Act One

15/05/2020

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - The Wizard of Oz (1/8) Movie CLIP (1939) HD

120 yrs since The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published. Today marks author L. Frank Baum's birthday - his ancestors were Ulster Scots. As WW Denslow's illustrations show, Dorothy's shoes were silver, not ruby. Take a moment to play this on full volume: https://youtu.be/PSZxmZmBfnU

The Wizard of Oz movie clips: http://j.mp/1L5gtKP BUY THE MOVIE: http://bit.ly/2cmiEyC Don't miss the HOTTEST NEW TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/1u2y6pr Watch more ...

09/01/2019

What a superb start to the new term and the new year. Our first session of 2019 was spent looking at how to keep the audience engaged whilst building a storyline. We warmed up and then had a bit of fun running scenes during which the players could only speak in questions. (This exercise encourages focus, listening closely to your fellow actor, spontaneous improvisation skills and how to cope under pressure with an audience.) Students then explored ways in which we could use exposition and dramatic irony to maintain interest and develop plotlines. Great work from both juniors and seniors.

10/11/2018

Act one returned last week with bags of energy and creative ideas. This week the juniors welcomed a potential new student to the group and we used a variety of exercises to encourage idea sharing and cooperation. Vital skills for a budding actor.
Senior students worked with various Firework themed poems using them as inspiration to create engaging improvisations and soundscapes.

Great work all!

23/09/2018

What a wonderful start to the term! . After their incredible performances at the end of last season, Act One have welcomed several new students to the junior group and proudly watched as some of our students graduated into the seniors group. We also launched our brand new, drop in, imagination sessions: Little Lofties, which has been a resounding success so far and already garnered a recommendation on ' Mum's net '. To top it all off, 3 of our senior students have been selected to perform in main-stage productions throughout the course of the coming year. The 2018-2019 season is gonna be a cracker and we are all thrilled to be back ! X

17/09/2018

Act One returned after a long summer break and welcomed several new students to our groups who have immediately settled in.
We also launched Little Lofties, our brand new, no commitment drop-in session for 4-7 year olds. The little ones have had tonnes of fun creating their own stories, dressing up, bouncing about like bunny rabbits and using their imaginations to create magical worlds and experiences.
It's a genuine pleasure to be back in the studio with our little starlets and we can't wait for this week's session!

09/08/2018

So whilst our students have recovered from their performances and enjoyed their holidays we at Act One have been busy preparing for our new term and our BRAND NEW group for 4-7 year olds, Little Lofties: Imaginative play and drama games specially designed to help structure creative ideas and encourage team work and cooperation. All with oodles of fun thrown in of course.
Saturday afternoons 2-3pm. No sign up. Simply pay to play weekly. Beginning 8th September 2018.

10/07/2018

Act One bring the The Princess, The Frog and Big Nosed Prince to the main stage at Leamington’s Loft Theatre

Our very first preview for our very first main-stage production!!! My toes are tingling with excitement for this!
THANK YOU Act One for 2 incredible years, I love you all!

Act One, Leamington Loft Theatre's resident youth group, make their main stage debut with newly penned fairytale The Princess, The Frog and Big Nosed Prince.

11/06/2018

It's nearly time for my Lil starlets to shine big and bright and show Leamington what they are made of!! .. Act One - You have been my focus and inspiration for almost 2 years, building your skills, focus and team spirit whilst simultaneously feeding from your energy, creativity and passion. Now it's almost time for our 1st mainstage show and I am so proud of each and every one of you! Go get em ... Let your little lights shine!!! :)

23/04/2018

This week our junior students took a break from rehearsals and spent the session building focus, concentration and team skills. Seniors tried on and selected various costumes for the summer show before rehearsing the opening scenes. Great, fun session... next week: Back to work! ;)

31/03/2018

Junior and senior students got together this week to rehearse our summer play in its entirety. Everyone worked really hard for our final session of the term. We are now off for an Easter break until 21st April.
Happy Easter to all :)

21/03/2018

Rehearsals for our summer production, an interactive family show, "The Princess, The Frog and The Big-Nosed Prince," are going swimmingly! Juniors scenes are blocked and seniors have made a good start!
Well done all!

