Throughout the year we offer a selection of additional workshops with a specific drama focus. These give students a deeper understanding of specialised drama and theatrical skills. Topics vary depending on the particular expertise of our leaders and the needs of our members. We often work with professional theatre groups such as Riverdance, Cirque de Soleil and Tall Stories to offer exclusive workshops.
Capoeria for Kids
Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, games, music and dance. Participants form a roda, or circle, and take turns either playing musical instruments, singing, or sparring in pairs in the centre of the circle. In this two hour workshop children will be introduced to some of the basic capoeira moves and expressions. They will learn about the importance of storytelling, how some of the amazing acrobatics are possible as well as learning some basic dances. All of which help make capoeira such a specialised art form. Participants will also be introduced to the variety of rhythm instruments, such as the berimbau, drums and tambourine. They will learn basic rhythms as well as the high energy story telling dances which accompany them. Rhythm and timing will be paramount! This is a fantastic opportunity to learn a new art form, to develop co-ordination, flexibility and rhythm and also be a learn about to another culture’s theatre form.
Click here for a registration form and more details.
Dance, Wriggle & Roll! Workshop
This workshop will explore telling stories through dance, which is sometimes known as physical theatre. This specialised workshop for our younger members will focus completely on movement and how it can inspire and develop drama and storytelling. We will be exploring the theme of ‘Where the Land reaches the Sea’ to develop a movement piece that tells the story of how we are all connected in nature and that without one the other cannot exist. Children will explore different dance styles and start to learn about where these movements came from. Children will use everyday actions as inspiration to build their dance pieces. Movement is one of the major acting tools that contributes to an engaging performance. Through this workshop children will learn to use basic acting techniques to change simple gestures into expressive and dynamic movements. This workshop will be a fun introduction to dance and movement. It will also help children become more confident in expressing themselves physically. It’s time to get those dancing shoes on! No prior-dance experience is needed but an enthusiasm to join in is essential. This will be an energetic and hands on workshop!
Click here for a registration form and more details.
Some previous courses have included:
Ventriloquism - the secrets revealed!
The group worked with master ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner where he shared some of the key components to creating an effective illusion such as moving the puppet, talking without moving your mouth and synchronising speaking with the puppets mouth. The group used sock puppets to explore movement and create the illusion of speaking. As well as learning about ventriloquism, the children learned important skills about use of voice, expression and characterisation.
The Gruffalo Workshop
An exciting one-off workshop for our younger members based on the award-winning book The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson led by the actors from Tall Stories Theatre Company (UK). This fun interactive workshop explored the world of the deep, dark wood and the characters that live within. The children had a great time working with the actors, playing a few Gruffalo themed games and then taking on the role of different characters from the story. A Tall Stories were in Hong Kong for a limited season with their production of The Gruffalo and Faust were proud to host this exclusive one-off workshop with the talented team for our youngest members.
AHOY THERE MY HEARTIES - A PIRATE STORYTELLING WORKSHOP!
The children got dressed up in their pirate costumes and make-up and then Pirate Jim proceeded to tell us his sad story about his Dad's jewels, stolen by Nasty Nicademus - the meanest pirate of all! The children were led through an exciting adventure, meeting many exciting pirates and going to magical places and in the end saving the day by stealing back the jewels from Nasty Nicademus!
THE PHYSICALITY OF THEATRE: BECKETT AND BANANA SKINS!
This exclusive one-off workshop was led by the director and actors from the critically acclaimed Waiting for Godot from Ireland. The members were introduced to the play by the director, Peter Reid, then worked with the actors doing intensive script work, blocking and rehearsing. They focused on the humour in the script and how to portray this comedy through expression and physicality.
Stage and TV Make-up Course
Faust joined with the renowned Frederique Academy for two special make-up workshops that covered the basics of stage make-up and teaching techniques including; make-up for specific stage lighting, stage sizes, and special effects such as scars and bullet wounds.
All that jazz- a musical theatre workshop for beginners
This workshop covered many of the basic Jazz dance steps and terminology. Participants discovered how to put them into dance combinations and learnt how to pick up choreography quickly. A fun and lively experience for those wanting to expand their performance techniques and learn some audition survival skills.
Whose line is it anyway? An impro and devising workshop
Improvisation is a very challenging dramatic process requiring creativity, spontaneity and bundles of imagination. It is a highly skilled technique and probably the most utilised in drama and theatre. This workshop explored improv through a range of fun exercises and games which guided participants into devising their own drama! Members worked under the expert guidance of an experienced professional actor.
Stage Fighting
This workshop covered both armed and unarmed combat in a variety of styles and was be delivered by James Gitsham, a British trained professional actor with extensive experience in choreographing fights for both stage and screen.
We also work directly with schools and organisations to deliver tailor-made drama courses on a wide range of topics. Please contact us for more information.
