WORKSHOP INFORMATION 

The Weird Sisters regularly teach exhilarating performance workshops for young people and adults of all abilities.  Kath and Alison have many years of teaching experience and have taught in schools, colleges, universities, for adult education, youth theatre and women’s groups, and worked with people with head injuries and learning problems. We work intensively, but in an atmosphere of fun and enjoyment, facilitating each student regardless of ability or previous experience.

PHYSICAL AND VISUAL WORK

Our workshops typically focus on visual and physical aspects of theatre and on character creation through body and voice. We introduce students to the techniques through which recognisable characters may be created, developing the students’ confidence in their ability to conjure different identities through exploration of physical and vocal resources.   Improvisation is also used to explore the characters we create, through exercises done individually, in pairs, in small and large groups.

“The drama workshop for the Year 10 Expressive Arts students was a great success.  The students thoroughly enjoyed the work and gave positive feedback in their written evaluations. The workshop also enabled me to observe a high standard of drama teaching, which has provided me with further ideas and fuelled enthusiasm for my own teaching.”  Sally McLintock, Parkside Community College, Cambridge

“The workshop was a very useful pointer towards building character and narrative through the body...the classes were well paced and the material handled with confidence, insight and humour” J. Brook, University of Portsmouth

“Thank you so much for teaching us some weird and wonderful skills in your workshop.  We had so much fun and feel extremely inspired.”  G. Wilcox, University of Leeds 

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MASK WORK

We also offer mask workshops. Mask work is excellent for developing students’ physical communication skills and for creating comedy.  It often yields surprising results: the most timid students may find the mask very liberating, whereas the confident sometimes feel less secure when subjected to the discipline of mask.  Mask work is an excellent way to discover the power of gesture, simplicity, and physical control.  Mask work may form all or part of an entire workshop.

“Focusing on maskwork, the workshop explored in depth the realms of the physical, the comic and the raw emotional.  The Weird Sisters have an uncanny knack of drawing the best out of the simplest improvisations, intuitively guiding the actor into exciting new territory.”  Toby Frow, Oxford University

“Fabulous. A real experience.  I felt like I’d tapped into something really strong.  I was amazed to do so much in 3 hours” Bronwen, Southampton 

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STORYTELLING AND NARRATIVE

Another possible subject-area for workshops is storytelling and narrative, which students can use as the backbone of comic sketches, scenes or entire dramas. Skills taught include techniques for improvising stories, finding an ending, telling stories economically, reincorporation, keeping a clear focus.  We enjoy developing students’ imaginations through encouraging them to incorporate inanimate objects or non-human characters and to use their bodies to create whatever visual effects are appropriate for their stories.

“You did a workshop with me at Cowes High School and it was brilliant.  A whole new look at ‘Drama’” (Jenny)

“Your help was not only well timed, but also instrumental in helping us to develop the Narrators for the school production of Blood Brothers.  Your workshop was a real turning point.  Thank you”  Rob Thompson, Cowes High School

“Dynamic, innovative and hysterically funny, The Weird Sisters take the ‘work’ out of workshops and give a unique and unforgettable theatrical experience.” Naomi Lipscomb, Oxford  

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These are just some examples of the kind of workshops we do.  If you have any particular requirements not included here, please feel free to contact us.  We are happy to adapt workshops to the interests of your group.  We can help with devising group projects, with text-based work, or assist with  developing scenes for a production.  Just let us know what you would like.  Below we provide details about costs etc, plus the names of some referees.

DETAILS:  Cost: Workshops range from £50 to £100 per hour.

Maximum number of participants: 25.  Facilities required: large room.

Age of participants: 14 years (Year 10) and up.

REFERENCES:

Please email or phone (from within UK):

crsl@felsted.essex.sch.uk (Charles Lee, Felsted School, Essex, ph. 01371 820 258)

or katereed3@hotmail.com  (Kate Reed, Parkside School, Cambridge, ph. 01223 712600)

or phone Dee Jones, Henry Beaufort School, Winchester (01962 880073)

or Kay Allen, Netherhall School, Cambridge (01223 242931)

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