Our striking cover photo this month is courtesy of the wonderful Tim Bray Theatre Company, the Shore-based entity that celebrates 30 years of theatre for children in 2021. A Lion in the Meadow and Other Stories is their latest live stage production that’s touring in April and May. It is on at The PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna from April 10th through until May 1st, a great option for local kids during the April school holidays. It then goes to Glen Innes, Mangere, Glen Eden and Manukau.
Youth Theatre classes (ages five to 16)
The Tim Bray team is excited to begin its Term 2 Youth Theatre drama classes for children, tweens, and teens (ages five to 16). Classes start on Tuesday 3rd May in three North Shore locations, Takapuna, Browns Bay and Unsworth Heights.
Tim Bray Youth Theatre has been offering drama classes and workshops on the North Shore since 2012. Their classes encourage self-confidence, self-expression and focus. Drama is an enjoyable way for students to explore their imaginations and to harness and express their creativity where they also learn various acting techniques such as improvisation, voice, characterisation, movement and scene work.
Regular drama classes are held either at St Georges Community Hall in Takapuna or the East Coast Bays Community Centre in Browns Bay.
What a first term it has been. Even with two level three lockdowns, their tutors have cleverly created ways to keep their students engaged via online lessons when usual studio classes couldn’t happen. Tim Bray Youth Theatre tutors the students to bring their creativity and imagination into the classes and have been on some exciting and unique adventures in the drama room or in the online classes. They are very proud of the students and how much they are progressing.
Tim Bray Youth Theatre also offers classes for five to 19 year olds across the bridge in Western Springs at The Auckland Performing Arts Centre (TAPAC).
Extraordinarily Creative
Tim Bray Youth Theatre is thrilled to continue with their unique drama class programme, endorsed by the Children’s Autism Foundation, that launched as a pilot programme in term one this year on the North Shore. Extraordinarily Creative drama classes have been created for children and teenagers who are differently wired to find their own voice and place. This is a weekly class in Unsworth Heights created for those who skip to a different beat, who see and experience things in their own extraordinary way.
“These are a positive, fun and safe place for children and young people with ASD/neurodiversity to use the creativity of drama and express themselves as never before,” says Jo Sutton, GM of the Children’s Autism Foundation.
Scholarships for Extraordinarily Creative are available for kids who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend and are kindly funded by Stewart Germann administered by Cognition Education Trust. Applications can be made via the Extraordinarily Creative page on the Tim Bray website (timbray.org.nz).
The Extraordinarily Creative classes have been born out of a combination of the introduction of Sensory Relaxed performances by Tim Bray Theatre Company in their professional shows, and the observation of the challenges and the benefits for neurodiverse children who attend their shows and Youth Theatre classes. They recognised a need for this group of children and teenagers to have drama classes dedicated to their needs, with an environment and class structure designed to support their development and artistic goals.
Age 17-19 Performance Class
The 17-19 years Performance Class that launched at TAPAC in term one will continue in term two. This exciting new performance-focused class, led by tutor Suzy Sampson, is for young actors who need a place to learn and to perform, who are passionate about theatre and all it involves. The Performance Class teaches new skills that will carry the students into future study and future careers.
Some North Shore teenagers who have been with Tim Bray Youth Theatre for many years have joined the class, drawn by the regular performance outcomes. During term one, these two-hour classes have been so full and stimulating that the students are always surprised when it is time for the class to end, and they don’t want to leave. As one of the students said, “Time flies when you are having fun!”
Shakespeare has been the focus in term one and the students are really enjoying experimenting with the language. Outside class they have been researching 16th century language versus modern language. They are also really loving that this class is performance based and requires the discipline of learning a script with a deadline. Some of the students are also learning stage management duties for the end of term performance when they are not on stage. The guest tutor for the Shakespeare classes in term one was celebrated actor Michael Hurst, who brought his years of performance experience to the students.
April School Holidays Family Fun!
Make sure you book your family’s magical school holiday treat… “A Lion in the Meadow and Other Stories” by Margaret Mahy, live on stage at The PumpHouse Theatre from 10 April to 1 May.
For more information on Youth Theatre classes or to book, visit: timbray.org.nz or phone 09 486-2261.
