To the Australian teachers whose school holidays are rapidly approaching their end (*sob*), why not spoil yourself with a ticket to the latest National Theatre Live screening?
To celebrate the end of the holidays, plan to go see the National Theatre Live screenings of the London
theatre adaptation of Mark Haddon's acclaimed novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. One of my personal favourite books, it's a murder-mystery told from the perspective of a young boy with
Asperger's and how he solves the mystery of the neighbour's dead dog. If you haven't read it, I
highly recommend it. It will give you insight into the mind of a student with special needs, as well as being a unique piece of storytelling.
The play has received great reviews, e.g. The Guardian. I am curious to see how they have adapted it. Screenings taking place this weekend, October 5 and 6. See www.ntlive.com/ for more info.
When I was doing my education degree, I wrote an English unit around The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Louis Sachar's amusing There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom and Helen Keller's The Story of My Life. Although I haven't yet had the opportunity to teach the unit, the objective was to promote tolerance and understanding of diversity among Year 9 students. Hopefully I will get the chance to run it in the not-too-distant future. If you have had positive experiences teaching any of these texts, I would love to hear from you!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
The Globe on Screen
My favourite theatre in the world, the Globe in London, has announced a series of international screenings of some of its shows, similar to the National Theatre Live concept.
In September-October 2012, audiences in Australia and New Zealand will get to experience some of the Globe's top shows from 2011 in the comfort of a cinema in their hometown. Click here for more details and the trailer.
The three shows from 2011 that will be featured are All's Well That Ends Well, Much Ado About Nothing and Doctor Faustus. The Globe's Much Ado, starring Eve Best and Charles Edwards as the quarrelling lovers, faced stiff competition last year from the West End Much Ado which had Doctor Who's David Tennant and Catherine Tate at its helm. To the Globe's credit, their production received just as gushing reviews, and in fact some theatregoers preferred it for its authenticity.
I went to see the Globe's Doctor Faustus in London last year, mostly because I had studied it at uni but never seen a production before. Also, because Arthur Darvill (Rory from Doctor Who) was playing Mephistopheles. It was of the Globe's usual high quality, but a bit too panto for my liking. Not sure whether this was because of the play, the acting or the production!
Globe on Screen will definitely be worth a look. More details to be released soon.
In September-October 2012, audiences in Australia and New Zealand will get to experience some of the Globe's top shows from 2011 in the comfort of a cinema in their hometown. Click here for more details and the trailer.
The three shows from 2011 that will be featured are All's Well That Ends Well, Much Ado About Nothing and Doctor Faustus. The Globe's Much Ado, starring Eve Best and Charles Edwards as the quarrelling lovers, faced stiff competition last year from the West End Much Ado which had Doctor Who's David Tennant and Catherine Tate at its helm. To the Globe's credit, their production received just as gushing reviews, and in fact some theatregoers preferred it for its authenticity.
I went to see the Globe's Doctor Faustus in London last year, mostly because I had studied it at uni but never seen a production before. Also, because Arthur Darvill (Rory from Doctor Who) was playing Mephistopheles. It was of the Globe's usual high quality, but a bit too panto for my liking. Not sure whether this was because of the play, the acting or the production!
Globe on Screen will definitely be worth a look. More details to be released soon.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Nineteen Eighty-Four - Shaken and Stirred
Looking forward very much to taking the students to see Shake and Stir's adaptation of Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Shake and Stir have proved time and again that they are a young and innovative theatre company whose interpretations of classics are fresh without trying too hard to be hip. They presented an enjoyable potted version of their Bard to the Bone show at the ETAQ Conference on the weekend and were warmly received.
I cannot recommend highly enough the Teachers' Resource Kit Naomi Russell has compiled for Shake and Stir's production. You can find it here. I have already tried out the Physical Jerks activity at the beginning of period one on a Monday morning. A good way to wake the students up - particularly the ones who came in late! They were then grumpy and complained that they now understood what it was like to have no freedom - huzzah!
We also did the 1984 bingo as a lead in to a discussion on how language is linked to power and control. They came up with comments on how language is controlled (Newspeak, etc.), but also how language is used to control (propaganda).
