Creationthe newsletter for friends and fans of Creation | www.creationtheatre.co.uk

2 3 4Focus on Friends

The Training Effect

The Scottish Play

news

SPRING 2014

narnia during noëlDear Friends,

We hope that you’ve all discovered a new-found fondness for (faux) fur coats, but not spent all Christmas grappling around in the back of your wardrobes in search of a magic door to a new world... unless of course you’ve returned having visited a Narnia where, thanks to Aslan and the Pevensies, the seasons do change! You know what Aslan says, “Once a King or Queen in Narnia, always a King or Queen i n Narnia!”

An enormous thanks to all of you, and your

friends, who came along to see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. We very much hope that you enjoyed being transported back in time to 1940, and found paws (sorry, couldn’t resist) for thought on CS Lewis’ classic, timeless journey of discovery and self-reflection. We felt that it was a particularly apt doff of the cap to the great author’s enduring

oeuvre on the 50th anniversary of his death. We certainly enjoyed the process of working with such a talented cast and crew to add contemporary sparkle to this timeless text for our audiences.

We are thrilled to announce that your contributions helped raise an incredibly impressive £850 in prop sponsorship - we hope you enjoyed prop spotting!

As you’re hopefully aware, we created a specially adapted version of the production for a Relaxed Performance on the 2 January. It was a bit of a punt, as we’d not created a Relaxed Performance before, but we were so keen to see if we could reach audience groups that aren’t ordinarily able to enjoy trips to the theatre... and it was that performance on the 2 January that really made our Christmas. Seeing little faces light up as scenes changed, the story unfolded, and new characters were introduced really highlighted just how special live

theatre really is - something that we sometimes take for granted as we’re fortunate enough to be surrounded by it.

We couldn’t have created the Relaxed Performance without the kind support of our sponsor, Millets Farm Centre, and also input from OYAP Trust (Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership Trust) and Children in Touch (supporting autistic children and their families). Find out more about OYAP Trust and Children In Touch in our Focus on Friends section.

In short, we’d all like to take this opportunity to thank you

once again for your support over what has been a very warm winter period. Onwards and upwards!

2 Creation news | SPRING 2014

Children in touch is a local charity which aims to support the therapeutic education, development, and wellbeing of children and young adults on the autism spectrum in Oxfordshire.The organisation’s pioneering work in the ’70s became a model for the 1978 Warnock report on the integration of children with various difficulties into mainstream school. The county service, which embraces the needs of autistic children and their families, now has nine bases around Oxfordshire. Other counties around the UK have copied this

model with modifications to fit their local needs.

Whilst preparing for the Relaxed Performance Lucy met with Children in Touch’s Project Manager, Gita Lobo. Gita’s work involves strategic development, partnership working, and local and national consultation and strategy. She is also a member of the Oxfordshire Autism Partnership Board, and provided us with some invaluable advice and guidance that helped shape the way we approached our Relaxed Performance.www.childrenintouch.org.uk

oYaP trust works in partnership with artists and creative practitioners across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley to enable young people to enjoy and participate in arts activities.

Excited to hear about Creation’s aspiration to coordinate a Relaxed Performance, OYAP’s inspirational Director, Helen Le Brocq, kindly offered her ear and experience - input that was very gratefully received. Helen trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and at London University, and for many years pursued a career as a theatre director, specialising in youth and community theatre. Since starting life with OYAP Trust in 1998, Helen has seen her role change and grow. She has become an experienced arts consultant and trainer, and is currently Chair of the South East Regional Advisory Panel for the English Youth Arts Network (ENYAN). www.oyap.org.uk

the new us... We thought that it was time that everyone at Creation HQ had mugshots taken, so we enlisted the help of the fabulous Oxford-based freelance photographer Giulia Biasibetti.

Italian born Giulia moved to Oxford in 2007 to work for Oxfam.

Photography has played an intrinsic role thoughout Giulia’s career in press and media; as

the old adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. So having honed her skills writing and responding to briefs, Giulia has set up shop solo, and set to snapping us as one of her very first freelance jobs... here are some of the photos and there are more on our website!

Do drop Giulia a line on giulia.b@inwind.it if you have any photographic or press-related needs - she’s very good, and very lovely, and makes her subjects smile, and feel at ease - look!

focus on friends...

A View from the Box Office... Jo Burton recently returned to her home town of oxford after graduating with a Ba in drama from Goldsmiths College, University of london. Keen to get a taste of life in the arts industry, Jo joined our team temporarily from october to January. we asked her to write a few lines about her time working with us...

“Sometimes chaotic, always fun! Having interned and worked with Creation for the last few months I have witnessed the excitement, delight and stresses that grow as a show begins to take off.