12/03/2018

Act One began working on movement and blocking for our summer show today. Juniors also had a go at drawing their ideal set... . they already have some smashing ideas which we can hopefully produce for use in performance.

Great work Act One! :)

02/03/2018

Act One will be closed tomorrow owing to the bad weather and hazardous travel conditions.

X

27/02/2018

Act One students returned after half term to discover their roles in our summer production The Princess, The Frog and The Big Nosed Prince. We took the session to get to know the characters with a read through before we start work on blocking next week.
It's already sounding fab and we can't wait to see what they can do! :)

10/02/2018

Act One senior students WOWED us this week with some spontaneous improvisation designed to encourage players to consider how they effect the dynamics of a piece when entering a scene (discovering that status, pace, mood and energy have a huge impact on fellow actors and their performance).
Juniors had a fun packed "free choice" session during which they chose their favourite drama games to play before knuckling down after the half term to focus on our big summer production.

Great session! See you all in 2 weeks!! :)

03/02/2018

Act One Juniors spent the session working on their concentration skills and focus. We discussed the 4th wall and its importance in performance. Students then took turns to imagine said wall and maintain focus whilst their fellow actors tried to make them laugh. Later in the session they devised a secret code that would safely lead a blindfolded player through a minefield before finishing off with some superb improv!
Seniors focused on their storytelling and narration skills, with an emphasis on including audience interaction, in order to prepare them for our summer panto. They finished the session off writing a brand new Act One chant for us to use on a weekly basis.

"We make them sigh, we make them cry and laugh until they split their sides.
We act as one, we ARE Act One. Now let's go out and have some fun!"

Brilliant work all round.

Thanks also to the fantastic Clare Sykes for stepping in to help us out this week. Great to have you with us Clare!

27/01/2018

Act One juniors welcomed another new student this week and spent the session breaking down their characters for our upcoming summer production. We explored how body language, voice and movement can enhance the words upon the page and really bring characters to life before inventing our own 7 dwarves, each with unique names and character traits. (I think Richy was my favourite: A mega-rich gold tycoon who always got the goods!) Great work!
Senior students got up on their feet and read the play through. We began to explore the blocking and stage directions completed with some "audience interaction" practice along the way.
A really encouraging session from everyone!
Well done Act One!

21/01/2018

Act One spent this week looking at theatrical style and comedic stereotypes. We discussed the evolution of Commedia dell'arte and the similarity between the larger than life characters used and todays pantomime roles We then put what we had learned into practice with some improv. A really productive session all round.

15/01/2018

Act One spent this week's sessions looking at characterisation and improvisation with a focus on collaboration and idea sharing. We also created t.v. ads for some imaginary products ... my favourite was the child control hat which parents can use to placate their unruly children! ... Great, imaginative work from all. :)

09/01/2018

Act One returned this week and began reading through the script for our summer production, a panto themed family show which is sure to be a cracker!
We are all looking forward to welcoming 2 new members to the Juniors on Saturday and are all thrilled to be back after the winter break.

02/12/2017

Act One: you little beauties!!! What a wonderful week's work! Lots of work on establishing mood, facial expression and body language this week and a plethora of ideas and imagination. Our new junior members are settling in brilliantly and really beginning to show their talents, working confidently within the group . Really proud of them all. Well done Act One!!

25/11/2017

Act One juniors spent the week working on cooperation, quick thinking and using body language and movement alone to create moods, set scenes and tell the story.
Great work all round.
Seniors used the session to examine the relationship between movement and pace, discovering that the two can often be linked. We then analysed the impact of pause and silence and how to "earn" these moments on stage. We discovered that increasing the staged movements and pace before a scripted silence gives the stillness and quiet a greater impact. We then staged a talkshow during which crazed family members discussed their gripes with one another.
A very productive week!

19/11/2017

This week the juniors continued their work on sound effects and sounds-scapes creating scenes for each other using a variety of sounds for their fellow actors to respond to. We then moved on to work on idea sharing by placing ideas in a hat and utilising whichever scenarios were selected.
Senior students had a fun session filled with drama games designed to expand on their improvisation skills.
Fantastic work Act One!!!