Tomorrow, again inspired by Shake and Stir's teachers' notes, I am going to turn my classroom into Room 101 and we are going to explore our deepest fears about the future. I will then introduce them to the literary concepts of utopia and dystopia using Mike Ashley's exhibition guide for last year's British Library exhibition, Out of this World: Science Fiction, But Not as You Know It. I thought it would be interesting to also frame discussion in light of the original utopia-into-dystopia - Genesis chapters 1-3. The big question they will be seeking to answer in the lesson is: what utopian and/or dystopian elements may be seen in the sci-fi texts we are studying this term?
Will let you know how it goes!
Shake and Stir have proved time and again that they are a young and innovative theatre company whose interpretations of classics are fresh without trying too hard to be hip. They presented an enjoyable potted version of their Bard to the Bone show at the ETAQ Conference on the weekend and were warmly received.
I cannot recommend highly enough the Teachers' Resource Kit Naomi Russell has compiled for Shake and Stir's production. You can find it here. I have already tried out the Physical Jerks activity at the beginning of period one on a Monday morning. A good way to wake the students up - particularly the ones who came in late! They were then grumpy and complained that they now understood what it was like to have no freedom - huzzah!
We also did the 1984 bingo as a lead in to a discussion on how language is linked to power and control. They came up with comments on how language is controlled (Newspeak, etc.), but also how language is used to control (propaganda).
Tomorrow, again inspired by Shake and Stir's teachers' notes, I am going to turn my classroom into Room 101 and we are going to explore our deepest fears about the future. I will then introduce them to the literary concepts of utopia and dystopia using Mike Ashley's exhibition guide for last year's British Library exhibition, Out of this World: Science Fiction, But Not as You Know It. I thought it would be interesting to also frame discussion in light of the original utopia-into-dystopia - Genesis chapters 1-3. The big question they will be seeking to answer in the lesson is: what utopian and/or dystopian elements may be seen in the sci-fi texts we are studying this term?
Will let you know how it goes!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
National Theatre Live Season
I know I keep going on and on about this, but National Theatre Live keeps getting better and better!
They have announced the next line-up of screenings which includes encores of the excellent Frankenstein and One Man, Two Guvnors. I am proud to say I have now seen both versions of Frankenstein and they were both excellent. Miller and Cumberbatch prove beyond a doubt that you can be fantastic as protagonist and antagonist.
Anyway, what I'm really excited about is that one of the screenings in the new line-up is a production of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Haddon's novel, about a boy with Asperger's who tries to solve the murder of his neighbour's dog, was a critical and popular success. How writer Simon Stephens will adapt it for the stage, and who will play the main character, will be worth seeing, I'm sure. Stay tuned for further details.
They have announced the next line-up of screenings which includes encores of the excellent Frankenstein and One Man, Two Guvnors. I am proud to say I have now seen both versions of Frankenstein and they were both excellent. Miller and Cumberbatch prove beyond a doubt that you can be fantastic as protagonist and antagonist.
Anyway, what I'm really excited about is that one of the screenings in the new line-up is a production of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Haddon's novel, about a boy with Asperger's who tries to solve the murder of his neighbour's dog, was a critical and popular success. How writer Simon Stephens will adapt it for the stage, and who will play the main character, will be worth seeing, I'm sure. Stay tuned for further details.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Celebrating Dickens's 200th Birthday at the State Library of Queensland
The State Library of Queensland is holding a special evening event to commemorate the 200th birthday and the works of Charles Dickens.
Quoting their website:
"2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, whose iconic works are as resonant today as when first written. His books have never gone out of print and there are more than 180 film and television adaptations of his novels.
This event will be held at the library this coming Thursday, April 12, from 6-7:30pm. The event is free but you do need to register.
Quoting their website:
"2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, whose iconic works are as resonant today as when first written. His books have never gone out of print and there are more than 180 film and television adaptations of his novels.
"What is the contemporary, worldwide appeal of an author whose stories were primarily concerned with the social injustices and disadvantages of Victorian life? Join our panel of experts as they explore the enduring legacy of this literary giant. Speakers include Professor Regenia Gagnier (University of Exeter, UK), Dr David Ellison (Griffith University), Professor Michael Hollington (author of Charles Dickens: Critical Perspectives), and Dr Cathy Waters (University of Kent)."
This event will be held at the library this coming Thursday, April 12, from 6-7:30pm. The event is free but you do need to register.
NT Live - Frankenstein Encore
Exciting news for us all - National Theatre Live is presenting encore screenings of last year's hit London production of Frankenstein in which Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch alternated the roles of the Creature and the Doctor on successive nights. Both versions were recorded and will be shown as part of the encore screenings.