Working in the box office, mostly with my ear glued to the phone, I have seen the day to day bustle of the cosy office. The stereotypical image of a stuffy office where everyone wears suits and you email the person sitting next to you rather than actually (shudder) talk to them, is not supported by the warm and magical atmosphere at Creation HQ, where there is rarely a quiet - and never a dull - moment.

In allowing me to continue my marketing internship alongside assisting with the Box Office sales, Creation has exposed me to the diversity of life working in the arts industry. Consequently, any preconceived ideas that I had of people sticking solely to their job title have been shattered – and I’ve

been pleasantly surprised by this fact.

The variety in my day is so vast, and my daily tasks jump from writing an e-flyer to social networking to assisting the education team.

I get the impression that being exposed to the dedicated, ‘hands-on’ approach taken by everyone at Creation as they approach each day and every task ahead will prove an invaluable lesson for me so early in my career. The team as a whole, and as individuals, make quite an impression and Creation’s ethos is something I intend to take forward with me as I develop my career in the arts.”

3Creation news | SPRING 2014

the training effectCreation has secured a one year contract with the training effectThis contract will see our Education Team work with The Training Effect to provide Drugs and Alcohol Awareness Training with Year 8 and Year 9 students (aged 12 – 14) through drama workshop sessions in up to 200 schools across Oxfordshire. The Training Effect is an established provider to the public sector, that designs, develops and delivers training, health intervention programmes and services that save money, improve outcomes and support frontline service delivery. The Training Effect are experts in substance misuse, families with complex needs, risk-taking behaviour, emotional and mental health.

drama Clubbers Our Education Team currently coordinate regular courses for over 160 Drama Clubbers in 15 different clubs, across Oxford and Abingdon.

Drama Clubbers are young people aged 5 to 16 who work with our professional actors and leaders to build confidence, make friends and put on shows. In October 2013 we invited all of our Drama Clubbers to audition for parts in the Children’s Chorus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Over 35 young people auditioned for 12 places, and the decision-making process was incredibly tough. The Education Team were proud of, and the Director was wowed by, the level of talent and the professional approach employed by these young people - great talent and great attitude destined for great things! **a huge round of applause please!**

4 Creation news | SPRING 2014

“Out, damned spot!”

OXFORD SHAKESPEARE ENSEMBLE trading as CREATION THEATRE COMPANY (a not for profit organisation limited by guarantee) Co Reg No: 06135973 | Reg Charity No: 1119379

That’s right, we’re bringing the most theatrically spectacular of Shakespeare’s tragedies to the sylvan setting of Lady Margaret Hall this summer.

Power, ambition, jealousy and an ambulating wood - surely the perfect ingredients for a spot of open air entertainment? Topped of course with a sprinkling of Creation magic and gracing the lawns of LMH from August to mid-September.

Lady Margaret Hall is an imposing University of Oxford college set in landscaped gardens next to The University Parks, off Norham Gardens, between Oxford city centre and Summertown (pop the postcode in GoogleMaps and take a look for yourselves - OX2 6QA - it will make a truly stunning setting)!

Whilst we’re hoping that we’ll be able to enjoy true summer-style Creation theatre en plein air, make the most of this venue, and relish in Shakespeare in the sunshine, the reassuring news is that LMH does have indoor options, which we will be using as our wet weather back-up.

But let’s think positive and get practising our sunshine dance in the hope that we’ll be able to make the most of the picnic hamper rumours that abound at Creation HQ at the moment!

As our financial position grows increasingly stable, so does our ability to produce larger-scale productions. Expect a mighty Creation cast for Macbeth - this is going to be one of those Creation shows that you will never forget!

In other most marvellous news, we’re pleased to announce that this production of Macbeth will be sponsored by the oxford world’s Classics arm of Oxford University Press, and once again our programme will come in the shape of a paper-back book, so you can take the play home with you, and re-enact scenes in your own garden, or the park if you’re feeling brave!

“o, full of scorpions is my mind!” sChool GroUP BooKinGs We thought you’d be keen to learn that Macbeth is on several school syllabuses this year, and we’ve started taking school group bookings. Let any teacher friends know to call Anaïs on 01865 766 266 to secure some scholarly seats.

PlaY in a daY

Our wonderful Education Team have perfected the art of delivering bespoke workshops generating a classic Play In A Day.

The team, working on a ratio of 30 participants to 1 workshop leader (maximum), make visits to schools, offices, community groups and the like recreating a text of your choice, over the course of a day.

The workshop leaders work with participants in an enjoyable and educational way that is accessible for all, and enables participants to work to their strengths, develop new skills, increase confidence, and reinforce the importance of teamwork.

Why not book our Education Team to deliver Macbeth in a Day for you, then come and see the production in all its glory at LMH? Contact Katie or Josh on education@creationtheatre.co.uk or 01865 761 393 to make an enquiry.