Week Three - Week Four 2006
Week Three: Circus Skills
Click here... Circus Skills to view the photo gallery
Well what can I say about Circus skills? What an absolutely fantastic workshop. I found this workshop an adventure but also quite challenging. For me this workshop began in a very positive manner as we were asked to find a partner and run through the rope. As I looked around to find someone who was on their own a girl came up to me and said let’s go. As probably the oldest person in this workshop, where most people seem to have lots of friends, this felt great.
I don’t think I’m ever going to successfully juggle but I did find it a valuable activity. Reg explained the technique well especially his relating it to throwing baskets. Using his technique I think it would be possible to get children juggling. Using scarves as the second task was unusual. One of the greatest benefits of this workshop was the way people interacted, working together on tightrope, stilts and unicycle. These activities help us to get to know more members of the group something I feel is going to be very important as time goes by.
Glynis Knyvett
Anyway, three cheers for such a comprehensive website! I love checking back to see whether you've added anything new
Carol Li-an
The Secret of the Snottygobbles: A Fairy Story.
Written and Directed by
Jenny de Reuck
Strange things are happening in the forests around Perth. The banksia candles have dimmed and the Bush Fairies that light them, Pingle, Mallee and Mouse-Ears, are very worried. Could the mischievous Snottygobbles be behind it? Or is there an even darker force responsible for the changes in the forest? As the magic fades and the candles go out, the Bush Fairies and their friends, the Gumnut Elves and Insects, face the fact that they need to take action before it’s too late!
Join Pingle and her friends as they confront the naughty Snottygobbles and fly with them across the sky on their dangerous quest to discover what’s making the magic die. Far away, across the Ocean, go with them to the Court of the King and Queen of the Fairies where they will battle the evil forces of the Goblin Tribe. Help Pingle and her friends to defeat the Evil Ones and to restore magic to the Fairy Kingdom so that once again the banksia candles can light the forests of Western Australia.
This year’s production from Murdoch University is suitable for primary school children in Years 1-5 and, with its focus on the topical issue of bullying, promises to educate as well as entertain young audiences. Children will once again be presented with a colourful set, inventive costumes, appealing characters and lively script and original music, a hallmark of our shows, will enhance the complete theatrical experience.
Performances are in Nexus Theatre daily at 10.00 am and 12.30, Tuesday 6th – Friday 9th June. Running time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.Cost: $4.00 per child (including GST). Book early to avoid disappointment.
Jenny de Reuck
Click here... Mel to view Melissa's Acting CV
Great work
with the website too boss. It's really helpful - you rock my socks!
Chris Donnelly
I'm all excited about this year's children's theatre. Getting
to meet new people is always a good thing and working on a new production is
even better. The title 'The Secret Of The Snotty Gobbles: A Fairy Story' sounds
so whacky, yet I reckon it's gonna be heaps of fun! Just like any other
children's theatre production. As a non-Aussie, it just makes me wanna find out
more about a snotty gobble or what a gumnut is... so I've recently found
out they're mostly flora but the names are just SO cool!
Carol Li-an
Thursday: Charcoaling in Nexus
Today I helped draw the pictures on the back drops. First we had to move one backdrop to another pole quite a tricky operation. Then attach the side drops so they could be supported while we drew. The scenes look absolutely marvellous I can’t wait to see them painted. Lindsay has done a great job. Every body at this work meeting cooperated really well with some people working at ground level and some on step ladders and everyone trying to stay out of the light of the overhead projector. I found that there was a lot more to the back and side drops than just shining the picture on it all had to be sized to fit and also the sides had to line up with the back even though we had moved the projector back and made them larger. There was also a lot of extra work left for Lindsay who had to fill in the spaces and make it all fit together. It shows that there is an awful lot to consider when putting on a production.
Glynis Knyvett
Click here... More Fairies to view Julian's competed drawings
Week Four: Auditions
Monday: Painting in Nexus
What a great afternoon I’ve just had painting backdrops. Just like kids with colouring in, only with house paint and much more important. Lindsay has done a great job choosing the colours and the back drops look fantastic. It was also another opportunity to get to know a few more members of the group. Everyone who was there today worked hard and it was interesting to see a group of people working so well together. This sort of activity can also work well with children to help reinforce their collaborative skills. I actually found this task extremely satisfying and relaxing although it is extremely hard on my back and shoulder muscles. I found it interesting to note that Lindsay organised the painting in a similar manner to kids, doing the brightest things first and the background last. Whereas I would have done the whole canvas the background colour first. I actually asked Lindsay about this. She said is what better to do the features first to ensure they stand out. I bow to obviously much greater knowledge and experience
Glynis Knyvett
Click here... First Draft to view a very early production script
Wednesday: Auditions
Hi, I am Lisa, a mature student (46 YO) with two children studying (second year) BA English and Education (double major, full time, internal and external) at Murdoch. In this unit I am involved in the Ed-pack, researching plants and environment of the WA South-West (Geography, History), language and other aspects of the play. I am also a musician and am currently writing some music for the play.
