Graham Clarke's "Joe Carpenter and Son" | 24th December 2012

On Christmas Eve Stage One performed for their fourth and final time this Christmas the acclaimed nativity play Joe Carpenter and Son - at the Methodist Church here in Folkestone. We enjoyed performing to a whole packed and appreciative church-full of folk - and took the form of a Christingle Service, our performance being preceded by some carols and prayer, and at the end special Christingles were given out and so signifying the joy and light of Christ coming into the world.
The Methodist Minister lovingly explained their meanings and then we sung more carols before a final prayer of blessing. It was an immensely joyful afternoon, following by tea and mince pies! In our play, we were joined by others, some new to acting - and it was a good experience for us working together - learning words, sorting our costumes, working our movements, helping one another. Four-out-of-four to Stage One, we felt!

Graham Clarke's "Joe Carpenter and Son" | 22nd December 2012)

On Saturday StageOne performed Graham Clarke's "Joe Carpenter and Son" at the St. Paul's Church, Sandgate. There was a lovely and happy and generous atmosphere this afternoon - people commented and thanked us for such an enjoyable afternoon and a real Christian feeling to the performance. The parishioners joined in the carol-singing and angel parts and they loved the acting and all the dressing up. StageOne will be performing the final Jo Carpenter and Son at Folkestone Methodist Church on Christmas Eve at 4pm.

StageOne Drama Quiz | 11th December 2012

On Tuesday last Paul, one of our newest members, led us in a quite demanding Christmas quiz - but the icing-on-the-cake and fun lay in us trying act our dramatically the answers - involving well-known Christmas carols, books, sayings and customs. We then had a planning session, to put together our Tuesday weekly programme fresh for the start of 2013 up to Easter. We have a very varied programme lined up which we look forward to sharing with you -as well as, of course, preparing for our February Puss in Boots Panto - and our Easter presentations.

Puss in Boots rehearsal - 9th December 2012

StageOne production is really coming on well and all actors are really getting into their roles and already learning lines.

On Sunday StageOne performed Graham Clarke's "Joe Carpenter and Son" at St. Saviour's Church

On Sunday StageOne performed Graham Clarke's "Joe Carpenter and Son" at St. Saviour's Church, Folkestone. It was a superb performance with great costumes, and props including a postman’s bike. A truly enjoyable show for parishioners and their families.StageOne will be performing Graham Clarke's "Joe Carpenter and Son" at the U.R.C Folkestone this Friday.

StageOne performed Graham Clarke's "Joe Carpenter and Son" at the U.R.C Church,

On Friday StageOne performed Graham Clarke's "Joe Carpenter and Son" at the U.R.C Church, Folkestone. It was another superb performance with excellent costumes and visual aids including a postman’s bike, feather duster, and a baby. StageOne will be performing Graham Clarke's "Joe Carpenter and Son" at St Paul’s Church, Sandgate on 23rd December at 3pm, and at Folkestone Methodist Church, Folkestone on 24th December at 4pm.

Puss in Boots rehearsal - 18th November 2012

StageOne continues with rehearsals for Puss in Boots this week. We have completed our first run through of both acts and will be looking each scene more closely.

StageOne took part in the Aconcagua Expedition 2013 variety concert

StageOne took part in the Aconcagua Expedition variety concert on Saturday 17^th November and performed two very memorable sketches. The first was called “Bloodnok’s Confession” and was written by a member of StageOne and based on the Goon Show character Major Bloodnok. The sketch basically shows Bloodnok going to confession in a church and having to pay extortionate prices and then finding it wasn’t a church at all and that the priest was a thief.  

The Second sketch is called Shaune’s Flood, by Trevor Fletcher. Two sheep reminisce about Noah and the building of the Ark.

Puss in Boots rehearsals - 5th November 2012

StageOne continues with rehearsals for Puss in Boots this week. We have completed our first run through of both acts and will be looking at songs and singing this coming week. Songs were featured in our production of Aladdin. This time we are including more and given each character a chance to shine. 

Puss in Boots rehearsals - 30th October 2012

StageOne had its rehearsals for Puss in Boots this week. We have completed the frist run through Act 1 and started Act 2 Next rehearsals are this Friday and Sunday.

See http://stageone.org.uk/pussinboots

Puss in Boots rehearsals - 14th October 2012

StageOne had its rehearsals for Puss in Boots this week. Both went very well. Next rehearsals are this Friday and Sunday.

See http://stageone.org.uk/pussinboots

Puss in Boots rehearsal - 5th October 2012

StageOne had its first rehearsal for Puss in Boots on Friday. It went very well with excellent direction and ideas. All actors are already getting into their characters. Next rehearsal is this Sunday.

http://Stageone.org.uk/pussinboots

Play Reading Workshop "Hamlet" - 2nd October 2012

Last night we had our second session of reading through Hamlet which went down well. Most of us had a read through and it only mildly struggled with some on the words, though this was explained expertly by Michael.

It was well received during our first session and equally so during our second, with a few of us reading some of Hamlet

's big soliloquies.

One of the longest plays (ever!) at a running time of four hours (!) plus Hamlet is a tale of murder and revenge. Hamlet discovers his father (who visits him as a ghost) was murdered by uncle who has consequently married his mother and has been made king. Hamlet decides what to do next and uncover the truth.

We all wait with baited breath what will happen next. The play's the thing!

