Pre-visit Pack for Workshops - Frantic Assembly

Pre-visit Pack for Workshops
A Frantic Assembly workshop will be primarily movement based and will
focus on the skills and techniques used to devise physical theatre. It is
helpful to read through this pack in order to prepare for our visit.
In our experience participants get much more out of our workshops if they
know a bit about who we are and what we do in advance.
Why not take a look at our website and online profiles by visiting:
franticassembly.co.uk
youtube.com/franticassembly
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Check List for Workshops and Residencies
Prepare the paperwork
• Read, sign and return your contract.
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
• Check the invoice total and pass on to your finance department for payment.
Prepare your participants
• 10-24 people per group (even numbers is preferable).
• Participants should be aged 14 upwards.
• Before our visit make sure participants are aware of the following:
-the physical and movement based nature of the workshop
-they must wear loose and comfortable clothing and trainers suitable for exercise (no short skirts,
jeans or jewellery).
-looking at our website ahead of our visit.
• You must inform Frantic Assembly of any special needs or medical requirements in advance.
• You may find it useful to look at our resource packs to support further learning about the company
and our work. You can download these for FREE at franticassembly.co.uk/resources.
Prepare you studio
• Your studio should be at least 10m x 10m. The larger the better, but no concrete or carpeted
floors (wooden floor or dance mat preferable).
• Ensure the room is warm, the floor is clean and that there are no hazards in the space –you will
be running around and rolling on the floor!
• We will need a loud sound system with a CD player and MP3 connection in the room.
On the day
• Please meet our practitioner at reception at least 10 minutes before the start of the workshop.
• It would be great if you could show the practitioner where to find the toilets and the studio/room
for the workshop.
• Don’t forget that you are responsible for first aid and health and safety so it is essential that a
member of your staff/ group leader is present throughout the workshop.
• If the workshop is 6 hours or more you should provide lunch and refreshments for the practitioner.
• Whilst all of our practitioners are fully trained to work with young people, if your participants are
under 18, we find that the support of teachers or group leaders is invaluable during our visits.
Please feel free to join in with the workshops and support our practitioners by encouraging the
participants to stay focused, get involved and above all HAVE FUN!
Evaluating
• Complete and return the evaluation form that we email to you before the workshop, or email your
comments to admin@franticassembly.co.uk.
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Production History
Beautiful Burnout by Bryony Lavery (2010)
A thrilling new piece of highly physical theatre immersing the audience in the explosive world of boxing
A Frantic Assembly and National Theatre of Scotland production and UK Tour
‘This is stunning. Literally and metaphorically’ Independent on Sunday - Outstanding
Othello by William Shakespeare adapted by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett (2008)
An electrifying take on Shakespeare’s most brutal and gripping thriller-tragedy of paranoia, jealousy, sex
and murder.
Frantic Assembly and Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Royal & Derngate Northampton and
UK tour.
'The tragedy gains an electrifying new vigor and relevance' The Independent on Sunday,
’
Stockholm by Bryony Lavery (2007)
Treading a fine line between tenderness and cruelty, Stockholm reveals a relationship unravelling. It’s
beautiful, but it’s not pretty.
A Frantic Assembly and Drum Theatre Plymouth production and UK tour. Revived for performances at
Brighton Festival and Hampstead Theatre in 2008.
‘This latest show from Frantic Assembly comes together like a perfectly designed piece of flat
packed furniture and is a sinister joy’ The Guardian
pool (no water) by Mark Ravenhill (2006)
A visceral and shocking play about the fragility of friendship and the jealousy and resentment inspired by
success.
A Frantic Assembly, Drum Theatre Plymouth and Lyric Hammersmith production and UK tour.
‘This is a tough, moving, scorching play’ The Sunday Times
Dirty Wonderland scripted by Michael Wynne and devised by the Company (2005)
A unique guided tour of excess through the ballrooms and bedrooms of a Brighton hotel
Commissioned by the Brighton Festival, a sell out production at the Grand Ocean Hotel, Saltdean.
‘Faultless and mesmerising. This production is a triumphant show ’ The Guardian
Hymns by Chris O’Connell (1999/2000, revived in 2005)
A sadistic hunt for weakness, four friends push each other until something snaps.
