Whitby Hall, Stanney Lane,

Ellesmere Port,

Cheshire, CH65 9AE

0151 357 2120

info@actiontransporttheatre.org

Schools

Programme

2013/2014

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Introducing Action Transport Theatre

Welcome to Action Transport Theatre’s Creative Learning Programme for Schools.

Whether you and your school have previously worked with Action Transport Theatre or whether this is an

introduction to us, we offer high-quality theatre-based learning opportunities and access to the best theatre

performances either in school or at our theatre.

Why work with us?

We have over 25 years of providing high quality theatre for children and young

people

We offer access to productions, workshops & residencies all tailor-

made to you

We have extensive skills and experience in developing literacy, communication,

social and personal skills through encouragement of creative growth.

We support teachers in using theatre as a stimulus for learning across the

curriculum

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Our Track Record

“From a staff point of view, the most valuable thing

was the opportunity for the pupils to experience

something that they would never consider going to.

Both staff and students thoroughly enjoyed the

operetta. It challenged, intrigued and entertained all.

Thank you and can we come again?!”

Whitby High School, Ellesmere Port, ‘My Mother Told

Me Not to Stare’ Summer 2012

.

Schools we work with:

We have recently worked with the following schools -

Acorns Primary, Parklands Primary, Childer Thornton

Primary, Cambridge Road Primary, St Mary of the Angels

Primary, Woodlands Primary, The Oaks Primary School,

Whitby High School, Ellesmere Port Catholic High School,

Congleton High School, West Cheshire College, West Hill

High School, Woodchurch High School, Ridgeway High

School, Greater Grace School and Mosslands School.

Working in partnership with

Boost ‘Boost Education Partnership has worked with Action Transport for the past

decade on a successful range of performing arts projects. These have including live

theatre, both inter-generational and young people led through a three year Family

Learning Programme. With a unique approach to Science, Technology,

Engineering, Maths (STEM) Action Transport offer academic development through

drama. Action Transport make opportunities for young people to experience and

enjoy new activities like opera created specifically for children plus a range of

tailor made Inspiration themed days for individual schools. Pupils enjoy visiting

the little theatre in the park as well as hosting the ATT team to work alongside

staff and pupils in a school setting’

Sharon Vernon, Business Manager at Boost - Ellesmere Port Education

Partnership.

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On Offer Autumn 2013 – Spring 2014

Performance Key Themes Scheduled Tours Target Audience

STATIk Literacy skills, physical story telling & individuality

7th Oct-15th Nov 2013

Key Stage 1&2/Age 5+

12 Miles from Nowhere Scripted drama 25th Sept–15th Nov2013

Key Stage 3&4/Age13+

Pied Piper Traditional Fairy Tales 14th-17th January 2014

Key Stage 1&2/Age 5+

Flesh Teenage pregnancy February 2014 Key Stage 3&4/Age 13+

Bully Writing and Drama Workshops

Bullying

Tailor Made to your school

April 2014 Key Stage2&3/Age 8+

Performance Cost

STATIk £450 for show & workshop in school

OR

£5 per ticket for performance at Whitby Hall Studio Theatre

12 Miles from Nowhere £450 for show & workshop in school

OR

£5 per ticket for performance at Whitby Hall Studio Theatre

Pied Piper £5 per ticket for performance at Whitby Hall Studio Theatre

Including FREE teachers resource pack, posters and stickers & Q&A sessions

Workshops from £3.50 per person

Flesh £5 per ticket for performance at Whitby Hall Studio Theatre, including pre

and post workshops

Bully £450 for show & workshop in school including Q&A sessions, peer led

workshops and in school writing project.

Writing and Drama Workshops £150 per workshop – tailored to your needs.

“The workshop was so valuable educationally and led to more cross curricular work, especially

PSHCE” Woodfall Primary School, Ellesmere Port

Negotiable Key Stage 1 - 5

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STATIk

7th October – 15th November 2013

£450 show & workshop in school

£5 per ticket for show at theatre

It’s Mikey’s first day at work with the signal-fixing team, preparing

radios and tuning them in, but when a rogue signal, the voice of a

child, is mysteriously picked up, it begins to bring about the hilarious

destruction of the factory regime.

Orwell’s 1984 meets Laurel and Hardy in this brilliant, energetic,

funny, word-less and highly entertaining theatre show about the

chaos caused when one person can’t or won’t fit in.

