Thw Maddermarket Theatre
 
  • Youth theatre
  • In production
  • Weekend classes
  • Individual
  • Workshops
  • Past productions

The Maddermarket

Summer Drama

 

Nugent MonckYouth Theatre Weekend Classes from 6 years
The Maddermarket Theatre has had a thriving Youth Theatre for over thirty years, providing the first all important steps for young people (aged 6yrs +) wanting to make a career in the theatre, or those who wish to have a hobby that gives them a unique way of expressing themselves.

The course follows the academic year, with a detailed syllabus for each of the three terms. Each term students will develop specific theatre skills at a level relevant to their age and ability.

They will experience disciplines such as story-telling, improvisation and devising, movement, mask work, characterisation, vocal development and how to approach text, whilst learning how to convey action, atmosphere and tension through different theatre styles.

The final class of each term will take the form of an open workshop, presentation of work in progress, or performance to which friends and family are invited.

The classes are run by our professional teaching staff, who continue to work in theatre themselves. Specialists are brought in, as required, to give tuition in other areas of theatre such as mask-work, set design, costume, lighting and sound, and stage-combat.

Click here to download an application form for Adult and LAMDA classes...

Burying Your Brother

The Maddermarket Youth Theatre production group will perform Jack Thornes' 'Burying Your Brother In The Pavement' in the auditorium on Tuesday March 30th (7.30pm)

This is a play about grief, and about looking at someone just a little more closely.
Toms' brother is dead - killed by a broken bottle to the neck. This has upset a lot of people, but Tom remains strangely unaffected. Or rather it has upset him, but in ways he can't explain. Tom didn't really like Luke, but without him....

Jack Thornes' writing includes episodes of 'Skins' and 'Shameless' and he is currently writer in residence at the Bush Theatre.

Tickets cost £5.00 (concessions £3.00).

Details of Youth Theatre activity? More...

A Dream Play

A new version of August Strindberg’s ‘A Dream Play’ will be performed by the Maddermarket Youth Theatre production group on Sunday, July 11 (7.30pm). Tickets cost £5.00 (concessions £3.00).

A young woman comes from another world to see if life is really as difficult as people make it out to be. Characters merge into each other, locations change in an instant, and a locked door becomes an obsessively recurrent image in Strindberg’s 1901 play.

Strindberg wrote in his preface that he wanted to “imitate the disjointed yet seemingly logical shape of a dream. Everything can happen, everything is possible and probable. Time and place do not exist.”

Caryl Churchill’s spare and resonant new version was first staged at the National Theatre, London, in a production by Katie Mitchell. The Maddermarket production will include additional material by Katie Mitchell and the company.
       
 

Youth Theatre Weekend Classes from 6 years

The Maddermarket Theatre has had a thriving Youth Theatre for over thirty years, providing the first all important steps for young people (aged 6yrs +) wanting to make a career in the theatre, or those who wish to have a hobby that gives them a unique way of expressing themselves.

The course follows the academic year, with a detailed syllabus for each of the three terms. Each term students will develop specific theatre skills at a level relevant to their age and ability. They will experience disciplines such as story-telling, improvisation and devising, movement, mask work, characterisation, vocal development and how to approach text, whilst learning how to convey action, atmosphere and tension through different theatre styles. The final class of each term will take the form of an open workshop, presentation of work in progress, or performance to which friends and family are invited.

The classes are run by our professional teaching staff, who continue to work in theatre themselves. Specialists are brought in, as required, to give tuition in other areas of theatre such as mask-work, set design, costume, lighting and sound, and stage-combat.

Click here to download an application form for Adult and LAMDA classes...

  
 

Individual Tuition from £25.00ph (for under 18 years only)
One–to-one tuition can be invaluable for students who may wish to prepare for drama college, improve their chances at auditions, develop their vocal and presentation skills.

Sessions by appointment. Please call the Education Department.

Educational Workshops

We offer affordable, good quality theatrical training.
Our workshops are tailored to meet your individual needs, abilities and age ranges.
Come to us - with the added attraction of a tour of the Theatre - or we will come to you.
Training for Teachers
Discover new ideas & new energy on a Maddermarket Theatre Teacher Training Day. Tell us what you need and we will tailor a day of training for school staff.

Workshops for Students
Boost the classroom experience and complement in-school learning with a visit from our professional tutors. They can help bring dramatic text and theatre to life.

Shakespeare - language, stories, themes, characters.

Physical Theatre - mirroring, pace, Neutral masks, basic Laban, complicité, characterisation.

Vocal Development - warm-ups to develop & prepare the voice for performance, sound baths & pictures.
We teach skills which, if built into practical classes or rehearsal as part of a warm-up, can have a significant effect on performers’ voices.

Script/Text work - modulation, using the language & punctuation, subtext, finding an emotional connection.
An audience will hang onto every word of a performer who knows how to use their voice & work with the text.

