Hello Ralph here, I’ll be taking over from Kirstie on the blog to tell you all the goings on of Portsmouth’s Groundlings Theatre. If you want a first hand view of what its like to work here then I’m your guy. Having worked here since August 2010 I’ve seen alot… it’s ok i’m pretty desensitised to it all. So stay tuned for more from me to you. (catchphrase??)
(you can still catch Kirstie on http://kmeredith90.tumblr.com/)
Ralph x
Review of the Thursday 14th July 2011 performance of South Pacific
I have some very exciting news to tell you! I have indeed landed a job at The Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford Upon Avon. I am going to be undertaking an Apprenticeship in Cultural and Heritage Venue Operations. I am very excited about starting my new job and I would like to give a big thank you to Richard Stride and Ralph Corke for all your help and advice and for giving me and excellent opportunity to volunteer at Groundlings Theatre. I have learnt so much in my time here and the experience I have gained from being here as put me in the exact right direction in my career!
Thank you For All Your Help and Advice!
Kirstie
Written By Kirstie Meredith
We have been nominated for Best Amateur Musical Production for our South Pacific production for The Guide Wards 2011!
Please Vote For Us By Following The Link Below!
http://www2.portsmouth.co.uk/snap/Guide11v1/guide11v1.htm
Thank You!
Written By
Kirstie Meredith
Yesterday we were at Portsmouth University Fresher Fair where the atmosphere was incredible! We worked really well with The Kings Theatre having great fun working with the marketing department! We had students trying on outfits from our wardrobe and posing for the camera. Students were excited about getting free tickets along with other information and exciting upcoming events and shows! Portsmouth Comedy Soliety were also at Freshers the aptly Heavy Hands who are also showcasing at Groundlings Theatre on Wednesday 12th October, click the link for more details.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=178932702185174
Richard Stride undertook a Sword Fighting Workshop which the students found really engaging and a few took a lot of interest just by watching! The atmosphere were very exciting and engaging!
Some More Exciting News!
There are now casting opportunities available!
Peter Pan – 1st October 1pm-4pm
Festival of Christmas 25th-27th
November. Please Call Nathan For More Details On 023 9273 7370
Children In Need Day. Please Call Richard For More Details On 023 9273 7370
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Sunday 15th January 11am-5pm
Halloween Ghost Tours
Cabaret Sunday 22nd January 11am – 4.30pm
Romeo and Juliet Auditions Friday 13th January 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Get Involved With Groundlings Theatre Today!
www.groundlings.co.uk
023 9273 7370
Not sure what Groundlings Theatre is about? Have a watch of the Groundlings Theatre Documentary!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTQx1ex9WGg
Enjoy!
Kirstie
Photographing the Embryo show for the first time was amazing. I really enjoyed watching and photographing all the acts. I took some great shots, which I hope, people will enjoy looking at. The photos can be found on the link below. The atmosphere was really great and everyone was really supported towards the acts. As well as this we also had some of Groundlings own volunteers performing including Emily Day who sang Somebody Like You by Adele. She has a beautiful voice. As well as being part of the Peter Pan Cast she is also part of the Drama School, for more information about the drama school you can email education@groundlings.co.uk
The second act was performed by our very own Groundling Theatre Cast! Performing a short piece from the Lord Of The Flies which you can see in full in November. For more information visit the facebook event page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143736005714130
As well as having performers from Groundlings Theatre this event is a great opportiny for new acts to get known like Hugh Gibbs who is an local MC, I found his rapping amazing and got some great shots of his performance. We also had a short piece from The Boy Who Loved Star Wars which can be seen in full from September 12th for more information visit the event page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=138414706248611
Other acts included Brian Davey who is an Musican and also performes at Open Mic Night which is happening tonight at 7pm, Wednesday 5th October, Wednesday 2nd November and Wednesday 7th December all starting at 7pm. For more information visit the event page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=245620072138488 and of course a short piece from the Pet Pan show which is happening from December for more information visit www.groundlings.co.uk
Finally we had two great comidians/impersonators John Etheride and Gareth Turpin who provided the audience which some great comedy and had us laughing all the way! We finished the show with the one and only Tommy Peters who peformed Feeling Good by Micheal Buble. Amazing!
Thank you to everyone who performed and I hope everyone enjoyed the evening as much as I did. Photos can by found by liking this page http://www.facebook.com/meredithfashion
Already looking forward to the next Embryo which is happening on Monday 7th November for more information call the box office on 023 9273 7370
Written By Kirstie Meredith
I spent the afternoon photographing the Peter Pan Rehearsals last week. I got a really positive vibe from the children as they were very engaged. They were getting into their characters so well! The show is going to be brilliant and is definitely a must see!
