god of fun. During the Festival of Dionysus, plays would be performed by the people of the town. The amphitheatres were so big that the story had to be shouted out and the main characters had to wear huge masks so they could be seen. We know a lot about Greek theatre as the Greeks were the first people to write their plays down in the form of a script.

In Medieval times plays were often linked to religion. Stories about God were acted out in churches and many towns held religious festivals every year where the townsfolk would act out scenes from the Bible. These plays became known as the ‘mystery plays’. The scenes acted out often included juggling, comedy, wrestling, archery and stone throwing. The ‘mystery plays’ proved to be very popular, and it was not long before rich land owners started to pay people to perform for them.

By Elizabethan times all actors were professional and worked in companies, the most famous being the King’s Men, who William Shakespeare wrote plays for. Acting companies would tour from town to town performing up to 38 different plays a year and sometimes a different play every day. By Victorian times drama was very popular and theatres were built in most towns. The types of plays shown became far more realistic and companies sometimes performed them over several nights. It was in Victorian times that pantomimes first became popular as an entertainment for Christmas, a tradition that continues today.It was not until the end of the Victorian age that women were allowed to act on stage; before then it was thought to be an improper thing for a lady to do. Young men acted out female roles, which is a tradition that has stuck in pantomime to this day.

Information for TeachersThe Dame

The role of the Pantomime Dame stretches back to the earliest origins of the theatre, when girls and young women were played by boys and old women were played by older men - often comically – as women were not allowed to perform on stage. The earliest known female comedy role played by a man was Mrs. Noah in the Miracle Plays of the Middle Ages.

Even after the Restoration in the 17th Century, when actresses entered the theatre, many did not want to play older parts, and the convention continued. During the Regency period the roles of witches, characters like Mother Shipton and old hags were often played by men.

The names given to Dames have altered over the years – for example the popular name for Jack’s mother in Jack and the Beanstalk is Dame Trott which comes from a slang word for an old hag but she’s also sometimes called Dame Daisy Durden.

Traditionally the Dame in Aladdin is Widow Twanky. The name originated as in 1861 Twankay was a tea, popular in London at the time, from the Tuan Kay province of China. Meanwhile, Dick Whittington has had a cook as Dame since its first performance, with the title Sarah the Cook given in most cases.

The Ugly Sisters in Cinderella have changed their names frequently to keep up with fashion. Originally Clorinda and Thisbe, they have been known as Daisy and Buttercup and Salmonella and Diptheria among others. Their names change as rapidly as their costumes, which often copy contemporary fashion.

The Dame believes that she is beautiful and elegant when she is played as old, common and haggard, all adding to the comic effect. Dames are never allowed to wear sleeveless tops, as it is forbidden to show the hairy man underneath! A famous Dame named George Lacy started the tradition of the Dame wearing as many different and extravagant costumes as possible during the performance. See if you can see how many costume changes our Dame has this year…

“I love panto season and I love getting to tell jokes! A man playing a lady is quite unusual but as she’s a funny character the audience tends not to mind. Plus it’s nice to keep a longstanding British theatre tradition alive.” Chris Clarkson (Dame Nanny Annie Nidderdale 2013)

Information for Teachers Information for TeachersThe Buffoon

Every pantomime has a character who is a buffoon such as Wishee Washee in Aladdin or Simple Simon in Jack and the Beanstalk. This character is usually the Dame’s son and provides comic relief throughout the performance combining jokes and slapstick comedy. In Dick Whittington the buffoon is called Idle Jack and his mum is the Dame, Sarah the cook. He works in the shop.

The origins of this character can be traced back to 15th Century Italy in a form of theatre known as commedia dell’arte. The idea of commedia dell’arte was that it was accessible to all; performers performed in the streets on temporary stages, and relied on various props in place of extensive scenery. It was characterised by exaggerated physical movement and masked stock characters.

The characters of commedia were stock characters which are fictional characters based on social, cultural or literary stereotypes. Commedia dell’arte has three main stock roles: servant, master, and innamorati (lovers). The servants or the clowns are referred to as the Zanni (which is where the word zany comes from). There were two distinct types of Zanni. One is the silly servant and the other is the cunning servant. In pantomime the buffoon character is influenced by the silly servant character. He is foolish, clumsy and ridiculous. The purpose of the Zanni in commedia was that he was the most sympathetic character and it was his responsibility to interact with the audience and ensure that they were following the plot. In pantomime the buffoon character fulfils exactly the same role; he even encourages the audience to actively participate in the performance by shouting out phrases at key points in the pantomime.