11/11/2017

Brilliant work from Act One this week as the juniors worked on using sound for inspiration and following cues. Seniors worked on presentation of a poem for remembrance day before a bit of talk-show silliness.
A warm welcome to our two newest members who showed great presentation skills and imagination.
Well done all!

07/11/2017

Act one returned from the half term break on Saturday 4th. Juniors brought a whole lot of energy in with them as we worked with the theme TRAPPED. They worked together to share ideas and devise 2 pieces set in a mental institute, creating some truly haunting work. Our new members settled in well and really came out of their shells :)
Seniors worked on instant improvisation with the added challenge of only being able to speak in questions. They then went "speed-dating" with each other, trying to figure out assigned quirky character traits.
Great fun and some really imaginitive work. Well done guys!
:)

29/10/2017

Wow! What can I say!

Act One seniors have surpassed themselves this weekend as supporting cast members for StageFright Live at Kenilworth Castle. Our members, ranging in age from 12 to 15 scared the pants off of the public with their immersive, creepy and often startling performances....
I am so proud of each and every one of them for their sense of professionalism and dedication toward this event.
We have had over 2000 visitors to Kenilworth Fright-Nights this year and some fantastic feedback with 5* reviews; Act One were a part of what made this event the success that it was and my thanks and congratulations go out to them all... fantastic work!

07/10/2017

Act One Jnrs have welcomed more new students this week and got busy working on clarity of content, observation skills and plotting a crime or two. We saw lots of lovely team work and idea sharing!
Seniors rehearsed their parts for our appearance with Stagefright at Kenilworth Castle before having fun with some ghoulish characters at a party.
Well done all. Looking forward to next week when we will be welcoming the wonderful Sue Kent and Andrew Woolie for a special effects make up and story telling masterclass!

01/10/2017

This week the Act one juniors had a fun filled session jam packed with drama games designed to encourage confidence, concentration and team work. The seniors will be shadowing me at a professional scare event over the Halloween period. We used this week to familiarise ourselves with the text and devise a visual compliment to the story.
Great work Act One!

19/09/2017

Act One juniors welcomed another new student this week and spent Saturday's session working with the theme "secrets". They devised their own secret code to be cracked by the "detective" We then invented a fictional mystery tour ... the group had to improvise at being explorers whilst the tour guide gave clues as to where they were. Loads of creativity and imagination shown whilst exploring their new environment! Well done all!
Seniors focused on dramatic power shifts and creating clarity in characterisations. It's always a pleasure to watch these young performers and this week was no exception.
Looking forward to this week's session when both groups will be getting some hands on experience in the lighting box :D

18/09/2017

Act One

Act One

ACT ONE ARE BACK AND NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR TIDDLERS!
This Saturday 9th September.
Juniors (5-11 years) 10:15 am
Seniors (12+years) 11:45 am
Limited places available for both groups.
FREE trial session available.
Call Elizabeth on 01926 259679 for further details.

10/09/2017

Act One returned yesterday with 2 cracking sessions designed to help new students settle in and get to know us better. We then looked at spontaneous improvisation with the students showing some real quick wit, team work and creativity.
Well done all!

04/09/2017

ACT ONE ARE BACK AND NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR TIDDLERS!
This Saturday 9th September.
Juniors (5-11 years) 10:15 am
Seniors (12+years) 11:45 am
Limited places available for both groups.
FREE trial session available.
Call Elizabeth on 01926 259679 for further details.

05/08/2017

Act 1 team members have been thrilling both adults and children alike with our Tiddlers Circus Parade at Leamington Art In The Park event.

We will be there again tomorrow, running free workshops for children aged 5-11 years. 12:30 and 2:30 pm

22/07/2017

So Act One has only one session left until the end of our first year and we have had an absolute ball!
We have been filled with pride week after week as we watched our youngsters grow and develop as performers and team-mates.

We will be running some free workshops at Art in the Park (Jephson Gardens) on August 5th and 6th. Catch us at The Loft Theatre Stand by the main entrance to the park at selected intervals throughout the day and help us to create a Grand Circus Parade!

Thank you to everyone who has supported over the past year... we all look forward to many more!