Kaleidoscope is the training section of Bingley Little Theatre

Young people from the age of eight onwards are trained in the arts of acting, directing and other skills involved in theatre work.

Last season the pupils entered for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) examinations achieved a 100% pass rate.

Classes are held in the Theatre rehearsal room (Advanced Group in Church House) and all registered pupils are entitled to Junior Membership of the Theatre.

Wharfedale Festival of Theatre. Following on her 2009 “Outstanding Performance Award”, Kat Martin won the “Best Supporting Actress” award for her performance as Lucy Lockit in THE BEGGAR’S OPERA. In the same production, Lucy Bairstow, Beth Whitehouse, Josh Breeze and Josh Packham all won “Outstanding Performance” awards, Katy Gaul was runner up Best Musical Director and we won the Best Programme Design award and the Chairman’s Special Award for the excellent costumes.

National Youth Theatre. We are delighted that Josh Breeze gained a place in the National Youth Theatre this summer.

Drama School. Congratulations to Lucy Bairstow who will be starting at the Central School of Drama this autumn; we wish her well.

Farewells: It is always sad at this time of year to say good-bye to students as they leave to go to college and university, especially when they have been members of Kaleidoscope for nine years as have Amy Wozencroft and Nikita Heaton. We wish all those who are leaving every success for their future and hope they will keep in touch.

Kaleidoscope update

“The Beggar’s Opera”

After all the hard work, laughter, tears and shouting, this year’s Kaleidoscope production has proved once again that we can rise to a challenge and meet it successfully.

"The Beggar's Opera - the Prologue"

Results of the February LAMDA Examination Session

(The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art)

Once again we had a 100% pass rate. While all the candidates deserve our congratulations, the following achieved outstanding results.

For the first time we entered all the JUNIOR class for Group examinations; both groups passed with Merit. The younger members were entered for the Introductory examination and the 9 -10 year olds took the Entry grade of the Group Recital examination.

Six members of the JUNIOR group took individual Verse & Prose Speaking examinations and ten members of the INTERMEDIATE group took the Acting exam, seven at Grade 1 and three at Grade 2. Altogether over half of them passed with MERIT.

The next LAMDA examination session for the Senior and Advanced groups will take place in December.

The Junior and Intermediate groups gave three performances of SHERLOCK PENGUIN and CLOUD 9 to packed audiences and there was no doubt that we have some very promising actors among our younger members. Once again, the Juniors’ play, SHELOCK PENGUIN, was one that Sally Edwards had written. We are indeed very lucky to have such a talented person as one of our tutors and in the Autumn she will be taking full responsibility for both the younger groups.

The Senior and Advanced group came together to give two very successful SHOWCASE performances. GIVE AND TAKE performed by the Seniors consisted of a collection of stories, some comic, some sad, from around the world - all with a common theme: “There are people who give and people who take.” The tales reflected a range of styles of storytelling ranging from straightforward dramatisation with or without narrators to more stylised dramatic forms with the characters telling the story in the third person or using mime or choral speaking. There were a number of excellent individual performances and the production as a whole was extremely effective, enhanced by the music, played by Katy Gaul, linking the separate stories. Members of the Advanced group performed two ensemble pieces of theatre which enabled them to explore a range of different dramatic techniques. The annual “Showcase” is an excellent opportunity for this group to attempt more experimental and inventive types of theatre and once again they rose to the challenge. We were delighted that Alice Smithson was able to join in with the group during her university vacation.

PLANS FOR THIS TERM

Autumn Term

For more information on Kaleidoscope, contact Rosemary Grainger on: 01535 611989
or e-mail: kaleidoscope@bingleylittletheatre.co.uk