The 'Oliver' Summer Experience - Performing Arts Workshop

"How to become Oliver or the Artful Dodger, Fagin or Bill Sykes..."

NEW for this year!

Based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens (1812-1870), Oliver! is a musical drama about the adventures of a young orphan boy who inadvertently falls in with a gang of child pickpockets in Victorian London. Written by the late Lionel Bart (described by Andrew Lloyd Webber as "the father of the modern British musical"), it was first performed in London in 1960 and has remained consistently popular ever since.

The Course: Learn the art of being one of the characters in 'Oliver'. Whether you want to be Oliver, The Artful Dodger or Fagin, or one of the ensemble in the company, come and experience this Boys-only Summer School. Our standard Musical Theatre programme consists of a 1 week Summer course. The course is delivered in a highly supportive environment by staff who are experts in their field. Over the five days, students will develop their skills in acting, singing, and dance, and then will apply their knowledge gained in the week to a short performance on the Friday afternoon. Parents and friends are invited to watch.

As a student on this Musical Theatre course you will continually come into contact with professional West End practitioners' from the Industry who not only train you to the highest standard but also pass on a wealth of experience and advice.

The course is designed to develop your technical skills in acting, singing, dancing, and performance. It will fire your imagination, and go some way to prepare you for further training or auditions for the show 'Oliver'. This boys only Musical Theatre course will be for 1 week; start at 10.00 am each day and finish at 5.00 pm. There will be a half hour to 1 hour lunch break. All classes will be attended by all participants.

This course will be split into dance workshops, singing workshops, and acting workshops covering all aspects of 'Oliver' - The Musical. You will learn the basics of how to perform like some of the characters from this great show. It aims to provide students with the wide-ranging skills demanded of a musical theatre performer. The course is graduated to build these skills and develop a professional rehearsal technique.

The Acting: The aim of the Acting within this course will facilitate confidence and self-awareness, improvisation, (both Spontaneous and prepared), and some group text work. It will improve your performance skills, extend and develop characterisation, and give an understanding of text and staging. Learning to act a song is crucial to being a great performer. Learn to Act the characters of Oliver!!!!

Voice & Singing: This section of the course helps students to recognise and appreciate their vocal cords as a specialised instrument. They will be taught breath usage and the different aspects of speech necessary for variance in pitch, pace, pausing, phrasing, articulation, verse and prose speaking, sight reading, phonetics, accents and dialects. Students will learn their vocal range and be given every opportunity to develop projection and vocal skills. Even students who feel that singing is not their forte will gain Knowledge and experience in presentation and general confidence until they can certainly put a musical "over" as an actor/singer. A variety of musical styles will be covered - a medley of the songs from Oliver will be taught, i.e. Food, Glorious Food, Oliver!, Shall Scream!,Boy for Sale,That's Your Funeral,Where Is Love?, Oliver's Escape, Consider Yourself, Rum Tum Tum, You've Got To Pick a Pocket or Two, It's a Fine Life, I'd Do Anything, Be Back Soon, Oom-Pah-Pah, My Name!, As Long as He Needs Me, Where Is Love? (reprise), Who Will Buy?, It's a Fine Life (reprise), Reviewing the Situation, Oliver! (reprise), As Long as He Needs Me (reprise), Reviewing the Situation

Dance: Discipline and body awareness are of the utmost importance to the well-rounded performer. We will teach why movement is so very important in being a well-rounded performer. You cannot become a great actor or singer without having a good knowledge of movement, as they are all intertwined.

This summer school is designed to built confidence and most of all provide an enjoyable opportunity for any student wising to experience the thrill of performance in Musical Theatre under the guidance of skilled professional West End practitioners' from the Industry.

Dare to live the dream!