“The person who knows how to laugh at himself will never cease to be amused. I play the buffoon as an innocent. The magic is the buffoon’s entire journey is a voyage of discovery.” Tim Stedman (Idle Jack 2016)

In 1572 a cat appeared carved on a chariot presented by Whittington to the guild of merchants. History has it that there was once a portrait of Richard Whittington that showed him holding a black cat in one hand, and a white cat in the other. On Highgate Hill (the spot where legend has it he stood and decided to return to London) stands a statue of his cat, in front of the “Whittington Hospital”.

Information for Teachers THE ORIGINS

THE FAIRY TALE?Dick Whittington is the only pantomime based on a true subject. There actually was a Richard Whittington, and he did become (Lord) Mayor of London in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. Dick Whittington is also one of the few “home grown” pantomime subjects. Whereas many owe their origins and popularity to French, Italian and other European folk stories and fairy tales, the pantomime version is taken from Great Britain.

THE STORY OF DICK WHITTINGTONRichard Whittington was born around 1350. He was not the penniless boy he is depicted in pantomime, but the son of an Alderman - Sir William Whittington of Pauntley. He arrived in London around 1379, began to deal in textiles, and became an extremely wealthy merchant. He made large charitable donations, including the founding of the Whittington School in London, the rebuilding of Newgate Gaol, and an almshouse for the poor. He married the daughter of an Alderman - Alice Fitzwarren, and became an Alderman himself, before taking the honorary title of Sheriff in 1393. It was under King Richard II that he became Lord Mayor of London in 1397, and later again in 1406 and 1419. He became a member of parliament in 1416. Sadly nearly all of Whittington’s good works were destroyed in the Great Fire of London (1666). There is, however a window in the Guildhall serving as a memorial, and a small stone image in the crypt.

DICK WHITTINGTON’S CAT:How a cat came to feature so heavily in the pantomime version is not clear. He may well have had a cat, but certainly it does not feature in any accounts of his life. Possibly the answer lies in his life as a merchant. Ships feature in the pantomime, and Whittington was a merchant. His fortune depended on the sailing vessels bringing goods from Africa and the Far East. More humble sailing vessels carrying coal were known as “Cats”, so that could be one reason the story became confused with the humble moggy. Another theory is that the French word “Achat”, which means “A Purchase” might have found itself intertwined in his legend.Interestingly though, when Newgate prison was rebuilt (under the terms of Whittington’s will) a figure of a cat was carved over one of the gates.

“I love the story of Dick Whittington and its tale of fulfilling your destiny. It’s my 10th Harrogate panto and every year has been a dream! I feel really lucky to spread some panto magic in Harrogate every year.”

Phil Lowe, Director and Co-writer

THE RATS:The pantomime version has the villain depicted as “King Rat”. It is Whittington’s cat who destroys all the rats in the Kingdom, and this act makes Dick Whittington his vast fortune.More likely the very shadow and spectre of the rats, bringing plague to London frequently made them the ideal villains for legend. The Great Plague had only recently abated in London three years previously. Londoners would have no problem associating the rodents with arch villainy.

THE LEGEND:The legend of Dick Whittington follows the classic basis of a Fairy Tale, and indeed a pantomime. The Poor boy makes good through some heroic or magical deed. By rewarding others he achieves a Kingdom, a Princess, Untold wealth, or, in the case of Whittington he becomes fabulously rich, and is made Lord Mayor of London three times.The play version of “Dick Whittington” dates back to around 1605. There were several versions performed, and the stories had become popular in the publications of cheap affordable booklets’”chapbooks”- containing collections of stories.

information taken from www.its-behind-you.com

Supporting material for the story:

- How to set out a script- Story Hill template

- Storyboard worksheet

Characters in Harrogate Theatre’s Dick Whittington pantomime

Alice Fitzwarren Principal female role, the shop owner Dick Whittington Principal male role, the hero Queen Rat Evil villain Fairy Bow Bells Good magical fairy

King of the Fairies King of the fairies- good and kind

Psychic Sarah the Cook Dame, Idle Jack’s mum Idle Jack The Buffoon, Psychic Sarah’s son Tommy the Cat A cat, who can’t talk, Dick Whittington’s best friend

She is our ‘skin part’ (In the 19th century, some actors specialised in performing animal roles, which were known as ‘skin parts’ as they wore a second skin to become the animal.)

Name:

Story Hill Template

Learning Objective: To plot the key events from Dick Whittington

Opening:

Build up:

Climax/Conflict:

Name:

Story Hill Template

Learning Objective: To plot the key events from Dick Whittington

Climax/Conflict:

Resolution:

Ending:

How to set out a script

Scene Three

The BFG enters the cave, puts down his suitcase, removes his cloak, then carefully brings out

the ‘Sophie’ doll. He puts it on the table.