Original production commissioned by the Gantry, Southampton Arts Centre and produced in association
with Lyric Hammersmith. Toured the UK, Columbia, Italy Ireland and Taiwan after a sell out run in
London.
‘A startling match of sober subject matter and dazzling choreography’ Time Out Critic’s Choice
On Blindness by Glyn Cannon (2004)
A serious comedy about the complications of perception and desire.
A Frantic Assembly, Paines Plough and Graeae production which toured to Birmingham Rep, West
Yorkshire Playhouse and Soho Theatre London.
‘Enriching, explorative and slick…Pioneering’ Independent on Sunday
Rabbit by Brendan Cowell (2003)
A snappy, surreal farce in which Frantic tackles the dysfunctional family and brings it to its knees.
A Frantic Assembly and Drum Theatre Plymouth production supported by Lakeside Arts Centre.
‘Once again Frantic Assembly proves why it is the company of the moment with a production of
stunning physicality. The performances are to die for’ The Guardian
Peepshow by Isabel Wright (2002)
A musical which tells the story of seven little lives in one big city.
Frantic Assembly in association with the Drum Theatre Plymouth and Lyric Hammersmith. Supported by
Barclays Stage Partners. Toured the UK and sold out during three week London run.
‘Thrilling, vigorous, tough and funny… one of the best pieces of physical theatre I’ve seen’
The Sunday Times
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Heavenly by Scott Graham, Steven Hoggett and Liam Steel (2002)
59 things that will never happen to you again once you are dead.
Toured the UK, played London’s West End and after several international dates played off-Broadway for
three weeks.
‘Inspired… it makes the afterlife look divine’ Time Out New York
Tiny Dynamite by Abi Morgan (2001)
An impossible love story is given a second chance and three scorched characters learn that lightning
does strike twice.
Paines Plough and Frantic Assembly with Contact. Winner of Best Fringe Production Manchester
Evening News Awards and Best Theatre Show, City Life Magazine. Toured UK, Edinburgh Festival,
London, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Italy.
‘This is surely the bright new future of theatre’ The Independent
Underworld by Nicola McCartney (2001)
Hard, dark, fast and frightening. A ghost story for the 21 st century with a breathtaking mix of touching
realism and bruising physicality.
Toured the UK, London and Slovakia.
‘A breakthrough – an old fashioned (that’s to say tight and exciting) horror story given wings by
supple gymnastic technique’ The Observer
Sell Out by Michael Wynne (1998)
An argument grows from an honest word among friends. And it grows quickly. Sell Out starts with a
whisper snowballing to an irresistible force spiralling out of control.
A UK tour culminated in a West End run at the New Ambassadors Theatre, for which it won the Time Out
Live Theatre Award. Toured Finland, France, Zimbabwe, Lebanon, Syria and Ireland.
‘A knockout piece of theatre – brilliantly written and performed, savagely perceptive, cutting edgy
stuff’ Manchester Evening News
Generation Trilogy (1998)
Klub, Flesh and Zero toured throughout the UK in summer 1998.
Zero devised by the company (1998)
The house party where all is revealed before the clock strikes in the new millennium
Premiered at the 1998 Edinburgh Festival and toured the UK Holland, Switzerland, Austria, Singapore
and Hungary.
‘This is work of startling originality, this is breathtaking new ground…the bleeding edge of
contemporary theatre’ The Stage
Flesh by Spencer Hazel (1996/97)
Four performers offer their bodies for the price of a ticket.
Toured the UK and Europe, a huge hit at the Edinburgh Festival and in Germany Italy, Spain, Hungary
and Holland.
‘Interesting, intelligent, sexy and sad: a lippy, witty 80 minutes of dynamic dance theatre. A brash,
confident shove-it-in-yer-face show. Highly recommended’ The Guardian
Klub by Spencer Hazel (1995/96)
A relentless look at the importance of club culture in mid-nineties Britain.
Premiered at the Edinburgh Festival, Toured the UK and played Ecuador with the British Council.
