PAST PROJECTS

"Hey Sheree, in Croydon a random man bumped me in the street and said he remembered the chinese play we done at Redhill. We're rememberable after all those years. GO SAVVY!" ~ Joe Lawrence

Here's some of what the SAVVY Young Company have been getting up to ...

 

Commedia, Swordplay & Tumbling

The 3rd Annual Sutton Youth Drama Festival
29th / 30th May 2010
Secombe Theatre, Sutton

Hosted by SAVVY Theatre Company, this weekend provided workshops in stage fighting techniques, circus skills, Commedia del Arte, slapstick and clowning. The weekend culminated in a showcase performance on the Secombe theatre stage to an invited audience of family, friends and industry professionals.

 

This project was generously funded by Sutton's Youth Opportunity Fund.

DAGS
by Debra Oswald
(by arrangement with the Licensor, Debra Oswald, c/- Curtis Brown (Aust) Pty Ltd)
Saturday, 28th November 2009
Charles Cryer Theatre
High Street, Carshalton

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE FEATURED IN YOUTH THEATRE NOW!

 

After the success of "Landing On The Moon" SAVVY Theatre Company proudly presented their latest community production.

Bringing together a cast of teenagers, older people and everyone in-between, WHAT USE IS ‘ANY’ GENERATION? explored the perceptions, prejudices and experiences each generation had of the other. Using theatre styles such as clowning, music, mask and film, this production provided a memorable experience for all.

Members of the cast also performed highlights of the show at Guilfest09.

 

 

 

THE GOLDEN DOOR
By David Ashton

Charles Cryer Theatre, Carshalton

SAVVY Theatre’s Young Company performed brilliantly in David Ashton’s production of THE GOLDEN DOOR - a dark mythical tale with themes of loss, betrayal, friendship and bravery.

This unique production had the cast exploring theatrical skills such as music-making, puppetry, stage combat and physical theatre and took place thanks to a generous grant from Sutton's Youth Opportunity Fund.

STOMP Trip
In preparation for their performance of THE GOLDEN DOOR, participants headed up to London to see the West End production of
STOMP. After the performance the group had the unique opportunity to meet the cast and talk with them about their show and what it’s like working in the profession.

OUTDOOR SUMMER STORYTELLING EVENT
On the 20th July 2008, members from the SAVVY Young Company supported the All Stars Drama Group on a very special promenade performance at the AWS Leisure Gardens, a community allotments in Croydon.
This project wa
s in conjunction with CROYDON CONTACTS - a charity providing leisure activities for people with learning disabilities.

 

THE GIANT PUPPET PROJECT
On Sunday, 8th June 2008, members from the ALL STARS drama group (for adults with learning disabilities), supported by SAVVY Young Company members, began working with Di Jones, a visual artist from
EMERGENCY EXIT ARTS on the creation of a giant puppet.

At the end of the 6 weeks, the project was completed and the puppet developed by the group then formed a vital part of their OUTDOOR SUMMER STORIES event, held on Sunday, 20th July at the AWS Leisure Gardens in Croydon (see above).

 

LANDING ON THE MOON
Aside from
being re-united with some ofthe older cast members of 2nd FROM LAST IN THE SACK RACE SAVVY Young Company members spent three rehearsals devising a brand new show that was performed as part of Sutton's IMAGINE Festival of Participatory Arts in May 2008.

 

THE LEATHERHEAD DRAMA FESTIVAL
On Monday, 5th May 2008 the SAVVY Young Company performed THE GHOST OF JERRY BUNDLER by W.W.Jacobs and Charles Rock as part of the LEATHERHEAD DRAMA FESTIVAL.

A wonderful ensemble piece set in an old travellers hotel where a group are scaring themselves with ghost stories - one of which might just come true ... !

 

In preparation for their performance of "The Ghost of Jerry Bundler" and in conjunction with the Mousetrap's StageXChange Programme, the SAVVY Young Company worked on some Stage Combat techniques with Rc-Annie.

 

STAGE X-CHANGE
The SAVVY Young Company was accepted to take part in the pilot 'StageXChange Programme' with THE MOUSETRAP FOUNDATION. On 24th January 2008, Young Company members saw the award-winning production of 'The History Boys' by Alan Bennett.

They also met with the cast afterwards and had the opportunity to talk with them about the production, what it was like to work as part of an ensemble and the choices available if you decide to pursue a career in acting.

 

2nd FROM LAST IN THE SACK RACE
by Michael Birch (from the novel by David Nobbs)
CLICK HERE (or the image) TO SEE FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS UNIQUE PROJECT

To coincide with the official launch of SAVVY Theatre Company, the Young Company members were recently involved in an inter-generational piece set during WWII with a combined cast of teenagers and older people. Many of the older members of the cast were evacuated during this time and the project used script, improvisation and filmed memories of all those involved. These two groups have already worked together at the Secombe Theatre, Sutton.

