Romeo, Juliet ... and 800 school students
Close to 800 primary and high school students from across the Darling Downs will have access to some of the best theatre tutors in the state, when the Shakespeare in the Park Festival School Workshops return to Queens Park this month (February 2008).
Now in their third year, the popular, educational and practical Workshops are tailored for high school, upper primary and lower primary students.
University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Theatre Lecturer and School Workshop Organiser, Dr Janet McDonald said this year's event will build on the success of previous years.
'The response to previous days has been awesome and we have enjoyed a steady growth,' Dr McDonald said.
'This year we have lots of back-up plans and we are returning to a lot of our tutors who have worked with us over the past few years.
'There are always text based tutors and this year we have responded to an increased demand for physical workshops, like stage combat, Zen Zen Zo, Frank Theatre and clowning.
'All the physical workshops also look at text and bringing the text to life using the physical body.'
The primary schools workshops have also been improved and tailored for the specific age groups (years 1-3 and years 4-7).
'We have engaged five local theatre professionals who work with children, including Janet Caitens, Rhonda Crawford, Damian Kamholtz, Allana Noyes and Janice Jones, in a bid to promote community theatre.
'This year we are also showing these students an appropriate scene from the show and the workshops will focus on relationships and friendships through age appropriate metaphors.'
As in previous years, the School Workshops Days are supported by USQ Theatre students.
'The students who work on the workshop days do it because they love it, they do it because they believe in it and they do it so they have the opportunity to work with industry professionals and gain experience,' Dr McDonald said.
'Everyone always comments on how great our students are and what good ambassadors they are.'
The cost of the workshops has also been kept to a minimum.
'The high school students will participate in two workshops by Brisbane-based theatre professionals, enjoy dinner and then attend the show for $25.'
The primary school workshops cost $10 per student.
Secondary School Workshops
Date: Tues 26 February 2008*
Time: 3.30pm
Venue: Queens Park, Cnr Margaret and Lindsay Streets, Toowoomba
*In the event of wet weather the day will be postponed to Tues 4 March 2008
Primary School Workshops
Date: Wed 27 February 2008
Time: 9.30am-10.30am (Lower) and 11.30am-1.00pm (Upper)
Venue: Queens Park, Cnr Margaret and Lindsay Streets, Toowoomba
Please contact the USQ Box Office on +61 7 4631 1111 for School Workshop day bookings. More information is available www.usq.edu.au/shakespeare.
Romeo and Juliet will open in Toowoomba on Thursday 28 February 2008 and runs until Saturday 8 March. Tickets can be purchased from the Empire Theatre Box Office by phoning 1300 655 299 or online www.empiretheatre.com.au. Tickets can also be purchased on-site in Queens Park at the Festival Box Office which opens one hour prior to each performance.
The USQ Shakespeare in the Park Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of its 2008 sponsors: Toowoomba Chronicle, WIN Television, Symphony Hill Wines, Toowoomba City Council, Hervey Bay City Council, the Fraser Coast Chronicle, Queensland Events, the Queensland Times, Dornbusch Partners, Channel 7 - Queensland, Ipswich City Council, Bell Dixon Butler Lawyers, Education City, Civil Mining & Construction Pty Ltd, Cardno, La Mer Luxury Apartments, USQ Faculty of Education and the Myer Foundation.
Media Contact: Amy Cass, USQ Media +61 7 4631 2092