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PROJECT: EAST LONDON SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL PRESENTS ‘ROMEO AND JULIET’ & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME @ FELLOWSHIP SQUARE – JULY 2023
Information page for funders
Previous Projects, Productions & Successful Initiatives
23-26 June 2022 Twelfth Night + Community Engagement Programme at Fellowship Square
5 Performances
134 Pay What You Can Attendees
633 Attendees
31 Participants aged 3-11 years - Pendant Making Workshops
4 Local Schools, 251 students attended Schools Matinee + Workshop
Feedback from Fellowship:
"Fellowship Square was a great venue & it was lovely to see the kids playing in the fountains afterwards.”
“We were so excited to be seeing live theatre again for the first time since the start of the pandemic as I am CEV and not going to indoor venues. You didn't disappoint. It was a glorious production. So much so that we came to two venues. Thank you so much. Can't wait until next year.”
June - Aug 2022 Twelfth Night + Community Engagement Programme
37 Performances
3500+ tickets sold
29 x flower garland making workshops for 3-11 year olds
3 x school matinees/pre-show workshops – 251 students 7-16yrs
Community ensemble: 17 local people featured in 10 performances
3 Apprentice Schemes
Partnered with 13+ Community Partners & Local Businesses
21 Professional paid roles
The evaluation from our online survey, showeed that 99% of respondents “understood & enjoyed the performance," citing the key features as ‘joyful,’ ‘diverse cast,’ ‘beautiful setting.’ The majority walked or cycled to the show and their travel time was under 30 minutes.
See more feedback from our Community Engagement below.
June - Jul 2021 A Midsummer Night's Dream + Community Engagement Programme
21 Sold Out Shows
2000+ Tickets Sold
3 x School Matinees + Pre-show workshop
18 x Flower Garland Making workshops for 3-11 year olds
Amazing Community Ensemble - local people featured in the show
2 x Apprentice Schemes
Worked with 13+ Community Partners & Local Businesses
OFFIE Nomination for Best Company Ensemble
The evaluation from our online survey, showed that 98% of respondents “understood & enjoyed the performance.". A huge majority walked or cycled to the show and their travel time was under 30 minutes. As such our age range was huge, with an audience made up of 0-90 year olds.
See more feedback from our Community Engagement below.
Sept 2020 2 Metres to Shakespeare
Community Engagement Programme 2023/4
COMMUNITY CAST
STRUCTURE
Community Cast Provisional Schedule 2023
Rehearsal Schedule:
Community Ensemble Workshop:
1 x Saturday workshop, 10:00 – 1pm CENTRE17 (27-May) Intro to Romeo & Juliet
Community Cast to join the cast for:
2 x evening rehearsals, Wed, 7:30 – 9:30pm (31-May & 07-Jun)
2 x Saturday rehearsals, 10:00 – 1pm (03 & 10-Jun)
Dress rehearsal, Tuesday 14 June 6:30 – 9:30pm
Performance Schedule
X 2 Walthamstow Venues
Higham Hill Hub
Fellowship Square
x 5 Performances per venue:
Get in & rehearsal in space, Thursday 5:30pm
Thursday 7:30pm
Friday 7:30pm
Saturday 3pm & 7:30pm
Sunday 3pm
(Required 60 mins prior to show)
1 x Saturday workshop, 10:00 – 1pm CENTRE17 (01-Jul) Scene-work from Romeo & Juliet
Fellowship Square - Twelfth Night 2022
Higham Hill Hub - A Midsummer Night's Dream 2021
FEEDBACK FROM 2022
This opportunity was open to everyone, no experience necessary.
Our 2022 Cast was made up of 17 local participants from Hackney & Waltham Forest ranging from a babe in arms (7 months), to 65 yrs. Participants were: Black, Asian, from a minority ethnic group, LGBTQI+, Neuro-divergent (ADHD, Tourettes and autism.)
APPRENTICE SCHEME
2 Apprentice Actors engaged in ELSF's 2023 Summer professional tour of 'Romeo & Juliet':
East London Shakespeare Festival will engage 2 local young actors (Age 18-25) who have aspirations to go to audition for drama school and/or pursue acting professionally.
