We are pleased to announce that we are now taking bookings for our Summer Holiday Programme 2012!

Summer Holiday Programme 2012 July 23rd – August 10th.

Venue: Lewisham College, Lewisham Way, SE4 1UT

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Join us for holiday fun singing, dancing and acting at the beautiful studios in Lewisham College, 9.30-4.30 daily. All teachers are West End and industry professionals.

In addition to the tutors, we have experienced teaching assistants and a team of volunteers so that we all have a safe and very happy time.

Limited places so do book and put in your diary now – call us now on 0208 692 7007 for booking details!

NEW!! Early Starters Musical Fairytales -  9.30-11am daily!

Week 1 – 23rd – 27th July

Week 2 – 30th July – 3rd August

Week 3 – 6th – 10th August

A fun introduction to musical theatre for the earliest ages with daily sessions in drama, dance and singing and a presentation on stage on each final day!

Tutor: Liz Chambers

Week 1: Showtime: ‘Fame’!

23rd – 27th July, 9.30-4.30 daily.

5 – 14 yrs

A specially arranged performance of songs and dances from the famous musical about the hopes and dreams of students at a performing arts school! Daily classes in dance, drama and singing and perform on the final day in costume and make-up!

Tutors: Leigh Coleman, Claire Hammett and Bernadette Arthur.

Week 2: : Digital Magic: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

30th June – 3rd August, 9.30-4.30 daily.

5 – 14 yrs

Do you have the golden ticket? A musical film week creating a dance and multi-media version of this classic Roald Dahl story!

Film it. Dance it. Act it. Direct it.  Create your version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory…

Tutors: Judy Gordon, Leigh Coleman and Jo Newell.

Week 3: JUNIOR GLEE WEEK! 

6th – 10th August:, 9.30-4.30 daily.

5 – 14 yrs

Song and dance from comedy to ballads, street to funk, ballet to tap – learn show numbers from film, stage and TV to perform what you’ve learnt at the end of the week.

Tutors: Leigh Coleman and Claire Hammett

CALL NOW TO BOOK YOUR PLACE!

020 8692 7007
office@montagetheatre.com

Tales of Ambition,  May 5th at Chisenhale Dance Space, London.

This piece is part of an evening of dance created by experienced choreographers in north-London companies working with older performers, Dreams in Bloom. There is no funding involved and all has been self-financed. MTA has organised this in partnership with Soom Dance Company in the hope of developing excellent and exciting funded performance platforms for work by and with older people in the future.

This new piece of dance theatre is where Judy returns to her roots of performance using personal histories, working with original music by harmonica player Bill Smith, and choreographing to Duke Ellington, Mahalia Jackson and Chorus Line’s “One“.

Conceived, directed, text edited, sound design and choreographed by Judy Gordon.

Original Composition and Harmonica playing: Bill Smith.

Sound/text recording: Jo Newell

Costume design by company, sourced by Keji Dixon

Production Assistant: Lucy Scarrott

A journey of ambition – where it starts, where it  goes…  17 older women weave their own beautiful and amusing stories of past dreams and life-affirming moments in a new dance theatre piece driven by jazz classics and blues, culminating in an ambitious  show–stopping tap dance routine  – complete with sequinned shirts, hats, canes and fishnet tights!

Cast:

Soloists: Keji Dixon, Emel Deniz, Marilyn Ward (writer and performer)

Monica Gittens, Norma Scott, Sheila Mehmet, Pauline Williams, Noele Abeydeera, Claudette Parchment, Carmen Dacres,

Delores Hamilton, Marjorie Jones, Gwen Rose, Ethel Senior, Josie Thorn,  Oriel Weekes, Lucy Scarrott

Bill Smith, musician – Tales of Ambition

“I have been playing harmonica for 45 years and am currently in four different bands and two other duos. I am an active painter working towards a major exhibition. I currently work in and am co-designer of the Outside In Project with people with a learning disability. I have designed the next project ‘Arrival’ which is awaiting an Arts Council grant. I am the published author of ‘Advertising Armstrong Siddeley’, Armstrong Siddeley – the Whole Story and the 100 Club – an oral history.” www.billtheartist.com

The final dance number will be appearing in numerous Olympic events including the Big Screen on Blackheath, the Big Dance Bus at Lewisham Shopping Centre, Hilly Fields Fayre and on the Broadway Theatre, Catford.

This same group that will be performing in another piece, Dancing Voices, at the Royal Festival Hall in the opening Cultural Olympiad event in July with East London Dance.

MTA presents…

This Is My Story

A series of masterclasses and workshops aimed at aspiring actors, writers and theatrical technicians.

Scriptwriting, audition technique, directing, voice coaching and technical direction sessions with Artistic Director, Judy Gordon and guest teachers.

If you are interested in devising, discovering and developing your own theatre company, come and join the Youth Theatre Company next term!

When: Tuesdays from 24th April-10^th July 2012

Time: 5.15 – 6.45pm

Where: Prendergast-Hilly Fields School, SE4

Call us for details of all Montage Theatre Arts courses for adults and children on

020 8692 7007 or www.montagetheatre.com

Great stories happen to those that can tell them.

Our Summer Term dates are Monday 23rd April-Monday 16th July 2012 with Half Term Monday 4th-Saturday 9th June 2012.

There are limited spaces on courses, including our new Intermediate Ballet class.  Do contact our office on 0208 692 7007 if you are interested in booking a place.

