One of the few remaining bona fide theatre in education companies in London is touring a programme on bullying. GYPT (Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre) is presenting ‘Why Me?’, a full-day programme exploring the subject. Primary and secondary schools have already booked the programme for the term, but GYPT will return with it in the autumn. To find out more, ring artistic director Viv Harris on 0181 654 1316.
‘Kenneth’s First Play’ is not your common or garden Royal Shakespeare Company production. It’s a children’s play about a little boy going to the theatre for the first time. Written by Richard Nelson, an American playwright and RSC honorary associate artist, in collaboration with RSC repertoire consultant Colin Chambers, it’s an exploration of what a play is, looking at theatre from the ancient Greeks to today. It is being performed in matinees at the Young Vic Theatre on March 9, 14 and 19. A text of the play, together with study notes for schools and colleges, is published by Methuen, priced Pounds 6.99, and can be bought at the Young Vic. Bookings: 0171 638 8891.
on March 13 and 14, Swanbourne House School is presenting ‘The Mikado’ with a cast of nine to 13-year-olds, accompanied by an orchestra of local musicians conducted by the school’s director of music. The school decided to put on the production in part to publicise the funding plight of the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company which is in danger of going down after 120 years of performing Gilbert and Sullivan. The company, which receives no regular funding from the Arts Council of Great Britain, tours to 36 cities and towns around the country. To book performances and to find out how you can help D’Oyly Carte, ring Vincent Conyngham, director of music at the school on 01296 720 264 ext. 245.
The Connaught Theatre, Worthing, presents an adaptation of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ presented by Shakespeare 4 Kidz for children aged eight and up on February 28. For bookings, phone 01903 235 333.
‘The Hare and the Tortoise’, a reworking of Aesop’s fable written and directed by Vicky Ireland, can be see at the Polka Theatre, Wimbledon, until April 18. Aesop, being the kind of guy he was, would have probably approved of the inclusion of environmentalist messages. Box office: 0181 543 4888.
The London Bubble tours a new production of ‘Dealing with Feelings’, a puppet drama for four to nine-year-olds about dealing with anger, jealousy and frustration. The play, which was developed in consultation with the Tavistock Clinic, the National Children’s Bureau and Goldsmith’s Early Unit, is as engaging as it is affecting. Details: 0171 237 4434.
Sheffield Youth Theatre continues its 21st birthday celebrations with a half-term workshop season to create a youth theatre company touring production of ‘Hamlet’. For details, ring Meg Jepson on 0114 288 2929