Sophie enters the scene and manipulates the doll like a puppet, while providing Sophie’s voice.

BFG Ha! What has got us here?

He looks carefully at Sophie. At first he should not appear to be very friendly.

Sophie (nervously) Where am I?

BFG This is my cave.

Sophie Why did you snatch me and bring me here?

BFG Because you saw me. If anyone is ever seeing a giant, he or she must

be taken away hipswitch.

Sophie Why?

BFG Human beans is not believing in giants, is they? Human beans is not

thinking giants exist.

Sophie I do.

BFG Ah, but that is because you has seen me. If I hadn’t snitched you, you

would be scuddling around yodelling the news on the telly-telly

bunkum box that you were actually seeing a giant, and then a great

giant-hunt, a mighty giant look-see would be starting up all over

the world, and human beans would be trying to catch me and put

me in the zoo.

Sophie So what’s going to happen to me now?

BFG You will just have to be staying here with me for the rest of your life.

Sophie (gasping) Please don’t eat me!

Scripts are divided down into scenes. A new scene begins when the action moves to a new place or a different time, for example, later in the day,

Stage directions are given in italics so they stand out against the spoken dialogue. Stage directions describe how the stage and the characters look and move. They can also include lighting and sound cues.

Characters names are in bold so actors can easily see when their character moves or speaks.

Italics can be used within speech to tell the actor when a word needs to be stressed or emphasized. You could use capital letters to suggest a character is shouting.

This describes how the character is speaking. Are they happy or sad? Joking or angry?

The BFG speaks in funny made up words to help communi-cate his character.

How to set out a script

Scene Three

The BFG enters the cave, puts down his suitcase, removes his cloak, then carefully brings out

the ‘Sophie’ doll. He puts it on the table.

Sophie enters the scene and manipulates the doll like a puppet, while providing Sophie’s voice.

BFG Ha! What has got us here?

He looks carefully at Sophie. At first he should not appear to be very friendly.

Sophie (nervously) Where am I?

BFG This is my cave.

Sophie Why did you snatch me and bring me here?

BFG Because you saw me. If anyone is ever seeing a giant, he or she must

be taken away hipswitch.

Sophie Why?

BFG Human beans is not believing in giants, is they? Human beans is not

thinking giants exist.

Sophie I do.

BFG Ah, but that is because you has seen me. If I hadn’t snitched you, you

would be scuddling around yodelling the news on the telly-telly

bunkum box that you were actually seeing a giant, and then a great

giant-hunt, a mighty giant look-see would be starting up all over

the world, and human beans would be trying to catch me and put

me in the zoo.

Sophie So what’s going to happen to me now?

BFG You will just have to be staying here with me for the rest of your life.

Sophie (gasping) Please don’t eat me!

Story BoardsLearning Objective: To retell the story of Dick Whittington

A storyboard is a way of telling a story through pictures and a few words. Film makers often use storyboards to show the action planned in a film.

1) Choose one of the following scenes from the pantomime of Dick Whittington: - Dick and Alice meeting for the first time at her shop.

- The money going missing and Dick getting the blame.

- Dick hearing the ‘Turn again’ rhyme and returning to London to pursue his dream.

- Queen Rat sinking Alice’s ship by pulling out the giant plug.

- Everyone meeting King of the Fairies on the Canary Island.

- Dick becoming Mayor of London.

-And they all lived happily ever after.

2) What are the main points of the scene?

3) Use the Story Board Template to draw the main points of your scene in the film reel style boxes.

4) Describe what is happening in the space next to each box.

Story Board Template

What’s happening?

What’s happening?

What’s happening?

Teacher Led Tasks - Writing Tasks

Learning Objectives: To write in a variety of styles To imagine alternative versions of the story

Below are a variety of creative writing tasks you can adapt for your class.

Storytelling

TaskDick Whittington is a timeless tale of tale of love, adventure andgood defeating evil.

Write your own story with the moral of “Your destiny is up to you” using the Story Hill tem-plate.

Remember to include:Setting and character descriptionBuild upDilemmaResolution

TaskDick Whittington ends when Dick defeats Queen Rat with help from his friend Tommy the Cat. He is proven innocent of stealing the money, becomes Mayor of London and gets married to Alice Fitzwarren. If you were writing the story what would the ending be? Try writing an alternative ending for Dick Whittington starting from the point when everyone meets the King of the Fairies on the Canary Island.

TaskWe know Dick Whittington’s background but what about the background of Queen Rat? Create a story about how the evil Queen Rat became so mean and nasty.