This term we have some exciting events coming up including U.Dance 2012, Big Dance with Wayne Macgregor, Brockley Max, Hilly Fields Fayre and Dancing Voices at the Southbank Centre!

Do watch this space for further details on all events this term!

Congratulations to all our Street Dance and Street Jazz students who have successfully reached the Final of the UDance competition after their fantastic performance at Sadler’s Wells on 17^th March. The group won the audience vote and will now have a busy Summer Term in their build up to the final in July – so watch this space for updates.

Well done to all of our Saturday School Music students who did us proud at the Music for Youth Festival at the South Bank on 17^th. They performed really well and were a shining example of good behaviour, especially as they had to wait for a long time for their turn on stage.

Congratulations also to our Drama students: Friday Drama 3, Saturday School Level 3 and our Youth Theatre for the fantastic Youth Drama Festival held at Lewisham College on Saturday 24^thMarch. Everyone enjoyed the high standard of performance, both audience and performers and we look forward to many more such events.

Well done to all of our students who are in the process of performing their end of term demonstrations – we are proud of you all for your hard work this term.

A special well done to Casey Gallagher, an MTA student who was successful in her audition at Tring Performing Arts School and is due to attend from September 2012!  Congratulations Casey!

And finally – a big thank you to all of our fabulous staff and volunteers without whom none of these events would be possible.

Well done to all,

The Team at Montage

Montage Youth Theatre Company performs at GLYPT Youth Theatre Festival

GLYPT Performance on Sunday 1^st April:

Montage Youth Theatre Company is to perform at GLYPT’s Youth Theatre Festival at The Tramshed in Woolwich.

GETTING THERE:

• Please arrive at The Tramshed by 1pm We have been allocated the performance slot of 2 – 4.30pm and will need to arrive to familiarise with the performance space and set up. As this is the chance to experience the work of other youth theatre groups we are encouraged to watch all the other performances and will be required to stay for duration of the slot.

• Please bring all props and costume required for the selected scenes, refreshments will be provided however you may wish to bring lunch as well as this will be a long session.

• Audience; The Tramshed has limited capacity and most of the seating will be taken up by performers and accompanying staff. It is also GLYPT’s Youth Theatre Group’s main performance event of the year so any spare audience capacity will be prioritised for GLYPT’s groups.

• After the performances there will be some snacks and we’ll encourage the groups to mix and chat with each other

Booking Tickets

If you would like to book tickets for your friends and family to watch you can do so by contacting the Greenwich Theatre Box Office: 020 8858 7755.  Tickets are £2 each.

‘MY TURN!’

Saturday 31st March 2012, 12 – 1pm, at Prendergast

‘My Turn’ is your event – your turn. Now you can have a go – choreograph your own dance, write your own song or drama piece.  Or do all three!  If you’ve always wanted to, or just don’t know what it might be like, please have a go.  It’s for you and we’re all here to cheer you on.

This event is not a competition – it is open to all Montage students, aged 6 years and over (adult students too!), but there are guidelines with progress closely monitored by staff so you can produce the best work you possibly can. So here goes:

You can create a performance in any style you wish (ie. dance, script or song). Have fun choosing your music and don’t be afraid to be original! Nothing offensive please.

Each piece must be no longer than 2 minutes and 30 secs and no shorter than 1 minute 30 secs – we will be VERY strict on this.

• Your performance(s) must be created by you and/or your group.

• You must create your pieces outside of the Montage classes – so do it at home!

• Musical accompaniment: please provide a CD with your name on it.

• Costumes or Montage uniform can be worn for the performance and small props may be used.

• Teachers will give positive feedback and guidance. To do this, there are 2 dates you will need to work to:

Presentation, Saturday 31^st March, 12 – 1pm:

You will perform your song, dance or act on the Prendergast stage to students, teachers and families.

Parents/Carers

Parents do encourage your children to take part and help them along the way – it should be great fun.  Just ask a teacher if you have any queries.

HAVE A GO – AND HAVE A BALL! We look forward to seeing what you come up with!

Dear Parents and Friends,

Below are the times for the end of term demonstrations:

Weekday Classes (not YTC, Weds and Friday Street), Saturday ES, Breakdancing and Ballet.

Demonstrations will take place for the last 20 minutes of your child’s usual class during the last week of term (26^th March – 31st March).

• All Saturday School students will arrive for class at 10am on Saturday 31st March as usual. My Turn and Saturday School Level 1 and 2 Drama will be 12 – 1.15pm.

If you have any questions regarding this please speak to the class teacher at the end of class.

We look forward to seeing you all for our demonstrations!

MTA is pleased to be running a youth theatre workshop at the Recognition Festival this Saturday 10th March at the Deptford Lounge!
Join us at 2.30-3.30pm and take part in a series of improvisational drama scenes and games!

This jam packed day includes pop-up performances, a poetry slam throughout the day as well as Trinity Laban dance
sessions, Mac IT , sports activities, powerboating and lots of information on other activities you can do locally.

Click this link for event PDF!-Digiflyer

Judy Gordon, MTA’s Artistic Director and our lovely digital assistant, Jo have compiled the following video diary of our work with, for and by adults and older people.

We think the video captures the amazing work we have produced over the years and hope you enjoy it!

Watch this space for forthcoming events where our very own Supertroupers will be performing.  As always if you’d like to join them, please call the office for further details!