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Priority for these roles will be given to participants (18yrs+) who are members of Young Company, who will be invited to audition
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They will be full cast members and rehearse alongside the professional cast (25hrs p/w), obtaining a professional credit - please see dates below.
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They will multi-role playing: SAMPSON / MUSICIAN & GREGORY / PETER
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ELSF will provide four sessions of free tutoring/mentoring/training/audition prep to support their aspirations i.e. applying/auditioning to drama school, securing an agent, professional auditions.
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Fee: £980.00
Provisional Engagement Dates (STC)
Rehearsals: Thu 25th May – Sat 10th June (25hrs p/w Mon-Sat).
Performances (inc. dress reh. & get-ins)
13th - 18th June, Higham Hill Hub
Thu 22nd – Sun 25th June, Leyton Jubilee Park
Fri 30th Jun – Sat 1st July, Hoxton Community Gardens (Press)
Wed 5th – Sun 9th July, Fellowship Square
Fri 14th July – Sun 16th July, New North London venue TBC
Fri 21st – Sun 23rd July, Highams Park
Tue 25th July – Fri 28th July, Clissold Park
Thu 4th Aug – Mon 7th July, Valentines Park / Wanstead Park
Fri 11th Aug – Sun 13th Aug, Springfield Park
Apprentice Production/Marketing Assistant x 2
Building on our successful 2022 Kickstart Apprentice scheme (ELSF engaged 1 x Community Engagement assistant, 1 x Production Assistant), ELSF will develop new talent by appointing an Apprentice Producer/Marketing Assistant – a varied, entry level job, inc. 1-to-1 mentoring & wide scope for learning. 14 HRS P/W).
Role includes:
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With Marketing Associate & Assistant Director’s - Design Social Media campaign
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Weekly Social Media – implementing campaign above
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Assist Head of Creative Engagement in collating and updating databases, programme design and outreach
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Assist Producers/Artistic Directors with summer tour – face-to-face marketing scheduling, liaising with venues, assisting stage managers/designer/front of house manager
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14 HRS P/W @£9.50p/h (NMW). - 6 month contract - Flexible Schedule TBD between candidate and Artistic Director’s.
Work Experience
ELSF currently works closely with Crate St James, Big Creative, PinPoint Education, LBWF and Hackney council to offer work experience opportunities for young people, which have included:
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Interviewing Cast & Creative Team ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ 2021
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Rehearsal photographs, social media and video ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ 2021 & ‘Twelfth Night 2022’
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Performance Photography ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ 2021
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Shadowing Musical director ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ 2021
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Front of House ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ 2021 & ‘Twelfth Night 2022’
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2 x 6 month Kickstart Placements (1 x Community Engagement assistant, 1 x Production Assistant) ‘Twelfth Night 2022’
It will be the role of the Head of Creative Engagement to expand and develop our existing work experience programme to include work experience roles across the range of our projects.
LEGACY APPRENTICE ACTOR SCHEME 2021/2022
This opportunity was open to 18-24 yrs, for young people interested in pursuing acting professionally. They were cast in a paid, speaking role, joining the professional cast for the duration of the tour.
ELSF provided mentoring.
Matt Kasham - Philostrate / Starveling
Apprentice Actor 2021
ELSF provided drama school mentoring & audition prep
Since working with ELSF, Matt has:
Final recalls at multiple drama schools
Currently on Foundation course at Rose Bruford
Frank Alemitu Bertoletti - Valentine
Apprentice Actor 2022
During the run, Frank understudied & went on for Viola & Maria
ELSF provided industry mentoring inc. Spotlight/showreel/headshot advice, approaching agents & mock interview.
Since working with ELSF, Frank has:
Signed with Nina Lee Management
Now working professionally
KICKSTART 2022
BUSHRA BAIG
Apprentice Community Engagement Assistant
Part of our Kickstart team, facilitated by Crate, Walthamstow
CAT WINTER
Apprentice Production Assistant
Part of our Kickstart team, facilitated by Crate, Walthamstow
SCHOOLS PROGRAMME
ELSF School’s Programme 2023
Consolidation and expansion of ELSF’s School’s Programme:
ROMEO AND JULIET - Summer 2023
Hornsey Girl’s Student/Community Cast Project – Romeo and Juliet - July - Aug 2023
Venue: On-site @ Hornsey School For Girls, Crouch End. This will emulate the Community Cast at earlier venues.
