Summer Madness

The last time I posted a blog you had all waited for 5 months, and now I am back after only 2 weeks.
Well much has happened and I am delighted to be telling you about a lovely new actress who has joined us for the next school year.
Amanda Madison is currently starring at the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival in "Titus Andronicus" and "As You Like It".
Amazingly, she is also finding the time to fit in some

rehearsals and line learning with ATTC. When you have read this just turn to our "Actors" page to find out more about Amanda.
Now for a touch of sadness. The delightful young Emily Windham is leaving us to go to The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. We are delighted that she has won a place at this long established and most prestigous academy. We know she will do well, so just watch out for her when she lights up the London stages in two or three years time. In case you have forgotten what she looks like, she is the one with the dazzling red hair. Just look at an earlier blog and she will be there.
As if all these changes were not enough, we are ploughing on with the creation of more Drama Workshops to meet the growing demand from schools. We can now say with confidence "give us a subject and we will have a Drama Workshop ready to fit the bill".
Moreover, we are taking many enquiries from senior schools following the curriculum changes, and we are enjoying the engagement with older students.
Before I sign off, take a look at our new young lady I have told you about.
Bye for now,
Albert x

No time for blogging!

I know it has been 5 months since my last posting, but that does not mean I have been totally idle and remiss. Quite the opposite, in fact.
For some time now I have been planning more ways to meet the ever changing National Curriculum, and the emphasis it places on broadening our children's outlook and experiences of life.
More "hands on" and less sitting in class merely listening to teachers "droning on"!
We have the answer with our fully participative Drama Workshops.
Think of just about any study subject and we will either have a ready made Workshop or we will create one for you.
If you like, have it as an adjunct to one of our established plays. The children will not only be learning but enjoying the active participation.
Don't worry about the cost. We always take the view "the kids come first". Just tell us your budget and I am sure we will meet it.
That is all I want to say at the moment, but do watch this space.
We have an exciting new actress joining us for the next school year, and I will tell you all about her when I next write.

Where did January and most of February go?

Hi guys. I'm back in case you thought I was dead!
Sorry again for the long absence, but we have been so busy creating new Drama Workshops to meet the National Curriculum changes.
We can now boast Workshops to meet all the new criteria for both KS1, KS2 and the years 7 & 8 for the seniors.
Fancy a spot of the Plague, or the Great Fire of London?
How about joining us in the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages?
You may even wish to travel with a few Ancient Greeks or Romans or that rough bunch of Vikings.
Or why not sample the trenches in World War I?
You name it. We have it. In fact, challenge us with something new and we will oblige.
Yes, Interactive Drama Workshops where the children get to be very creative and active, and with our able assistance produce their very own pieces and act them out to the rest of the class, are very much in vogue.
It is all about keeping in touch, and that is what we have been doing for sixteen years.
Now I really must get bck to designing a newsletter so my fans will know he treats that are in store for them.
See you next time,
Albert xx

Christmas is just around the corner

I really must get my head round this blogging business!
Nothing since August and still no pictures of our two new wonderful actresses.
It is not that they haven't sent me them, but rather because I seem to have lost the knack of loading them onto the blog.
Let me have just one more try. PRESTO!
I seem to have cracked it.
Now Emily is in colour. I just wanted you to see her red hair, and Jade in mono looking every bit as good.
They both joined us in the Summer and have been hard at it with the new curriculum recommendations.
As well as our 10 scripted plays they are facing the challenges of Drama Workshops on a multitude of subjects: World War I, Middle Ages and Medieval Times, Stone, Bronze and Iron Age, Elizabethans, Victorians, to name just a few.
And all this with virtually a full book on the run up to the year end.
Well I must go now and send out confirmations of bookings that are already piling up for next year.
So, until the next time (not too long I promise) farewell.
Albert.

Summer nearly over

Having returned from a successful tour in Spain to the rain and cold of the typical English Summer, we are now heavily into rehearsals with our two new wonderful actresses.
Jade and Emily have joined us for the forthcoming school year.
Both are extremely talented and are picking up rapidly on the exacting task of learning NINE plays.
Whilst Karen is a real task master and demands perfection, she has a heart of gold and the girls are having plenty of fun picking up on the myriad of characters, plots, costumes and props. I hear it all sat at the computer coordinating the bookings for the coming months.
In keeping with the changes to the National Curriculum, we are expanding our portfolio and offering a wide range of Drama Workshops. In fact, we can now accomodate any subject the wider ranging and more recent history studies demand.
Just mention a subject and, if we do not already carry it, we will do the research and come up with a tailor made presentation.
I will sign off now, but will remember to ask Jade and Emily for photos I can add later.
Until next time....
Albert

Never enough time

I cannot believe my last posting was back in February.
Where has all the time gone, and what have I been doing?
Well, apart from arranging auditions for the next school year, studying the changes proposed to the National Curriculum, and ensuring we are still very much "on the ball" with our productions, we have been busy promoting our "Health and Safety" book for the young - Billy Beware! - as there has been a surge in demand for this play. About time too! There is so much about "Elf 'n Safety", but so little of it relates to the very young.
Also, we are promoting "Transition Workshops" for year six children. I remember the daunting prospect of a new school where, from being the biggest, I was to become the smallest. And that was the least of the problems I encountered. Add getting lost, being bullied and not knowing many of the other kids, and none of the teachers.
So now you can book us to come along and alleviate most of the worries and fears.
Drama Workshops are very much in vogue, and we are able to tailor make them on just about any subject. We even have an ongoing enquiry on the best way to treat pets.
Well, I have given you a taster of what we have in store, and have inserted some pictures from our "Billy Beware!" book.
Until the next time,
Albert

Will it ever stop raining!

You must all be wondering where I have been, or if I am dead, or maybe drowned!
Well the truth is I have been so busy thinking about this website and the need to upgrade it, I have just not had the time to write anything.
Now the good news is we will soon have a brand new site; all singing and dancing but, more importantly, offering the opportunity to display special offers and weekly or monthly deals.
For example, if you are a small primary school, you will have the chance to book a play for one key stage and have any one of our other productions for the other key stage for FREE.
Or, perhaps the chance to book us for the current term and get us for HALF PRICE next term.
Or, we may even throw in a Drama Workshop at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.
You may ask why are we offering such bargains. Well, it is because we know from your feedback you want us, but cannot always afford us.
I seem to recall some mention of school budgets being "ring fenced" when the chancellor was making cuts, and telling us all to tighten our belts.
Unfortunately, as all you head teachers know, that was a promise that was never kept.
With less to spend it has to be done wisely. We can visit you often for less than the cost of coaches to take the children to the theatre. And they will be in your safe and secure environment.
Okay, enough of the sales pitch.
I have to get back to work so, until the next time (not so long I promise) au revoir,
Albert.
p.s. Remind me to tell you about our book. Here is a visual preview.