The group also opened their rehearsal process up to the general public as part of the London Borough of Sutton's 'Text Fest' on Thursday, 27th September, Charles Cryer Theatre.

 

AN EVENING OF SHARED PERFORMANCE
On Wednesday, 4th July 2007 SAVVY Young Company members supported a group of very special young people with learning disabilities in an evening of inclusive theatre performance.

The project was arranged in conjuction with the Croydon Contacts charity and was designed to help the charity's drama group open up their work to a wider audience and community.

 

FAUST
Inspired by Goethe’s story of Faust, SAVVY members devised their own production with drama, song and movement. This show proved as original and entertaining as their past performances and was performed at a variety of venues/festivals during the Summer Term 2007 including:
The Festival of Youth Arts, Oval House Theatre ~ Tuesday 29th May
The Croydon Warehouse Theatre ~ Wendesday 4th July
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PROMO VIDEO

SAVVY'S 2006 X'MAS SHOWCASE ~ THE EXAM
An incredible ensemble performance on Saturday 25th November 2006 at the Charles Cryer Theatre, Carshalton.

 

A COUPLE OF GRIMMS TALES
Performed as part of the Surrey Youth Drama Festival
Harlequin Theatre, Redhill ~ Sunday 26th March 2006

Musical numbers, barbie dolls and fly-foxing action men ... not your regular presentation of Little Red Cap and Rapunzel, but hey - that's SAVVY for you! Based on the original stories of Little Red Cap and Rapunzel, this ensemble adaptation was great fun.

 

CRYING FOR TIME SHOWCASE
Puppetry and personal items provided the basis for SAVVY's phenomenal showcase performance of 'Crying For Time' - a play that pushed the boundaries in people's perceptions of what young artists have to say.

SECOMBE THEATRE IMPROVISATION SHOWCASE
Participants from SAVVY joined forces with two other local groups at the Secombe Theatre's Open Day on Saturday, 3rd June 2006 to participate in a completely improvised workshop showcase.

THE STOLEN PRINCE
After the success of 'A Midsummer Nights Dream', SAVVY wowed them again at The Harlequin Theatre, Redhill in March 2005.

 

SUMMER PERFORMANCE WEEK
(in association with
THE DELLA ACADEMY)
With a bundle of energy, 5days of rehearsal and an amazing cast, the Summer Performance Week is always a great success!

Past productions have included adaptations of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, The Wiz and Bugsy Malone ~ in which the cabaret-style performance had the audience initiating the amazing cream-pie finale' fight!
In August 2007 the SPW cast performed highlights of their show at the Ashcroft Theatre, Fairfield Halls as part of Croydon's Gifted & Talented week-long dance event.

 

ANNUAL SHOWCASE PRESENTATION
Both Thursday's SAVVY and Friday's JUNIORS performed on Monday, 29th November 2004 at the Charles Cryer Theatre, Carshalton.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM
On Saturday, 22nd November 2003, at the Electric Theatre, Guildford, the SAVVY cast dazzled at the SURREY YOUTH DRAMA FESTIVAL.

POLKA THEATRE'S CAROL CONCERT
Thursday, 18th December 2003 ~ singing christmas carols and performing comedy skits to a family audience. A lovely way to finish the term.

 

SNOW WHITE AND THE 7 DWARVES - Well sort of ...
It starts off with good intentions ...
Once upon a time and all that stuff, but somehow it gets interrupted along the way. The Seven Dwarves are there - well, sort of ... Snow White is there - well, sort of ... the Evil Queen - yeah, she's there - well, sort of ... and as for the Handsome Prince - NO, he's definitely not there ... no icky love-stuff! Performed by members of SAVVY Drama Group and a great cacophony of puppets on Thursday, 27th June 2002.

 

SAVVY JUNIORS
In 2003 SAVVY Juniors began as a dedicated drama group for pupils aged 9-13years. Throughout the two years it was in existence, students explored a variety of drama techniques including puppetry, improvisation, mime & mask. Although the main element of the group was in devising theatre and empowering individuals with a sense of their own artistic voice - working with established texts was also essential, with Roald Dahl's 'James & The Giant Peach' and 'The BFG' (both combining live action & puppetry) being two favourites. On Monday, 29th November 2004, the group joined the Thursday SAVVY group at the Charles Cryer Theatre, Carshalton for a showcase performance.

Unfortunately the group had to stop due to Sheree's commitments with the
UNICORN THEATRE. However the students have not dispersed entirely, with some joining Thursday' SAVVY, some moving onto POLKA THEATRE'S drama group and the rest attending SAVVY's sister company - THE DELLA ACADEMY.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE SAVVY YOUNG COMPANY'S CURRENT PROJECTS PAGE

 
     
 

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SAVVY - to know; understand; practical know-how; shrewd judgement;
knowledge; learnedness; common-sense