The profesional production will be touring to Hornsey School for Girls in Aug 2023
Format:
2 x groups of 15 Hornsey Girls students (30 students in total) become part of the community cast for the run of shows at Hornsey School For GirlsThey will rehearse/take part in workshops with ELSF’s Community Ensemble Director on-site, in the week prior to public performances.
Workshops: 2 x 3 hour workshops/rehearsals: in the week prior to public performances led by Community Director.
DATES:
Rehearsal/Workshop dates: Sat 29th July & Wed 2nd Aug
Performances (during the public run) 04/08/2023 - 06/08/2023:
Fri 4th Aug 3-5pm “Dress rehearsal” (cue-to-cue) with professional cast
Each group of 15 will feature in 2 performances: Fri 4th Aug Eve / Sat 5th Aug Mat OR Sat 5th Aug Eve / Sun 6th Mat
SCHOOLS MATINEES & PRE-SHOW WORKSHOPS
Professional Production, Schools Matinees and pre-show workshop
We offer matinee performances to local schools, which include a 20-minute pre-show group workshop run by the members of the cast, to introduce the characters and themes to the students.
This opportunity will be shared to our database of 250+ schools in E. London, and The Hub (The Education and Childcare Network for LBWF) with priority given to Waltham Forest based schools. We want to make these shows as accessible as possible and therefore are offering tickets at the heavily discounted price of £3.80 per child (full price children’s tickets are £8). Provisional Schools Matinee Shows Times 2023:
Higham Hill Hub, E17 5QT Friday 16th June, 12.30 – 2:30pm
Leyton Jubilee Park, E10 7BL Friday 23rd June, 12.30 – 2:30pm
Fellowship Square, E17 4JF Friday 7th July, 12.30 – 2:30pm
The pre-show workshops are designed by our artistic directors, Rosie Ward and Ursula Early.
Expansion of School’s Programme
It will be the role of the Creative Engagement Director (with support from artistic directors) to expand and develop our existing schools’ programme. Including:
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Colloboate/work with current and new school networks to: develop, design and expand programme to include: bespoke on-site projects / workshops / performance projects, with and for local schools.
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Consolidate current database
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Create new relationships with teachers/schools/educational professionals
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Share Schools’ Matinee Programme
SCHOOL'S WE'VE WORKED WITH:
MARKETING & OUTREACH
Through previous sold-out projects, ELSF have a proven local marketing and outreach strategy in place (ELSF sold out all venues/shows during their 2021 season and Fellowship Square performances in 2022):
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Collaborate with the FS Comms team to market/promote project and participatory opportunities to local residents
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ELSF has established a strong SM following through previous projects and will run an active campaign on Twitter/Insta/Facebook
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ELSF is member of 20+ local SM groups (i.e. Walthamstow Life, Leyton Life).
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E-Flyers/ticket links will be shared/posted
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Partner organisations have committed online marketing in-kind on their SM platforms to achieve a diverse local participants.
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Partners include CentrE17, WF Culture team, RAW Academy, Higham Hill Hub, Big Creative, Natural Voices, Leyton Orient, local ward organisations etc
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Create engaging Flyers/Promo videos/Banners, using experienced designer Elodie Bass who designed our engaging 2022 print
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Partner organisation Stow Brothers offered to print flyers & offer online marketing
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Our new role of marketing Associate will offer outreach/marketing strategy
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Work with professional PR company to contact/invite local/national press to review the show.
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An important investment as will help to engage wider audiences for future productions and build ELSF’s brand London/UK wide.
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Distribute flyers/posters across wards/local businesses
LEGACY
As a springboard from Romeo and Juliet at Fellowship Square:
Through our work with our community cast and local schools, East London Shakespeare Company intends to launch a Young Company which will provide performance and training opportunities for young people (14-25 yrs) in Waltham Forest.
ELSF intends to expand it's team and create work for local people including a Creative Engagement Director to continue our outreach with Waltham Forest community.
CREATIVE TEAM
URSULA EARLY - CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Based in Chingford, Co-artistic Director and Producer of ELSF and Creative Producer for Walthamstow’s performance & Community venue The CentrE17.
