Thurrock Trailblazer Cultural Catalogue 2019-20

RENDERED
RETINA
SECONDARY
Rendered Retina is a local theatre company comprised of company members born and bred in
Thurrock. From fun-filled adaptations of Shakespeare plays to contemporary & innovative devised
work, their shows use physical theatre - combined with deliberately restrictive design concepts -
to create striking visual imagery. Rendered Retina have been creating highly energetic and playful
performance work in Thurrock for the last 4 years.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Rendered Retina are offering schools the
chance to see high quality, internationally
renowned theatre –made in Thurrock - in your
school with an opportunity to work with a
professional company.
The offer includes a performance and bespoke
workshop designed to create an environment
in which learners can develop skills and devise
their own work; focusing on performance skills
specialised in by the company.
The aim is to expose learners to the arts whilst
encouraging them to be creative, critical and
competent performers; reminding them of
the importance of exploration and play when
creating theatre.
The performances offered is Form - a physical
theatre tragicomedy set in an absurdist world
made from office equipment and 20,000 paper
balls. It explores themes of escape, monotony
and the importance of play. The non-verbal
nature of the piece encourages learners to
consider the role of body language in
communication and the possibilities offered by
playing with the objects you have on stage.
KS3 KS4 KS5
STORYTELLING
Students will be introduced to activities that
create physical material and encouraged to
interpret narrative meaning, then apply
different theatrical devices in order to develop
it. They will then evaluate how these different
devices affect the meaning of the material they
create.
LIMITATION THEATRE
This workshop focuses on the importance of
setting rules, boundaries and playing games
in order to create material for performance.
Learners will be required to be inventive and
experimental as they develop material
following various sets of strict rules
SUITABILITY
KS3, KS4, KS5
Whilst the workshops will be for smaller,
targeted groups, the performance is open to all
students within the full capacity of the space
provided.
DATES, LOCATION & FORMAT
FORM
“Exactly what a great Fringe show should be...Pure clowning gold”
Please note, the way the allocated workshop
time is used is negotiable and will be decided
through discussion with teachers depending on
the needs of the school.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
• To develop transferable skills in working
to a brief, communication, teamwork,
confidence, presentation and leadership;
• To participate in workshop activities
developing physical theatre skills;
• To engage practically with a variety of tasks
that require students to solve problems
based on an object/physical stimulus;
• To work individually and as part of a small
group to generate material for a short
performance in front of their peers;
• To apply at least three devising techniques
introduced in the workshops to create short
performances;
• To formatively evaluate the work created
through the different activities, identifying
success and areas for development in both
their own and their peers’ work;
• Students will demonstrate an understanding
of using objects as a stimulus for creating
Physical Theatre, and use Physical Theatre
devices to develop this material.
CROSS-CURRICULAR LINKS
HISTORY
The origins of theatre, the changing way
stories were told and the role of physical
theatre throughout the ages.
MUSIC
Students can be introduced to using music to
develop scenes, to highlight character traits,
heighten emotions or establish moods/
atmosphere. The workshops can help students
recognise the importance of music and sound
in theatre.
DANCE
Students will be introduced to a range of
physical theatre techniques that allow students
to explore physical control, clarity of movement,
devising movement from a stimulus
and using the body to convey emotion and
intention; which will support students in their
exams.
TEACHER COMMITMENT & TRAINING
Through discussions with the company prior
to the visit, teachers will be asked to highlight
an area of focus if desired – for example if you
are studying a particular text, practitioner or
subject.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END?
Students will perform the scenes they have
adapted/created to the rest of the group.
Teachers will be provided with a resource pack
including ideas for games and activities that
will continue to develop the students’
performance, listening and teamwork skills.
Included in these packs is contextual
information regarding the influences of our
piece, details of our devising process and
session plans that will help students create
their own work.
OTHER RESOURCES & SUPPORT
FREE Photographic and video recordings of
the workshop as evidence of student
participation and for use beyond the session
e.g. self-reflection, peer evaluation or to
continue developing the piece.
COSTS
£500, Performance & 2 hour Workshop
Additional workshop hours can be booked at
prices exclusive for Trailblazer bookings:
£150, Additional 2 hours
£250, Additional 4 hours
RECOMMENDED
This offer could complement the following:
• Trestle: Wellbeing CPD
• Commedia Co: Get Seriously Physical
Teachers have the option of a range of
workshops that are tailored to the show.
OBJECT THEATRE
Using objects as a stimulus, we will encourage
creativity and innovation, exploring how
objects can both inspire the themes of and be
used within the piece.
Dates are available throughout the academic
year and sessions take place in the school.
The Performance running time is 55 minutes.
Following the performance -
2 hr workshop for a group of up to 30 students
Teachers will be required to provide dates &
times for visit.
The company will require access to a suitable
space and sound equipment for the
performance/workshop to take place along
with details of the size and age range of the
group participating.
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