Creating the Drama

June 22nd 2016

Pipers Corner School has launched an exciting series of drama workshops which aim to redefine and extend aspirational theatrical experiences.

The programme of creative workshops and masterclasses has been designed to encourage young people who wish to work in the theatre, media, film and television to engage with, and learn from, industry professionals. The programme will equip participants with essential skills and serve to excite, inspire and help young people to find their creative voice.

The workshops, a series of six – 10 week courses, are aimed at young people aged 11 - 18 and are part of the school’s initiative to increase opportunities for current students, as well as those in the local area.

This term the workshops on offer have included:

Film Making – Led by Holly Mallett, Director for the UK and International Visionary Youth Project, improviser in Notflix, teacher, musician and playwright. This workshop is designed for students to learn how to create, produce and direct their own original short films. The course ended with a screening of their work to an audience of friends and family.
Stand-up and Sketch Comedy – Led by Naz Osmanoglu, Mark Cooper Jones and Kieran Boyd, cast members of BBC “Horrible Histories”. This award-winning team taught students how to write and perform original sketches and scenes, exploring what makes something funny and how to script, structure and improvise their own comedy.
Musical Theatre Improvisation – Led by Pernilla Holland, Creative Director of “Waiting for the Call, the Improvised Musical”. Pernilla taught students how to spontaneously improvise using techniques learned at the Legendary Second City and Saturday Night Live. After the basics student went on to improvise their own comedy musical, making up all the songs and choreography on the spot.

The workshops will have another dimension in the Autumn as they will be running in the newly constructed Pipers Corner Arts Centre, an exciting new creative space which includes a 280 seat purpose-built theatre and café.

Director of Drama, Ms Spencer said “We are very excited to offer our students, and children from the community, the opportunity to take part in these wonderful workshops led by award-winning industry practitioners. It is such a fantastic experience for young people to be able to learn about different styles and techniques, building confidence and team working skills, which will help them in any career in the future. We are also very much looking forward to the opening of the new Arts Centre in September, which will have a huge impact on the Performing Arts at Pipers.”