NEWSLETTER June 2019

Term 2 ends 5th July. Term 3 starts 22nd July

In Term 3 we can’t wait for . . .

CANVAS BAG THEATRE

Our annual performance evenings involving all classes from the drama school will be held next term in The Theatre at Rangi Ruru. Classes and tutors are now deciding themes and scripts, casting and workshopping.

Dates are at the end of this newsletter.

The excitement begins!

Here’s what you can expect to see on stage!

Monday Thumbelina Elves visiting the shoemaker in the middle of the night to secretly make shoes, a donkey with a magic pebble that gets him into a lot of bother, and a friendly, very gentle bull who just wants to sit in the meadow and smell the flowers. Just a few of the wonderful characters the Monday Thumbelina have been imagining they are. This term has been full of lots of props and colourful costumes and the children have been working on their skills in team participation and developing creative ideas in their group. These skills will all be very useful next term when they begin rehearsing “Gezani and the Monkey” for the Term 3 production. It’s a comic trickster tale from Africa. Last class for the term: 1 July

Monday Star Fleet A river god who tricks some brothers with his questions, a snake charmer who is more clever than anyone else and his quick thinking snake who saves the day. What about a prince who saves the princesses from the evil wizard with the help of the fire bird? What about it if the princesses save

themselves! All just some of the stories that the Monday Starfleet have creatively retold with their own flare and imaginations. This term there has been a strong emphasis on creative commentaries and group story development. This is going to be very useful as the class imagine, create and perform their play for the Term 3 show. “Tales of India” is about a clever child who tricks a river god and an even more cunning clever snake. Last class for the term: 1 July

Tuesday Quangle Wangle The class has been practicing characterisation and storytelling techniques and they have been learning various improvised

techniques during warmup with improv. games. Each week the class have been working in groups creating role plays to perform in front of the class. The role plays were based on stories from African fables and in recent weeks we have begun to read through scripts for our annual year production. A play is being written! There are "goodies" and "baddies" because that is the basis of everything; a couple of conceited swans, slapstick encounters, a moon, a king, a princess and anyone else we care to add. It remains to be found in the writing and memorising and acting out of the story as to who is going to emerge as the problem solver! Watch this space…Last class for the term: 2 July

Wednesday Quangle Wangle Yet another play is being devised, using movement as the basis, and moulded around quintessential fairytale characters based on the Russian story of Baba Yaga. Sinister versus comic, familiar versus strange, old versus new. This class have stunning imaginations and offer up so many ideas in role-plays that it’s going to be a challenge to try and incorporate as many of them as possible in the finished script which will be written by Chelsea Cope. But this is how you create playwrights! And this is how you create novelists and film makers! Last class for the term: 3 July

Thursday Thumbelina We’ve been exploring characterisation and storytelling and using movement and music to create characters and tell the story. A witch who goes shopping, a magical road that takes you anywhere and the girl with a village of mice living in her hair! Now we are reading through the story for the annual production.What do you do when you want to build a large waka? You go into the forest and chop down the largest tree you can find. Rata and the Totara Tree is a traditional Maori myth,

re-scripted to highlight current conservation elements.The class will use ensemble and individual skills to tell the story and plenty of drums! Last class for the term: 4 July

Thursday Star Fleet We explored stories from around the world and most recently we’ve been looking at Greek mythology. We’ll be assembling a play from a selection of these and putting our own unique 21st century twist on it. Acting out stories from different countries and historical periods gives children an understanding of our global connectedness and an empathy for those engaged in personal struggles, perhaps some of which they may encounter themselves one day. Let’s hope we can be as enterprising as the ancient Greeks were in solving every single one of those problems.Last class for the term: 4 July

Canvas Bag Theatre Production Week: 16 – 19 September

Performances are 20 and 21 September, and each class performs their show twice, on ONE of these evenings as scheduled below.

There are two shows, approx. an hour long each,

the first at 5 pm and the second at 7:30 pm. The

length of each play within the hour is around 20

minutes.

A $15 surcharge is added to all Term 3 accounts.

This covers expenses in connection with additional

premises hire, lighting technicians, props, makeup,

and health and safety compliance.

ONLINE TICKET SALES

Ticketing will be done online through Patron Base. NO DOOR SALES! We will be using the portal available through The Theatre at Rangi-Ruru school, which will be available from the beginning of September. A link will be emailed to all parents. Please ensure your contact details are up to date.

Groups performing on Friday 20th are:Thursday Thumbelina, Monday Star Fleet, Tuesday Quangle Wangle

Groups performing on Saturday 21st are:Monday Thumbelina, Thursday Star Fleet, Wednesday Quangle Wangle

PARENTS PLEASE NOTE! This year we are not requiring reconfirmation of your child’s place term by term. Instead it is assumed that attendance is continuous from term to term, once you have enrolled.

If you wish to withdraw from classes you need to give us 4 weeks notice, prior to the commencement of the new term otherwise you will be charged the following term’s fees in full. Please take a moment to re-familiarise yourself with our conditions of attendance here:

https://www.canvasbag.nz/class-information/parent-information

All you need to remember is to email us approximately 2 weeks before the end of a term if you do not intend returning. Thanks for your cooperation with this!

As part of KidsFest, come along to an interactive book launch for Ringlet and the Day the Oceans Stopped presented by author Felicity Williams and her shoal of merkid helpers. Step into a sparkling interactive underwater world created by set designer Julian Southgate and Canvas Bag Drama School.Come dressed-up as an anemone, a sea witch, a crab, a sharky-fin boy or just your everyday merkid, or find something to wear when you arrive. There’ll be face painting, nail painting, QuiverVision colouring, dancing, dress-up prizes and more!Suitable for ages 7-12 years, with caregivers. Books will be available for purchase and author signing at the event thanks to Scorpio Books.

THURSDAY 18TH JULY, 2019 TSB SPACE, TŪRANGA, 60 CATHEDRAL SQUARE3:00 PM - 4:00 PMFREE