TaskAdaptations of existing stories are the most common tales we see on stage. Choose your fa-vourite fairytale and turn it into a play. Use the “How to set out a script” sheet to help you.

Scriptwriting and Performance

Task

Using the script layout template ask your pupils to write their own scene with the moral “Your destiny is up to you”. Give them the chance to try acting out their plays in small groups.

Task

Alternatively a short Dick Whittington script can be found at http://tinyurl.com/hkn7nzf

TaskNewspapers tell us facts about events and incidents that have happened recently. Newspapers usually have:

Bold headlines to catch your eye. Pictures to help tell the story. Writing in short paragraphs. Writing in columns. Quotes/comments from eye witnesses.

Use the newspaper outline for the London Express to write a report on Dick’s dream and his search for Alice or Dick saving the day by getting rid of all of the rats with the help of his friend Tommy the Cat. Come up with a headline and draw a picture to go with it.

Alternatively design your own newspaper layout on a computer.

Idle Jack Media Company

London express

Name:

Set and Costume Design WorksheetLearning Objective: To give reasons for choices

Our Panto Set and Costume Designer is Richard Foxton. His job is to design the world that the story takes place in, from the cloths that fly in and out, to the trucks that roll on and off, to the many costumes worn by all the characters. He reads the script and is given a brief by the Director of how the set and costumes should look. Richard then starts to design the

beautiful set and costumes that you see onstage.

1) We associate different meanings with different colours. Fill in the table below with one word that you associate with each colour.

Colour Meaning

Red Danger

Black

White

Yellow

Green

Blue

Orange

Purple

2) Choose one character from Dick Whittington.

3) Write down five words to describe that character.

1. ______________________________________2. ______________________________________3. ______________________________________4. ______________________________________5. ______________________________________

4) Is your character a goodie or a baddie?

“Harrogate panto’s design is a traditional storybook style with plenty of glitter! I feel very pleased when a writer likes how I’ve interpreted their script.”Richard Foxton Designer 2012 - present

London express

5) Pick three colours which have associations / meanings that suit you character.

1. ___________________________________2. ___________________________________3. ___________________________________

6) Use the colours you have chosen to design a costume for your character. It’s important to design the back of the costume as well as the front, otherwise the costume maker won’t know what the back of the costume needs to look like.

Class Design ActivitiesLearning Objectives: To design set and costumes based upon a brief

TaskImagine that you are the pantomime set designer. The director wants you to design the Canary Island where the King of the Fairies lives. You will need to think about the following. • The island needs to look tropical.• There needs to be a throne for the King to sit on.

TaskIn our pantomime there is an under the sea UV scene. Design a fish puppet for this scene, it need to be bright, colourful & eye catching.

You also need to think about how an actor(s) will control your puppet to make it move around.

TaskDesign a dress for Psychic Sarah to wear whilst she is cooking. The director would like the dress to be:• Silly• Colourful

Learning Objectives: To use effective descriptive vocabulary to describe a character and setting

Audio DescriptionAt Harrogate Theatre we offer audio description of the performance for audience members who are visually impaired. This means that visually impaired people can receive descriptions of the set and the costumes through a set a headphones during the performances so they can continue to enjoy the visual aspects of the show.

TaskGet into pairs and decribe your bedroom at home to your partner. Remember to consider colour, texture and shapes. Make sure that you are using clear, simple descriptive language.

Task Blindfold your partner and guide them round an obstacle course by describing the obstacles to them. This could be done in a a variety of environments such as the hall, the school gymor the playground. Make sure you are giving clear and simple decriptions so that your part-ner knows where they are going.

TaskUsing one of the photographs (see overleaf) from previous Harrogate Theatre pantomimes write a short description of the costume. When you have done this read your description to a partner and ask them to draw what you describe. How accurate is their drawing? Can you change your

description to make it clearer?

TaskDick Whittington has lots of different ‘sets’. A set is usually made from painted scenery and shows the location of a scene.

All class members should write a paragraph describing one of the locations used in Dick Whittington imagining that they are the director.

Scenes

• The streets of old London Town• Alice Fitzwarren’s Shop• The ship• King Fairy’s Canary Island

Collect the descriptions in and pass them out to the class. Ask the class to design a set using the paragraph they’ve received. A worksheet can be found on this later in the pack.

Ask the class to find out who got their paragraph and what they came up with. Is it any-thing like they had imagined? How can they improve their writing?

TaskDick Whittington has lots of different ‘sets’. A set is usually made from painted scenery and shows the location of a scene.

All class members should write a paragraph describing one of the locations used in Dick Whittington imagining that they are the director.