With a career in theatre production spanning 20 years - producing and developing projects across London and for UK touring.
Ursula is also a community workshop leader and facilitator, designing and delivering an extensive range of acting and drama projects and workshops for theatre companies and Drama Schools. Including City Academy. She has Level 3 OCNLR Accredited Diploma in Leading Dance for Older People (course provided by Green Candle Dance Company. She is also currently on the professional development faculty of Dance Research Studio and teaches on their Professional Development Programme.
She is an invited member producer on the The Production Exchange and has been a producer on Old Vic New Voices TS Eliot US/UK Exchange and completed Stage One New producers workshops:
Ursula is also a professional actor with has an extensive acting CV and trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama
ROSIE WARD - CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / ROMEO AND JULIET DIRECTOR
Based in Leytonstone Rosie is the founder, Artisrtic Director and Producer of UpFront Theatre Company Ltd, an educational company offering PSHE workshops for KS2 - 5.
Projects include: Before Anyone Else (UK Tour), In Harm’s Way (UK Tour), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Charity Performance), BuckleUp (EdFringe16) and Bump! (EdFringe16.)
She is the Principal at Act Out Performing Arts, which has 2 successful schools for 4-16 yr olds in Muswell Hill and Walthamstow.
She is a professional actor & singer with an extensive CV. She trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
GENEVIEVE DUNNE – Movement Director
Genevieve trained in clowning and mime at the Jacques Lecoq school in Paris before completing a Masters in Acting at East 15. She has performed in theatres including The Lyric Hammersmith, The Orange Tree and Bristol Old Vic, working with companies such as Sell A Door, The Pleasance and Vital Stages, but has spent the last four years mainly touring the world with internationally acclaimed physical theatre company 1927 as well as producing modern adaptations of classical myths with her own company NMT Automatics.
As a Leytonstone girl, born and bred, Genevieve is delighted to be performing on home turf.
PATRICK RUFEY – Musical Director
Patrick is an experienced North London based Composer, Arranger & Musical Director. He has worked for several notable companies such as: Evolution Productions, Qdos, Blackburn International & The Canal Cafe Theatre, along with workshops for The PAD Studios, Flow Dance & Emil Dale Academy.
Patrick has collaborated with several named talents such as AJ Pritchard, Charlie Brooks, John Partridge, Richard David Caine & Sally Lindsay.
Composition includes 1066 The Musical
George Alexander – Designer
George is a designer and illustrator working across a wide range of creative industries, specialising in theatre and costume. With a background in sculpture from Goldsmith University, George began working as a scenic painter in 2010 and has worked on a number of films and music videos since. George's style incorporates contemporary themes with a love of historical fashion and traditional making processes. His passion for extremes allows him to generate pieces that can vary from the wildly extravagant to the absurdly minimal. George's recent work includes a giant mural painted in the lobby of the Unicorn Theatre in London Bridge and an illustration collaboration with the Fashion and Textile museum.
George's designs feature in A Midsummer Night's Dream as the cushions in Titania's bower
Pieces are available to purchase:
JONATHAN D'YOUNG - Fight Director
Jonathan was born and raised in South Woodford.
2022, Pure movement, devising and animal studies to BA Acting Yrs 1 & 2, Arts Ed.
2021 and 22, Mask to all years of the BA Acting (Performance) at the University of West London. Workshops combining mask, ritual and devising.
2021 and ongoing, Lead Movement tutor at The School (formally The Poor School) for the 2 Year Acting Diploma & Short courses. Developed and delivered curricula including rhythm, play, fundamentals, imagination, animal studies, and Laban
2021 Greek Tragedy, ensemble and chorus to MA Classical Acting, The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, in collaboration with Ingrid MacKinnon. Developed and delivered a curriculum with a focus on rhythm, dance, antiphone, and mask.
2015 – 2018 NMT Automatics, workshops at UK tour venues working community participants of ages 10 to 96 of all abilities into a Greek chorus to perform with professionals on Dido & Aeneas: Remixed and Pandora’s Box.
2019 Movement Director, Dinosaur puppet creature, Emily Whiteman, Short film, facilitated the animalistic movement characteristics of the full bodied puppet worn by the puppeteer.
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East London based theatre company