|
| News from SchoolPlay |
| July 2010 |
Play of the Month Which actually comes as a musical No Place For A Girl and as a straight play Sweet F.A. NO PLACE FOR A GIRL SWEET F.A. by MARK WHEELLER The true story of Southampton girl Sarah Stanbury and her struggle to gain recognition as a soccer player. Just like her Dad, Sarah, or "Sedge" as she is known to most people, has always liked football . . . her Mother hates it! Despite her talent, the football authorities prevent her from playing for her school. Nevertheless her ambition remains firm and by the age of 16 she has become a regular first team member of a Womens' Football Association adult Super-League Club and an England Womens' Under 21 International. Mark Wheeller speaking about No Place for a Girl/Sweet FA "This was the first musical I wrote after having written three successful plays. The script shows my gaining confidence. I wrote this to be my major “hit” and felt sure it had the potential to take over Zigger Zagger with the added advantage of being suitable for a predominantly or completely female cast. I had started to write my own school musicals as it was so hard to find material that fitted the particular problems I encountered when casting ones I wanted to put on. In particular I found that the people who were the best actors were not necessarily the best singers. This meant that main roles would always go to good singers and the best actors may choose not to get involved. In my own Musicals I tailored these needs into the written piece. In No Place For A Girl none of the main characters need to be able to sing and none of the main singers need to be able to act. I also found that the script side of popular school musicals do not offer opportunities to model the style of work and level of creativity I would want my GCSE/Btec students to use. No place for a Girl was written immediately after the success of Too Much Punch For Judy and Hard To Swallow which have now both become standard fare for GCSE candidates. I wanted to craft a musical which offered the Drama teacher as much opportunity for imaginative staging as any of my plays might do. This Musical tells a true story in the words of the people who lived that life (as both the plays above did). I concentrated on developing an imaginative script and handed the task of writing the songs to Brian Price who created a fabulous score (music and lyrics). Sweet FA was adapted from the full length play so that teachers can use it as an exam piece. However I still like it best in its full Musical version. The Bridesmaid scene from the musical was one of the first scenes I selected to appear in my DVD Wheellerplays - The Definitive Authors Collection which comes out in the summer of 2010. This is an scene which models how to use a large chorus imaginatively and effectively. It remains one of my favourite Wheellerscenes. ". Mark Wheeller Click on the play title to see full details and read online. |
|---|
| NOW ON FACEBOOK |
SchoolPlay Productions now as it's own Facebook page We hope you will share your experiences, post reviews of your productions and upload photographs CLICK HERE TO VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE The following titles also have their own Facebook pages. Blackout Operation Pied Piper No Place For A Girl Sweet F.A. The Most Absurd Xmas Musical in the World.......Ever! |
| A New Play now available | |
|
FORTY by Matt Smith, John Winson & Stephanie Winson A one act play set during WW1 How a soldier and his family coped he in the trenches them waiting at home ..... it has an unexpected and interesting twist at the end Click below to go directly to this show
|
| NEW TITLE ADDED TO THIS POPULAR SERIES | |
Just arrived Julius Caesar We are pleased to announce that you can now purchase The Inessential Shakespeare by John & Leela Hort The Kabet Press through SchoolPlay Productions Ltd. Shakespeare in modern English Hamlet Ideal for the classroom or the school play, a good choice for amateur theatre groups, EFL students or as preparation for a theatre visit.
|
| WINNING WITH SCHOOLPLAY PRODUCTIONS |
Congratulations to The Orpen Players of West Bergholt, Colchester, Essex. Winners of BEST YOUTH PRODUCTION BEST YOUNG ACTRESS BEST YOUNG ACTOR with their entry in the NORTH ESSEX THEATRE GUILD'S ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL 2010 WE'LL BE HOME TOMORROW by Wayne Denfhy
|
| SAME MUSICAL NEW TITLE | |
BLACKOUT OPERATION PIED PIPER Mark Wheeller's wartime musical focusing on the plight of the evacuees in this famous "operation" is being re-launched under this new title (from one of the catchy songs) as part of the 70 years anniversary of the start of World War II. Previously known simply as BLACKOUT it was Mark's most performed musical in 2008. " The evocation of the period was so good that I spent the first act waiting for Vera Lynne's entrance." Hugh David: Times Educational Supplement. Click below to go directly to this show
|