Get yourself down to Groundling Theatre From Saturday 10th December 2011 till Sunday 1st January 2012 and come and see the Peter Pan Show! More Details Coming Soon!
Kirstie Meredith
(Groundlings Volunteer)
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Once upon a time, seventeen intrepid explorers visited the Groundlings Theatre in search of adventure. When they arrived they heard a strange fairy song, then Bumblegrew (a humble narrator) appeared to greet them. He asked them to sit around him in a circle while he told them the story of Cinderella. He told them that if they wished hard enough, the story would jump off the page and come to life – which it did! They saw cinderella and the ugly step sisters, even the fairy god mother appeared!
Suddenly as Bumblegrew applauded he dropped the fairytale book and found that all the pages were mixed up! “Oh No!” But Bumblegrew decided to play a game with the explorers to find out what had happened to the fairytales. They learnt that Goldilocks, the seven dwarves and Ursula were all in maleficent’s castle. “Then we will see what happened to Cinderella!” he said, and they learnt that Cinderella was actually tricked by the wicked witch pretending to be the step mother.
Out of nowhere, the Fairy Queen comes in and saves the day! She says to the explorers “You all need to become Fairies and Pirates” smiling at them. So the explorers started producting beautiful fairy tale wings and pirate hats, their faces were painted and they sang ancient fairy songs.
The explores were so tired after all this work that they decided to have a lunch break, they all sat in the café area of Groundlings Theatre eating their lunch and they also enjoyed delicious fairy cakes that Bumblegrew has bought for them as a special treat!
After lunch the explorers entered a classroom where Professor Bumblebore awaited “Greetings Fellow Explorers!“ he said „and welcome to your first wand and spell class!“ All the explorers sat down and were each handed a spell book. They looked around and Tilly saw a bubble machine “Wow!” she says, “Look at that!” and all the explorers look round gazing at the bubble machine. Mr Professor Bumblebore then explaines how to make their very own wand. The explorers are given lots of different material to explore with whilst planning on how they are going to make their wands. Once these were completed, Mr Professor Bumblebore started teaching them to use their wands to create spells. The explores learned a sequence of differents spells which would help them on their adventure.
After the class the explorers were greeted by Captain Cornflakes-in-his-beard “Ahoy, me Hearties, today I am going to teach you how to make a map!”Captain Cornflakes explained that the explorers would be hunting in the garden for treasure! “Me buried treasure is in me pocket, but your mission is to find your own treasure and, in particular, the Vorpal Sword my fellow explorers!” The explorers headed into the garden and started using their maps to hunt for the hidden treasure. Hoozah they found the vorpal sword.
However as they returned from the garden they discover that the Evil Witch had trapped the Fairy Queen in the castle, which was protected by a Dragon! “What are we going to do? She can even make things invisible!” said Billy. “We will use our magic and spells!” said Harry. The explorers began to use their magic on the Evil Witch and they managed to defeat her. But how do you defeat an invisible dragon? By colouring it in of course, so it can be seen! Now that they could see the Dragon they challenged him to Grandma’s Footsteps. If they won three times then he would leave forever. They valiantly played the dragon, and defeated him most courageously, and so they rescue the Fairy Queen! The Fairy Queen told the explorers that she wanted to marry the Pirate, so she asked them all to make crowns for the wedding. The big day arrived and the Pirate and the Fairy Queen got married and everyone attended a big disco where they danced the night away! (and lived happily ever after)
THE END!
To see more images of the event then go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/groundlings/ to enquire about having a find your fairytale birthday party contact Ralph on 023 9273 7370.
If this event interested you then you might enjoy the Magic Festival or Peter Pan Workshops coming to the theatre this August. Have a look at our website www.groundlings.co.uk/events
Saturday 9th July 9am – 6pm
Avast mateys! Be you an evil tyrant, or a mischevious fairy? Or maybe you ne’er want to grow up? In other words, are you a Captain Hook, Tinkerbell or Peter Pan? We need actors of all ages and experience levels for our huge Christmas production of Peter Pan. It’s a full day workshop where you’ll learn to swash and buckle like a pro, with stage fighting, acting lessons and choreography. Call our Box Office or email education@groundlings.co.uk.
£5
Friday 10th of June 6pm – 10pm
A group of british school boys are marooned on a tropical island during a war evacuation. Left to fend for
themselves they attempt to develop a society while they wait to return home. But when the island turns
against them they give in to their animal instincts and turn on each other. A disturbing look at human
nature.
Can you handle life on the island? We need male actors of all ages for our upcoming production of Lord of the Flies. If you’d like to take part in this exciting free audition/workshop pleas call our box office on 023 9273 7370.
Free
We look forward to seeing you!