“Playfulness, wisdom.... a show of real quality” John Hegley

Created using the voices and recordings of hundreds of children in primary schools across Cheshire, ATT is proud to promote this work made with the ideas and recorded voices of local school children. “Our expectations were exceeded through the interactive workshop

after the performance. The most valuable part was the social

experience for those who have never seen a live professional

performance. The whole experience was fantastic!”

Audlem St. James Primary School, ‘From the Mouths of Babes’

workshop Autumn 2012

Curriculum Links

-Develop literacy skills by

harnessing motivation &

inspiration through writing

activities, group work &

reading aloud.

-PSHCE & Citizenship –

importance of individuality,

acceptance and tolerance,

social cohesion and self

expression.

-Physical Education - using

bodies, simple choreography,

physical group work.

“Very enjoyable, a new experience for many. The most valuable part

of the experience was the opportunity to broaden their experiences

and how the children were actively involved”

Neston Primary School, ‘From the Mouths of Babes’ workshop

Autumn 2012

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12 Miles from Nowhere In partnership with KSProductions and Cheshire

Rural Touring Arts

25th September – 16th November

2013

Cost: £450 show & workshop in

school

£5 per ticket for show at theatre

£5 per ticket for show at theatre

‘my dad had this farm, passed down from his dad and it’ll stay in this family.

No way they’re getting their greasy hands on it.’

Since Michael and Emily’s mother left, time has stood still. Their father James is struggling and can’t see a way forward. The farm is in a bad way and going under… Then Craig arrives with enough charisma and ambition to charm the birds from the trees. But is he really the answer to their dreams? Set on a remote northern farm, Twelve Miles from Nowhere is a moving and compelling account of what happens when a vulnerable, isolated family let an engaging young stranger into their lives.

Merging the dreams and aspirations found in Steinbeck’s Of

Mice and Men with the northern edge and humour of Barry

Hines’ Kes, this stunning new play about life on the edge is

set against an unexpectedly gritty rural backdrop.

Curriculum

Links

-PSHEE including personal

wellbeing, risk management,

decision making, self reliance,

relationships, empathy, respect,

gender roles and family.

-SEAL – self awareness, managing

feelings, motivation and social

skills.

-English including reading (the

author’s craft), writing

(composition & technical

accuracy) and cultural & critical

understanding.

-Citizenship including rights and

responsibilities and duties &

freedom.

What the audience said:

‘brilliant, moving and accomplished’

‘...keeps you on the edge of your seat’

‘...like a novel you just don’t want to put down’

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Macbeth Produced by Troop & Conor McKee Productions

Directed by Wyllie Longmore

Thursday 21st November 2013

£5 per ticket for show at theatre Workshops Available

Understanding Macbeth

Text Analysis

A Focus on Act V

Music and Composition

Shakespearian Voice Coaching

Beginning/ Intermediate/Advanced Stage Combat

Curriculum

Links

- English including exploring set text, reading (the author’s craft), writing (composition & technical accuracy) and cultural & critical understanding.

- Music & composition

- Physical group work – stage combat.

A one-act performance of Shakespeare’s classic with stage combat and live music. One of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, Macbeth follows the story of Scottish general Macbeth convinced by three witches that he will become king. With a strong focus on the journeys of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, this is a powerful and classic story of tragedy, betrayal and murder, given a modern twist by Troop. Troop produce fast-paced physical adaptations of classic texts, with martial arts underpinning strong acting performances from the talented ensemble. At less than 90 minutes long, Troop's Macbeth is visually striking, engaging, clear and true to Shakespeare's text.

“Macbeth is Shakespeare’s fastest and most thrilling play, designed

to be played in one sitting. It therefore fits this dynamic style of

presentation. The story drives forward all the time in a relentlessly

gripping manner.”

- Director Wyllie Longmore

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“The show was a great catalyst for planning across the curriculum.

It really enhanced our autumn term, magical!”

Ali Harwood, Deputy Head and year six teacher at Sandbrook

Primary School.

Curriculum

Links

-Literacy, reading and

creative writing; special

literacy focused

workshops looking at

traditional fairytales.

-PSHCE

-Citizenship

-English

-Art and Design

-Maths

The Pied Piper In partnership with The Unity Theatre, Liverpool

Tuesday 14th January 1.30pm

Wednesday 15th January 10.30am & 1.30pm

Thursday 16th January 1.30pm

Friday 17th January 10.30am & 1.30pm

£5 per ticket for show at theatre Workshops from £3.50 per pupil

Added Extras FREE Q&A sessions

FREE Teachers Resource Pack

Once upon a time, in a town with no cats, arrived a swarm of

ravenous rats.