 

See stageone.org.uk

Holy Trinity Pet Service | 30th September 2012

The Holy Trinity pet service was once again very well attended with lots of friendly dogs and cats, as well as a hamster, a very speedy tortoise, and a couple of engaged teddy bears. The service itself was lovely with some very hymns and interviews with pets and pet owners.

In the psychologist's chair and Freeze Framing | 25th September 2012)

"In the psychologist's chair" session this week (lead by Roger) saw us taking turns of 'relaxing' in the very special 'chair' - but without either sight, hearing or speech - and how we could otherwise react to some amazing, surprising, unbelievable news being given to us by the psychologist! Not easy - especially for those in role play - but hilarious for the audience!

There was a biblocal basis in examples of people being struck dumb (Zechariah), blinded (St Paul) or being deaf to Jesus' message (many!) A fun final session if this part was a scenario in which the Pope unexpectedly comes to Lambeth Palace to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury and offering the hand of friendship and an apology for past splits the Pope had apparently learnt from his contemporary, Notrodarmus in France, that Churches Together in Folkestone would be demanding unity in the 21st century - so he was trying to get in first!!

In the second session (lead by John) we practised "freeze-framing" techniques in which the acted out a sketch with two groups of actors either side of a dividing screen, not therefore being able to see each other - and having to very carefully listen to each other for coded signs when they were finished and ready to freeze and the other group to unfreeze and come back to life. We discussed various types of such codes and signs -short of mental telepathy!

Puss in Boots 2nd Auditions | 16th Sept 2012

StageOne held its second set of auditions for Puss in Boots. StageOne had a good response with a few new faces and lots of talent.

Inside / Outside & Drama Core Skills Workshops | 11th Sept 2012

On Tuesday we couldn't have had a more contrasting two sessions - to begin with, we actually walked around parts of Folkestone to ascertain how the coming of night (i.e. the absence of light) changes hoe we perceive/see things - people, views, familiar places and buildings, and the fall of night, so often depicted as a time of retreat, sleep, uncertainty, mystery...so can ALSO become a time of awakening, existence albeit of a different kind, nocturnal wildlife - foxes, owls, bats, etc and unfortunately human beings..- we shared our experiences of a night walk and our thoughts -and how these essential human aspects of life might be demonstrated on stage.

In our second session, Sue led us in an improvisation session - practising a scene in which people go to a cafe to be serves - we all took on at the last moment different characters and the chemical interaction was both comical and critical - we both praised and tore each other apart for our impromptu acting - all in good faith and in good spirit!

Puss in Boots 1st Auditions | 9th Sept 2012

StageOne held its first set of auditions for Puss in Boots. StageOne had a good response with a few new faces and lots of talent. The next audition is 16th September. See www.stageone.org.uk

Puss in Boots Prodcution | Sept 2nd 2012

This week is the first of our auditions for production of Puss in Boots. So come on down and see what its all about.

See http://stageone.org.uk/pussinboots/index.html

Opera and Dance Workshop | 24th July 2012

Last Tuesday we has a very contrasting double session - Dave led us to see the conclusion of the opera CARMEN -we learnt a lot about the unpredictability of operatic stories - whic always makes for good drama! Unfortunately most of us don't have within our vocal chords those contralto and tenor voices to act it out of stage...if only!

In our second half, we learnt to improvise dance sequences to that well-known hymn Shine Jesus Shine...the words and tune might be familiar, but try acting it our with foot, arm and body movements…no mean feat! Sue ably led us in this session, ably assisted by Elisa, well-versed in ballet movements as a professional, and a most enlightening and liberating time was had by all. We are looking forward to our next Dance session!

Singing and Goon Show Script Reading Workshop | 17th July 2012

On Tuesday StageOne had another very successful singing workshop with the two Ians where StageOne sang old musical favourites including “Consider Yourself”, “Has Anyone Seen Kelly”. Dave Hellens lead a hilarious Goon Show script reading workshop in which StageOne read “The Affair of The Lone Banana” script with sound effects.  

Drama Games and Core Skills Workshop | 10th July 2012

On Tuesday Paul lead a very successful drama games workshop and got us all thinking very hard. StageOne divided into two teams and the games included “What’s My Mime”.  Shelly lead a core skills workshop that focused on characterisation and required each member to adopt a particular character. What fun we had.  

Another Brilliant Mavis and Ray Special Workshop (19th June 2012)

On Tuesday StageOne had another Mavis and Ray Special Workshop. StageOne divided its members into two groups to represent the committees of two clubs: A Over 55s social club and a Youth Club. The aim of the exercise was to have the fictional two committees discuss expansion ideas for the clubs, how to use the land effectively, and decide what to do about the main area of contention which was the border between the two buildings occupied by each club.

Amazingly both groups were able to negotiate a compromise without getting into a heated discussion and listen to each sides ideas and thoughts.

A very cleverly devised scenario with a happy ending.

http://stageone.org.uk/news/news.shtml

Singing & Core Skills Workshop (22nd May 2012)

On Tuesday StageOne had a very productive singing workshop and everything that StageOne had learnt about singing, for example standing up straight, deep breaths, and projection was put into practice.

Sue led another memorable Core Skills and Sketch Acting workshop by introducing us to a sketch about being prepared and unprepared. In this case there was a fully prepared and geared up mountaineer and a wannabe mountaineer who thought he didn’t need all the gear. It was a narrated sketched with some very funny actions and plenty of ideas can be used to perform this.  

http://stageone.org.uk/news/news.shtml