Improvisation - ideal for preparing for a devised performance, role-play, building confidence and developing communication skills.
Improvisation Skills allow actors to act & react to each other spontaneously, developing plots, characters and situations.
Writers sometimes use actors to improvise scenes in order to establish character relationships and develop dialogue.

Combat skills - many plays involve scenes of physical confrontation.
Our resident combat specialist will teach safety and basic stage combat skills, plus the history of weaponry and fighting styles. He will also look at key scenes in classical plays (e.g. Romeo & Juliet, Dangerous Liaisons) and demonstrate a character’s motivation within a fight.

Directing - how do you direct a play? What should you be looking for? Are there any ‘rules’?
Our tutors work in professional theatre and bring their experience and skills into our classes. For GCSE Drama and higher, time spent with a professional director discussing scenes, characters, plot development, how to work with actors etc., is invaluable.

Preventing Anti-social Behaviour - aimed at 9-11year olds. We look at a typical day out in the city with George and John, to initiate a discussion about the kind of behaviour that might lead us into trouble…and how to avoid it. Video, discussion, games & exercises.

Costs
1 tutor for a 1½ - 2hr workshop £120.00
Maddermarket Theatre tours @ £2.50 per student

Requirements

  • We cater for up to 20 students per workshop. Any more will require a second tutor and a second space.
  • A member of your teaching staff must be available to support the tutor - student discipline will be your responsibility.
  • We need a suitable space to work in if we visit you.

The Maddermarket Youth Theatre is a member of the National Association of Youth Theatre

  • July 2009
  • March 2009
  • Spring 2008
  • Dec 2007
  • July 2007
  • March 2007

July 2009

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

March 2009

The Exam by Andy Hamilton.

The ExamThree students are sitting outside the examination room, waiting for a dizzy teacher to let them in to sit three different exams. What are their coping strategies? Will they take their parents' advice? How long can it take her to find the right key? Can Bea beat the dastardly ‘Ex’? There’s only one way to find out.

An hilarious script from Andy Hamilton, best known for the tv comedy, 'Drop the Dead Donkey', and many radio comedies.

Spring 2008

The Musicians by Patrick Marber
Pride and Prejudice

Supported by The Charing Cross Centre and Norfolk County Council

A British School orchestra is to give a concert in Moscow at the European Festival of Youth, playing Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony before an audience of cultural bigwigs. But their instruments have been impounded by customs due to the foolishness of Second Flute. Luckily Alex, the Russian boy who cleans the hall, is a devout Pinball Wizard fan who comes up with a plan that saves everyone.

December 2007

'Citizenship' by Mark Ravenhill.

CitizenshipSupported by The Charing Cross Centre and Norfolk County Council

A frank and confronting look at the confusions, desires and anxieties of a teenage boy on a journey of self-discovery. Tom wants someone to tell him who he is – is he straight, gay, bisexual? - and he is having a recurring dream, in which he is kissing a shadowy figure. The only problem is that he can't tell if the person is a woman or a man. This beautifully written bittersweet comedy about growing up follows Tom's journey as he tries to discover his sexual orientation

July 2007

Medea by Euripedes

MedeaSupported by The Charing Cross Centre and Norfolk County Council

Review - ‘I have just been privileged to be in the audience for another Maddermarket Youth Theatre Production.
The Previous show was an excellent devised musical whereas this was a well known, scripted play Medea by Euripedes. These youngsters rose to the challenge of Greek Tragedy magnificently and I am full of praise for the way in which they tackled this dark and bloody story.
I don’t want to mention individual names but obviously Medea must be congratulated on a huge part which drove the action. While not wanting to pick people out it is always the case that some people have a magnetic quality on stage and have that elusive thing “stage presence”. This is something that can’t be taught and has nothing to do with being given the biggest part. The girl with the red ribbon in her pony tail and the girl who acted out the poison scene held my attention, as did the girl with the amazing auburn hair. All credit to Creon and Jason for carrying off two tricky roles with conviction and sincerity…You did well to keep us believing in this tragedy which was really chilling as it reached it’s bloody climax.
The opening moments with dry ice and eerie music set the scene. In fact the lighting and effects throughout were most thoughtful and effective.
All credit to Judi Daykin and the helpers who were listed in the programme. A thought provoking and encouraging evening, which was thoroughly enjoyed by a large audience of parents and peer group supporters.’

March 2007

'Museum...Blackout' A devised musical.

MuseumSupported by The Charing Cross Centre and Norfolk County Council

They’ve got jazz, they’ve got blues, they’ve got OCDs…ADHD…and so much more!

A group of teenagers are on a visit the World History Museum. But despite their best efforts, it doesn’t all go smoothly.

Our talented young cast tackle their given theme of ‘hidden disabilities’ with a wonderful balance of fact, warmth and humour. You
can’t help but care about the characters, the songs are a joy and the story engaging.

 

 

Maddermarket Theatre ~ St. John's Alley ~ Norwich ~ NR2 1DR ~ Box Office: 01603 620 917