‘Not theatre for the faint hearted. An exhilarating spectacle… terrifically enjoyable theatre that
really engages with an audience’ Time Out
Look Back In Anger by John Osbourne adapted by Spencer Hazel (1994)
A new version of the 1960’s classic ‘angry young man’ drama.
Premiered at the Edinburgh Festival and toured the UK until September 1995.
‘Believe me it’s amazing… a fantastically physical piece of theatre’ Steven Berkoff for BBC’s
Edinburgh Night
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FRANTIC ASSEMBLY RESOURCES
franticassembly.co.uk/resource
To accompany our Creative Learning Programme and our productions, we have a range of resources
available for teachers, students and anyone who wants to find out more about Frantic Assembly.
To find all of the resources listed below, please visit franticassembly.co.uk/resources
Free Resource Packs
A Guide to Frantic Assembly
A Guide to Beautiful Burnout
A Guide to Othello
A Guide to Stockholm
A Guide to pool (no water)
A Guide to Hymns
A Guide to Peepshow
A Guide to Rabbit
e-learning
Free online resources such as production media, audio blogs, rehearsal diaries, and the Frantic Forum.
The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre
Available to buy on Amazon.
Written by artistic directors Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett, The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising
Theatre is the first book to reflect on the history and practice of their remarkable, award-winning
company. An essential resource for teachers exploring physical theatre techniques, particularly for the
devised and physical components of A-Level AQA and Edexcel, it includes:
• practical exercises
• essays on film, music and physical theatre
• inspiration for devising, writing and choreographing performance
• suggestions for scene development
• an anthology of Frantic Assembly productions
• an eight page colour section, and illustrations throughout.
Playtexts, DVDs and other merchandise
Beautiful Burnout Playtext
£4.00
Othello playtext with FREE DVD
£10.00
Stockholm playtext with FREE DVD
£10.00
Hymns playtext
£3.50
Hybrid ‘I Choose Noise’ CD
(includes music from Othello)
£11.00
Frantic T-Shirt
£8.00
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Information for Teachers
AQA AS / A Level Drama and Theatre Studies from 2009
Frantic Assembly is thrilled to be included as a recommended theatre company for students to study in
the 2009 AQA syllabus (AS Unit 2 – DRAM2: Practical).
The company’s Creative Learning Programme and Touring Productions are brilliantly relevant to students’
understanding of contemporary theatre and will enhance learning for this syllabus. In fact, Frantic
Assembly can be used as a fantastic example for several units of work in this syllabus and here’s how:
AS Examination
• Unit 1 – DRAM1: Written – Live Theatre Production Seen
Section A - response to live theatre seen during the course
Frantic will be touring from 2010, so look out for updates by joining our mailing list
franticassembly.co.uk/subscribe
• Unit 2 – DRAM2: Practical – Presentation of an Extract from a Play
Performance by a group of an extract from a published play
‘Candidates’ interpretation of the chosen extract should evidently be influenced… by the work of an
influential director, designer, theatre company or other practitioner’ (pg 8)
Frantic is recommended as a suitable theatre company for this module. Students can get to grips
with the company’s theatrical approach through our show specific workshops – see
franticassembly.co.uk/learn
Students may also want to use an extract from a Frantic Assembly production. A list of available
playtexts and resource packs is available at franticassembly.co.uk/resources
A2 Examination
• Unit 3 – DRAM4: Practical – Presentation of Devised Drama
Performance by a group of devised drama
Creative Residencies are a fantastic way to kick start your students’ understanding and approach
to devising unique group drama pieces: franticassembly.co.uk/learn
Alternatively our Devising and Physicality workshops will offer a great introduction to skills and
techniques for creating physical theatre: franticassembly.co.uk/learn
Frantic can offer:
• Touring productions at venues near you. Make sure you are signed up to
franticassembly.co.uk/subscribe for updates.
• Post show discussions and demonstrations.
• Production specific workshops, such as Beautiful Burnout Uncovered.
• Devising and Physicality workshops.
• Creative residencies (3 – 5 days).
• Playtexts and DVDs – order from franticassembly.co.uk/resources
• Show specific free resource packs available from franticassembly.co.uk/resources
For information contact Laura Sutton on 020 7841 3115 / laura@franticassembly.co.uk
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