School theatre open call
Imaginate & NTS want existing production for children
Theatre in Schools Scotland has issued an open call for an existing work aimed at children and young people to tour to schools in autumn 2018.
It has also announced four shows which are available for primary schools to book now, for touring to their school in the autumn 2017 and spring 2018, while a new website providing production and school booking information alongside resources for teachers has been launched to support the project.
Children from Tillicoultry Primary meet actors at the launch of Theatre in Schools Scotland new programme. Pic: Julie Howden
Deadline for the open call for existing work is August 2017. It is open to works suitable to tour into primary schools in Scotland that have been created by a Scotland-based artist or company.
Theatre in Schools Scotland has just completed the first of three pilot years as an organisation. It is run by Imaginate with the National Theatre of Scotland, in partnership with leading performing arts companies/organisations for children and young people: Edinburgh-based Catherine Wheels, Visible Fictions and Starcatchers.
TiSS is endeavouring to create and test a touring and producing model that could ultimately bring one piece of high quality theatre to every schoolchild in Scotland, each year.
In 2016/17, TiSS toured Catherine Wheels’ Martha and Visible Fictions’ Shopping for Shoes to 60 primary schools across 26 local authorities, with an audience of just over 10,000.
Rolling programme
In 2017/18 it is introducing a year-long rolling programme of touring shows for Scottish primary schools.
Still available to take school bookings are Up to Speed, created by Rosalind Sydney, staged in association with Catherine Wheels Theatre Company for pupils from P3 – P5 and Visible Fictions’ Jason and the Argonauts for P6 and P7 pupils. Performances will run August 28 to 3 November 2017.
Bookings for Catherine Wheels’ CATS-nominated production of The Story of The Little Gentleman, aimed at classes from P1 – P4, have already sold out.
Bookings are also open for How to Fix a Broken Wing, a new play from Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, created by Pete Collins, which will tour from February 5 to March 30 2018.
This year’s tour is supported financially by The Scottish Salmon Company. It is cross funded by the Scottish Government funded National Theatre of Scotland, Creative Scotland funded theatre organisations, touring networks, local authorities and individual schools.
Listings and links
Open Call for Schools Touring
Details of criteria and how to apply are on the TiSS Website: http://www.theatreinschoolsscotland.com/open-call.html
Resources for Teachers
http://www.theatreinschoolsscotland.com/index.html#resources
Touring August 28 to 3 November 2017:
Up to Speed
Created by Rosalind Sydney with Laurie Brown.
A funny, moving captivating tale about a boy and a girl, Barnaby and Jade, and what it’s like to be the odd one out. Have you ever met a person who is a little unusual? Someone whose mind seems to work a bit differently? Who surprises you? Who is funny and also fun to laugh at? That’s what Barnaby is like. Jade has marvelled and laughed at him, been surprised and confused by him. But he has also made her feel small. And she knows exactly how to get him back…
Jason and the Argonauts
Written by Robert Forrest.
Visible Fictions present a quirky, funny and exciting tale which takes the audience on a fantastic journey. Jason’s uncle isn’t exactly lovable…he’s murdered his brother (the king) and stolen the crown and now no one dares stand up to him. Things are about to get a major shakeup though because Jason is BACK! After being banished as a baby, our wannabe hero returns to claim his rightful throne and make some big changes.
The Story of the Little Gentleman
Based on the book by Babro Lindgren.
Catherine Wheels present aAn energetic two-hander and a playful celebration of friendship and acceptance. The Little Gentleman thinks he will live a sad and lonely life forever…until one day he is woken up by a curious dog who just wants to play.
Touring February 5 to March 30 2018:
How to Fix a Broken Wing.
Created by Pete Collins and inspired by a Japanese folk tale.
This new Catherine Wheels show for schools tells the story of a crane bird with an arrow through its wing, a lonely engineer with a fear of flying and a lost girl who gives an extraordinary gift when she becomes a guest in the engineer’s home.
ENDS