Scenes

• The streets of old London Town• Alice Fitzwarren’s Shop• The ship• King Fairy’s Canary Island

Collect the descriptions in and pass them out to the class. Ask the class to design a set using the paragraph they’ve received. A worksheet can be found on this later in the pack.

Ask the class to find out who got their paragraph and what they came up with. Is it any-thing like they had imagined? How can they improve their writing?

 

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ReviewsTheatre critics write reviews of productions they have seen to tell their readers about what’s on and how good it is. Theatres rely on critics coming to see the show (and liking it!) to spread the word and encourage more people to come and see the show.

Here’s some advice from Graham Chalmers, Arts Journalist at the Harrogate Advertiser.

Writing a good review: a guide

The essence of good reviewing is getting the facts correct and putting things in perspective.This involves observing, describing, understanding and honesty. To achieve this you need four things:1. Basic facts. Name of show, where it is, who’s in it, what is it about? When it is on?2. What was your personal opinion of it?3. Background knowledge. Where does the production sit in comparison to previous versions of it or in comparison to other, different productions/events by the same performers?4. How did the audience react to it? If you follow these principles, you should also be able to create a fair review, which is not necessarily the same as a good review.

After you’ve seen Dick Whittington we’d like to read your reviews and get to know what you think of Harrogate’s truly traditional pantomime. If you need character or actor names, or the names of the people who work behind the scenes to make it happen, look on our website www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk. Remember to include a headline to grab the reader’s attention! We’ll publish some of the best written reviews in the theatre for everyone to see. Send them to hte@harrogatetheatre.co.uk or post them to Dick Whittington reviews, Harrogate Theatre, Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF.

“The best way to write a review is imagine that you are telling a friend about the performance you have seen. Read it out loud and see if it sounds like you. It must reflect your opinions and what you think”. Michaela Noonan (Former Head of Press, Harrogate Theatre)

Teacher Led Tasks - Music Workshop Ideas

Learning Objectives: To use music to explore Dick Whittington

Music plays a huge part in creating the spectacle of the pantomime.

Task

Play the class short excerpts of a variety of types of music. Ask the class to close their eyes while listening and try to think of a colour, place and type of person that they associate with that type of music. Discuss ideas with the class after each piece of music.

All choose one of the characters you have thought about in response to one of the pieces of music. Create a short devised performance using those characters. How would they meet? Would they like each other?

Write a short story in response to one of the pieces of music.

Task

Pantomimes always have a big audience sing-a-long. Ask the class to write their own song in small groups to be taught by Idle Jack to the audience. It needs to be short and simple with lots of repetition. To make it easier pupils could write the song to the tune of a well-known nursery rhyme or song.

Task

Pantomimes often parody pop songs. Ask the class to adapt a pop song of their choice into a song about Dick Whittington, or about a character from the show, or to be sung by one character about another. Why not try a duet between Psychic Sarah & Idle Jack?

Task

Each character traditionally has a musical motif that signals their entrance to the audience. In small groups ask the class to create ten second long motifs for Fairy Bow Bells, King of Fairies, Psychic Sarah, Idle Jack, Alice Fitzwarren, Queen Rat and Tommy the Cat.

Task

There are a lot of exciting locations in Dick Whittington. As a class come up with a list of the different locations. Choose one location from the list and each come up with a sound for the location chosen using your voice or your body (clapping, clicking, tapping etc). The teacher can then act as the conductor, asking the class to get louder, or quieter, pausing certain sounds and building them back in later.

Marketing and media tasks

Learning Objectives: To write a press release and design a poster

A press release is a short advert that the theatre’s marketing department send to newspapers, radio and television companies. It tells them about the play and why people should go and see it.

Like a newspaper, a press release usually has a bold headline, short paragraphs and includes lots of reasons why it is such a good play to go and see.

Task

Imagine you are one of the marketing team at Harrogate Theatre. Look at www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk and see what information you can find about Dick Whittington.

Think of 3 reasons why people should go and see Dick Whittington.

1.

2.

3.

What other details might you need to tell the press? (Think about time and dates of the show).

Design a press release on the computer. You need to use two different font sizes and include two pictures.

Task

Design a poster for Dick Whittington to be put up outside the theatre and to be sent to schools and businesses in the area.

The poster must include the following information:

1) The name of the show2) Where it is being performed3) Dates of shows4) Times of shows5) Where to buy tickets6) Names of the writer and director7) Eye-catching picture

Have a look at the poster on the next page to give you an idea of the layout.

To book or for more information contact hte@harrogatetheatre.co.uk

or call 01423 502710 ext 108

Harrogate Theatre enhances learning through creativity.

We offer high quality workshops from just £60.