They ate up all the chocolate, they ate up the pie, they ate up so

much the mayor started to cry!

Laugh until your belly hurts, boo the baddies and cheer the

goodies in this new adaptation of a classic tale. Action Transport

brings the Unity Theatre Liverpool Christmas show to Whitby Hall

for ONE WEEK only - with an exclusive offer for local schools in

Ellesmere Port! Don't miss this opportunity to experience the

magic and delight of a spectacular Christmas show on your

doorstep.

A festive treat and the perfect opportunity to plan your term’s

work around themes linking to PSHE, citizenship, English, art and

design, maths and more at both KS1 and KS2.

Inspire, invigorate and introduce your pupils to the arts.

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Flesh By Sarah McDonald Hughes Produced by Monkeywood Theatre in association with the Royal Exchange Studio

5th February 2014

£5 per ticket for show at theatre

“It was New Years and I was all ready to go and get lashed. I don’t know why I did the test then but I did. I couldn’t wait. And there was just one line so I chucked it but then Dylan looked at it again, he had to get it out the bin, and there was two lines. Two lines means you’re pregnant.” Shannon and Dylan are 16. They’re in love. And they’re having a baby. In summer 2012, Monkeywood spent hundreds of hours

with young parents from across Manchester, gathering

their true stories, opinions and insights. The stories they

told were surprising, moving and heartstoppingly honest.

FLESH is a brand new play based on these stories which

follows three young people as they become parents for the

first time.

Pre and post show events and discussions will be available

to book connected to this play.

“Monkeywood and McDonald Hughes are a potent

combination and I hope they’ll be around for a long, long

time to come. Outstanding and uncompromising – you

simply mustn’t miss this.” Messenger Newspapers

Curriculum

Links

-PSHEE including personal

wellbeing, risk management,

decision making, self reliance and

relationships.

-SEAL – self awareness and

managing feelings.

-English including reading (the

author’s craft), writing

(composition & technical

accuracy) and cultural & critical

understanding.

-Citizenship including rights and

responsibilities and duties &

freedom.

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Bully In partnership with West Cheshire College and

Steppingstone Theatre, USA

April 2014

£450 show & workshop in school

Added Extras

FREE Peer led post show discussions

Accessible workshop activity for key stage 2 and 3

learners.

A writing project using the performance as a

springboard.

Written by 12 young people - 6 from the UK, 6 from the USA “9/10 people will experience some form of bullying in their life

time. NSPCC source. Anti-Bullying Week 2011

BULLY is a new play for Key Stage 2&3 that explores bullying in an uncompromising and meaningful way. From young people’s views, Bully explores how it feels to be persecuted and isolated and asks pupils what can they can do to change this. This peer led show will be performed by young people studying Performing Arts at West Cheshire College. It will support further education aspirations as well as confronting the issue of bullying - head on. Particularly useful for pupils about to make the transition from primary to secondary school, Bully aims to inspire and instill a sense of confidence in pupil’s ability to take positive action against bullying.

Curriculum

Links

-PSHCE & Citizenship -

develop empathy &

respect, build confidence,

importance of

individuality, acceptance

and tolerance,

responsibility,

communication skills and

co-operation.

-Develop literacy skills by

harnessing motivation &

inspiration through

writing activities, group

work & reading aloud.

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For further information and to book please contact

Jessica Egan, Project Manager at

jess@actiontransporttheatre.org or

0151 357 2120

“We were very impressed...the leaders that took the

workshop were great! The team work that was involved

was so valuable”

Childer Thornton Primary School, Ellesmere Port

“The workshop was so valuable educationally and led to

more cross curricular work, especially PSHCE”

Woodfall Primary School, Ellesmere Port

“I enjoyed seeing the development of our pupil’s

imagination and stories through drama. All children,

regardless of SEN, fully participated”.

Victoria Road Primary School, Runcorn

“Thank you so much for the fabulous morning we spent with you sharing your workshop. The quality of both your delivery and interaction with our children meant that they were completely absorbed throughout the morning. The

music and language they experienced inspired such wonderful responses”

Westminster Primary School, Ellesmere Port

“High quality Drama and

Theatre Experiences should

be made a curriculum and

cultural entitlement for

every young person”

Drama, Theatre and Young

People – A Manifesto.

Photos by Sylvia Selzer

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Action Transport Theatre

Whitby Hall

Stanney Lane

Ellesmere Port

Cheshire

CH65 9AE

0151 357 2120

www.actiontransporttheatre.org

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