Northern Lights and The Bard

Drama workshops for over 50s – part discussion, part practical theatre techniques, voice work and scene work – without an audience. Learn how to read/approach plays, take them from page to stage with professional theatre director Clare Prenton.   This season the focus is on Ibsen, Chekov, and Strindberg as well as Shakespeare.  Please read Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for week one. All plays are available, free and online at this site.

To book please ‘phone box office on 01721 725777

Participant Pat Goodacre said:

“I wasn’t sure at first about joining Acting Up. I have an intermittent speech impediment and I’m pretty nervous about reading aloud in public.  But I was tempted, even though I was a bit worried.  Would it really be fun?  Would I feel put on the spot?  I dithered.

 A few weeks after joining I realised I had become, somehow at some moment, utterly hooked.  It is genuinely such fun!  I look forward to every session, avidly reading the play, trying to see some of the background and motivations of the characters, understanding so much more about the difficult job actors have and what is involved in making a play work.  And I chose, actually chose, on one occasion to learn some lines and speak them in public (completely optional)!  Wow!  Possible because everyone else was equally nervous and we egged each other on, supported by the endlessly patient, knowledgeable and non-judgemental Clare Prenton.

The speech impediment seems to have taken a holiday. Amazingly, I am more confident.  I can’t wait for next term, and going to the theatre has taken on a new level of observation and understanding.”