For the Ed pack I have copied images of the stage props (which I helped paint).
These can appear as colouring-in sheets for the primary children. I have
compiled a language sheet with the names of the plants and animals illustrated
on the props. I have devised word (language) activities concerned with these and
am working on doing the same with other names and words appearing in the play.
How do you, for example, 'correctly' pronounce the fortune-teller's name? Why is
the trapeze artist called Cucurucu? I have made contact with a CALM (WA
Department of Land Management) in Bunbury to find out more about Banksias and
Snottygobbles. The latter, I have been advised, have the (equally interesting)
botanical name of Persoonia. Perhaps this could be built into the play, a sort
of promotion of rank so to speak- once these evil creatures can behave
themselves!
I am also researching Banksia die-back, a fungal disease which is of great
concern to the coastal wilderness areas around the South-West (where I lived for
18 years). The disease sure causes the Banksia lights to 'go out'! I am excited
about these aspects of the play. I loved outlining and painting the stage props;
the auditions looked promising, too. I am looking forwards to get some musicians
together to create a beautiful score.
On the 'theory side' I have read Stanislavski in the reader; according to him an
actor must have very high principles, a bit like a priest really I think! Today
being involved in a scandal is probably considered good publicity. In week 3 I
read (in memoriam) Nellie McCaslin, her ideas about children's theatre are very
practical and obviously based on much experience. As I will be writing my essay
about ethical concerns in children�s theatre, I am interested in her
perspective. She is concerned that children who act may loose their spontaneity
and that the focus may be too much on pleasing the audience (see the latest film
on Mozart). This is also why she advises against charging money to see a play
produced by children. Great point!
Julian Hilton ('Performance') writes beautifully about the philosophical aspects
of performance 'for example the notion of 'relativisation' (p.30) where theatre
explores meaning and plays with double meaning, underlying notions. This often
serves to extend the dimensions of time and space. Have fun!
Lisa Bucher
I actually found week 4 to be the most difficult so far. I have really enjoyed the unit, but this week seemed very messy and I also found a little bit left out of the loop, painting in the Nexus while all the 'action' of the auditions was happening. (Bit of a Cinderella Complex happening). Not that I don't enjoy the painting - they are coming along really great and I can imagine by the time they are re-charcoaled and fixed they will look outstanding. Researching fairy tales and goblins for the Ed pack is proving more difficult than first thought, might have to knock out a tooth or something and see if I can't get some inside information. Thanks for all your work with the website, it really is very helpful in keeping everyone up to date with the latest developments. Regards.
Selina Marciano
View other 2006 'Notice Board' entries... Week One - Week Two Week Three - Week Four
Study Break One - Week Five Week Six - Week Seven Study Break Two - Week Eight
Week Nine - Week Ten Week Eleven - Week Twelve Week Thirteen Week Fourteen
...or view other 'Snottygobble' production extras... Julian's Drawings One Julian's Drawings Two
Circus Skills Photo Gallery Mel's Acting CV Geoff Glencross Theatre History
First Draft Second Draft Final Script - Act One Final Script - Act Two
Samantha's Costume One Samantha's Costume Two Paul's Unbanned Suicide Run Costume Fitting
Dance Workshop Darren's Character Profile First Dress Rehearsal One First Dress Rehearsal Two
First Dress Rehearsal Three First Dress Rehearsal Four Jamie at the Final Dress Rehearsal
Final Dress Rehearsal One Final Dress Rehearsal Two Final Dress Rehearsal Three
Final Dress Rehearsal Four Pre-show Make-up Wrap-up
...or view other Notice Board entries... 2005 Children's Theatre Notice Board
Go to Children's Theatre: My Journal History Notice Board Your Work
Contact Andrew @ thechaseison@optusnet.com.au
This page last updated: 30th June 2006