South Deep to Blood Alley-

Brownsea Unlocked.

An exciting invitation to young people across Dorset Bournemouth and Poole……

Have you been to Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, have you heard of it? Would you like to take part in the creation and/or performance of a professional, unique and original outdoor show both on and about the island?

In April and May 2012 we (the Unlocked Partnership) are going to create a fantastic outdoor show created for and inspired by the long history, eccentric characters and secret life of Brownsea Island-

Expect squirrels, comedy, music, more squirrels and the island as it has never been explored before.

The show will be an enjoyable experience for all ages, a 3-hour round trip that begins the moment you board the ferry at Poole Quay. Dates of the performance are Friday 4th, Saturday 5th, Sunday 6th and Monday 7th May 2012 with a rehearsal period in the month running up to those dates.

We are looking for young people in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole who would like to join in various aspects of the process - you don’t need previous experience, but you do need an interest, commitment, want to have a go at something new and to be 16 years old or over. There are various ways you can get involved:

The Film Crew:

A team of 10 young people to work with Artistic Director Stephanie Jalland and filmmaker Mark Bishop.

Put together a simple storyboard from research material given. Film on location on Brownsea Island and edit short digital film in studio which will be shown during the performance.

Film crew will experience how to create a storyboard that maps out the ideas for the film as a team, perform for film, use of cameras and editing software.

It all happens on the weekends of 25th /26th Feb and 3rd/4th March- so you need to be available for those dates. You can catch the yellow ferry from Sandbanks at 10am on each day (it’ll be free for you). More details when you sign up.

Sound Crew:

A team of 5 young people to work with Artistic Director Stephanie Jalland and sound artist Jules Bushell.

Collect sound effects on location on Brownsea Island. Edit sound effects on laptop, combined with music given to create a soundtrack to be used during the performance.

Sound crew will experience how to digitally record sound working together as a team, how to edit and layer sound using software.

All happens weekends of 25th /26th Feb and 3rd/4th March- so you need to be available for those dates. You can catch the yellow ferry from Sandbanks at 10am on each day (it’ll be free for you). More details when you sign up.

Performance Crew

A team of young performers to work alongside a professional cast. This is not about being a star but being part of a team. You do not need to be a great actor or dancer or singer already, but you do need to be ready to work at it. You will need to be available for rehearsals and the shows. There are many performance roles. The audience will be taken on a short journey and along the way will encounter different scenes, images…you could be a Viking, a scout, a monk, a daffodil picker …

All performers will work with Artistic Director Stephanie Jalland at first and will then join the professional cast for the performances.

Performers will gain an insight into and experience of creating an original outdoor and site-specific performance. That means it is a show about this particular place, Brownsea Island, and will be performed there too rather than in a theatre. This show needs big visual images rather than lots of words. Imagine Vikings on a hill, peacocks dancing on a beach, human size squirrels lurking in the trees….we need you to make this happen.

You need to be available for rehearsals and shows 3rd May-7th May- and there will be a rehearsal programme starting in February- a combination of evenings and a weekend- mostly on the island- we will work out exact dates with the group once we know who you are. There will be an introductory session at the Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts to meet everyone and work out all the details - this will take place on Friday 6th January at 6.30pm-8.30pm. If you can’t make this don’t worry, get in touch with us.

Choir

Singers needed (who may also be in the performance group above) to form a choir and work with a professional conductor/ choir leader. The songs may be original and created for the show or may already exist.

The choir will sing as part of each performance, so you need to be able to commit to rehearsals and every performance.

There will be an introductory session at the Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts to meet everyone and work out all the details - this will on Friday 6th January at 6.30pm-8.30pm. If you can’t make this don’t worry, get in touch with us in advance.

Band

Musicians needed to form a band (who may also be performers). Brownsea Island had its own estate band at times made up of people who worked and lived on the island. Musicians will work with a professional conductor and alongside professional performers. Many professional actors also sing and or play a musical instrument, and in this show that helps.

The band will play during each performance so you need to be able to commit to rehearsals and performances.

There will be an introductory session at the Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts to meet everyone and work out all the details - this will on Friday 6th January at 6.30pm-8.30pm. If you can’t make this don’t worry, get in touch with us in advance.

Stage Management Crew

There are so many people behind the scenes of any production and if you are interested in learning more then we need you. Stage management crew will work under the guidance of a professional production manager.

Stewards to guide the audience on their journey through the show – keeping them safe and moving them on as and when they need to.

Costume and prop management - making sure all costumes and props are looked after and are in the right place at the right time.

Sound and technical equipment – setting up, maintaining, looking after any technical equipment used during the performances. Including health and safety checks of cabling and hazard trip points.

Catering – there may be refreshments served as part of the performance. Would you like to help prepare and serve refreshments?

Creative work will take place on Brownsea Island as much as possible.

And if a job hasn’t been identified but you still want to be involved and may even have an idea as to how then get in touch. Don’t worry at this stage about where things will be based- get in touch with us, let us know what you are interested in, which group or role you’d like to join in with and where you live and we’ll take it from there.

And this is how you sign up…..

Contact Artistic Director Stephanie Jalland : info@hoodwinktheatre.co.uk m: 07816 419095

This project is delivered by the Unlocked partnership and supported by Arts Council England.

Venue:
Poole Quay / Brownsea Island

Locality: South West

Contact Details

Kate Wood, kate [at] activateperformingarts.org.uk | 01305 268752