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.

Kaleidoscope update

LAMDA: Summer entry
Congratulations to Sophie Mullen for achieving a Merit in her Grade 8 Acting examination this summer

LAMDA: December entries
90% of the candidates passed with either Merit or Distinction. Our congratulations to them all and in particular to the following: Oliver Ribchester, Lauren Shimbles and Emily Whitehouse who all got Distinctions at Grade 3 and all those who took the higher grades.
Grade 6 Bronze Medal Acting exam:
Henry Eglin, Tom Streatfield and Catherine Harris who all passed with Merit
Grade 7 Silver Medal
Lyndsey Starr, who passed with Merit, and Tom Bean
Grade 7 Musical Theatre
Charlie Reynard, who passed with Merit, and Tanya Gillow & Bradley Judge who gained Distinctions

LAMDA: February session.
Once again there were some very pleasing results. Most of those taking exams this session were from the Junior & Intermediate groups

JUNIORS
The whole group under the name KALEIDOSCOPE STARS was entered for the GROUP RECITAL examination and they certainly were “Stars”, gaining a Distinction with 85%. The 9 Juniors who actually took individual “Verse & Prose speaking examinations also did very well, with 5 of them gaining Distinctions and 3 Passing with Merit.

INTERMEDIATE
18 members of the group were entered for the ACTING examination. Of these 9 passed with Merit and a further 3 with Distinction.

CONGRATULATIONS to them all!

There were also three older members taking exams this session.

CONGRATULATIONS to
Daniel Willox: Acting Grade 7 (Silver medal) Pass

Josh Packham: Acting Grade 7 (silver medal) Pass with Merit

Matthew Western: Verse & Prose Speaking Grade 7 (Silver Medal) Pass with Merit.

FURTHER CONGRATULATIONS
Kat Martin is working towards her LAMDA Diploma and we congratulate her on achieving a Distinction (90%) in the first of the three examinations involved. We wish her every success as she begins her studies with the Court Theatre Training Company in London. She will be joining Jamie Rogers & John Dawson there in September. We will miss her

PAST STUDENTS
It is always a pleasure when past students keep in touch and we were delighted that a number came to see “The Would-Be Gentleman”, some coming home especially. We are also very pleased that John Darnbrough is helping on a voluntary basis with the Senior & Advanced classes at the moment and that another of our past members from the very early days of Kaleidoscope, Joanne Gray, will be helping with the two younger classes – again on a voluntary basis.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH THEATRES; Regional Events

“Raising the Game”
We were delighted that some of our Tutors were able to participate in the Training Day for Drama Practitioners at York. The event enabled them to share thoughts and opinions with other practitioners and to gain new ideas from the various workshops.

REGIONAL YOUTH THEATRE FESTIVAL
Thirteen members of our Advanced group, accompanied by Tutors, took part in this two day Festival which was hosted by the Theatre Royal in York. Needless to say we all had a wonderful time. Our devised performance, on the theme “Consequences”, was well received and we enjoyed watching the performances by other groups. There was a wide variety of workshops available including “Drum Beats” (rhythm and sound), Mask Performance, Improvisation, Devising, Shakespeare & Ensemble Work. As there was an Ecology theme to the weekend there was also a workshop where old t-shirts were re-cycled and this led to a very lively “Fashion show”, starring a number of our members as models.

FRANTIC ASSEMBLY WORKSHOPS
Following the successful Regional Youth Theatre Festival, 4 of our students took part in a three hour Physical Theatre workshop in York with the Frantic Assembly Theatre Company on May 6th and Kat Martin attended the leaders workshop, earlier the same day. On Saturday 14th May, Louisa Parry attended a LAMDA training on preparing students to perform Shakespeare for examinations.

THE SUMMER TERM ENDED WITH A VERY SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND IN THE THEATRE UPSTAIRS
The Junior & Intermediate groups played to packed houses for their three performances of two one act plays written and directed by Sally Edwards. Further details and pictures can be found below. Meanwhile the Senior & Advanced classes combined for their Annual Showcase performances. These culminated in the announcement of our success in the Wharfedale Festival of Theatre Awards. “The Would-be Gentleman” won the trophy for the Overall Best Youth drama and also the Best Stage presentation award. In addition, personal awards were won by Brad Judge and Charlie Reynard for “Outstanding Performances” in the production while Certificates of Merit were given to Josh Breeze, Lyndsey Starr, Henry Eglin and Catherine Harris for their performances in the play. Special “Chairman’s Awards” were given to Bruce Grainger for his translation and to Katy Gaul for her composition of the music and her performance.

Last season performances

Main house performance - Moliere's The Would-be Gentleman

Cast for "The Would-be Gentleman"

M. Jourdain gives Nicole an elocution lesson

Successful Summer Performance weekend

The Junior and Intermediate groups delighted their audiences with their lively and humorous productions. The Juniors’ play “Hotel Casablanca” was a light-hearted detective spoof set in a hotel where a James Bond convention was taking place. In a hilarious version of the traditional final scene, the under cover detective revealed that everyone had a motive and then solved the mystery. The Intermediates’ play “Trouble in Sherwood” was a mock investigative documentary about the mediaeval origins of binge-drinking, involving a comic version of Robin Hood and his Merry men. There were some delightful performances in both plays and the audiences were left in no doubt about the strength of the talents of our younger members.

Lady Chalfort causes trouble

The Denouement of Hotel Casablanca

The Tipsy Tavern in Trouble in Sherwood

King John with wives No. 1 and 2

A depressed Robin Hoodie

Spring 2011 Term

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