PRESS RELEASE
31 October 2017
Immediate release
HALF MOON INSPIRES HUNDREDS OF LOCAL GCSE STUDENTS TO WORK IN THEATRE WITH THEIR INNOVATIVE CAREERS IN THEATRE PROGRAMME THIS NOVEMBER
From Wednesday 8 to Tuesday 14 November, Half Moon will be opening its doors to hundreds of local GCSE Drama students as part of its annual Careers in Theatre programme, a hands-on project management style experience that provides students with a practical insight into the business, technical and artistic aspects of professional theatre practice.
Working collaboratively in small groups with more than 15 industry professionals, students are allocated responsibility for all aspects of creating a production. These areas include lighting, sound, set design, stage management, acting and marketing. Students work in their respective groups throughout the day before coming together to perform a contemporary play in Half Moon’s professional theatre space.
Careers in Theatre has been running for 16 years and has given a practical insight into theatre to over 5,000 Tower Hamlets students. This year, Half Moon is working with 12 local schools, including 11 within Tower Hamlets (Bow School, Bishop Challoner Catholic Federation of Schools, Central Foundation Girls’ School, George Green's School, Langdon Park School, London Enterprise Academy, Mulberry UTC, Oaklands Secondary School, Raine's Foundation School, Sir John Cass School, Swanlea School) and one in Southwark (St Michael's Catholic College).
Androulla Constantinou, Creative Learning Producer at Half Moon, commented: “Careers in Theatre is an introduction to theatre-making which covers a variety of the different disciplines. The programme encourages participants to develop new skills and increases their practical knowledge of career options in, and routes into, the theatre industry. Working alongside students from other schools and a range of industry professionals offers the young people an experience that would be impossible to deliver in their own school.”
Chris Elwell, Director of Half Moon,commented: “This programme provides students with an insight into the theatre industry and multiple opportunities for them to improve their confidence, communication, creative development and decision-making, all of which are vital to their personal development, and boost their employability.”
ENDS
FURTHER DETAILS
For further information or to arrange interviews, photographs and press tickets please contact Stephen Beeny on 020 7709 8907 or
A selection of images from previous Careers in Theatre programmes can be downloaded from Dropbox:
ABOUT HALF MOON
Half Moon is a local organisation with a national remit, committed to supporting young people at every stage of their creative development. Working from their base in Limehouse and throughout the community in Tower Hamlets, Half Moon makes a big impact on the lives of young people. Half Moon’s wide-ranging programme reaches 53,000 people annually and engages those who are often excluded from arts activity. Half Moon’s activity includes a season of professional plays for young audiences, national touring productions and an extensive creative learning programme, including seven youth theatres.
Half Moon receives regular funding from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and are a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England.
Half Moon’s digital archive is available at
Website:
Facebook:
Twitter: @HalfMoonTheatre
For press enquiries please contact:Stephen Beeny
Communications Manager
020 7709 8907