Screenings will take place on the following dates at Dendy cinemas in Brisbane:
Cumberbatch as the Creature, Miller as the Doctor
120 mins
Rated CTC (Suitable only for 15+), 120 mins
Miller as the Creature, Cumberbatch as the Doctor
Screenings will take place on the following dates at Dendy cinemas in Brisbane:
NT Live - Frankenstein Version 1 NT Live Performance
120 mins
NT Live - Frankenstein Version 2 NT Live Performance
Miller as the Creature, Cumberbatch as the Doctor
- Sat 23 Jun
- Sun 24 Jun
Check your usual NT Live local cinema for details.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
A Modern Tess: Michael Winterbottom's Trishna
Michael Winterbottom's new film, Trishna, is a modern re-telling of Thomas Hardy's tragic novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles. It is set in India and stars Slumdog Millionaire's Freida Pinto as the heroine of the title.
Some mixed reviews on IMDb (although there are only 4 so far!). You can view the UK cinema trailer here.
Some mixed reviews on IMDb (although there are only 4 so far!). You can view the UK cinema trailer here.
Monday, March 19, 2012
National Theatre Live
I can't recommend this enough!
Britain's National Theatre regularly holds screenings around the world of theatre productions currently on in London. This weekend will be the screening of The Comedy of Errors with Lenny Henry playing the main character and one of my favourite British actresses, Claudie Blakley. This production had rave reviews from the Daily Mail as well as The Guardian. A chance to get a prime theatre seat at less than prime prices! It's $25 for Palace Club holders or $27 for adults. See the NT Live website for details of your nearest cinema. The National Theatre's official The Comedy of Errors website has links to the trailer and other resources.
They also have a Resources page relating to other current and past productions, as well as the opportunity to purchase Digital Programmes of NT Live productions.
The National Theatre has been doing an excellent job in selecting its most entertaining, challenging and thought-provoking productions to share with us (many of which have been recently nominated for prestigious Olivier Awards), including:
NT Live is one of a number of exciting digital initiatives allowing people around the world access to performances and exhibitions they may not otherwise be able to see unless prepared to travel. Other similar schemes include The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD and the recent screening of a walk-through of the "Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan" exhibition from the National Gallery, London (which, sadly, I missed).
Britain's National Theatre regularly holds screenings around the world of theatre productions currently on in London. This weekend will be the screening of The Comedy of Errors with Lenny Henry playing the main character and one of my favourite British actresses, Claudie Blakley. This production had rave reviews from the Daily Mail as well as The Guardian. A chance to get a prime theatre seat at less than prime prices! It's $25 for Palace Club holders or $27 for adults. See the NT Live website for details of your nearest cinema. The National Theatre's official The Comedy of Errors website has links to the trailer and other resources.
They also have a Resources page relating to other current and past productions, as well as the opportunity to purchase Digital Programmes of NT Live productions.
The National Theatre has been doing an excellent job in selecting its most entertaining, challenging and thought-provoking productions to share with us (many of which have been recently nominated for prestigious Olivier Awards), including:
- A new adaptation of Frankenstein by Nick Dear, in which Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch alternated the roles of the Doctor and the Monster on successive evenings, highlighting the duality of the characters
- The crowd-pleasing modern take on commedia dell'arte and the classic gender-bending mistaken identity Shakespearesque scenario - One Man, Two Guvnors
- The imaginative The Collaborators by Trainspotting writer John Hodge, which creatively re-creates 1930s Moscow and the interactions between dissident playwright Mikahil Bulgakov and Joseph Stalin, for whom he has been asked to write a celebratory play or see his friends "disappear"
NT Live is one of a number of exciting digital initiatives allowing people around the world access to performances and exhibitions they may not otherwise be able to see unless prepared to travel. Other similar schemes include The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD and the recent screening of a walk-through of the "Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan" exhibition from the National Gallery, London (which, sadly, I missed).
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
BBC "On this Day"
I hope the BBC wins lots of awards for their websites, because they make for fantastic resources. Check out BBC Bitesize if you haven't already. It's a shame, though, that we can't access the TV programs on BBC iPlayer (however apparently we can access the radio programs).
Another fantastic BBC site I just stumbled across is their "On this Day" page, which is great for teaching history because it lists some significant historical events for that particular day. For example, March 13, 1996, was the day of the terrible Dunblane massacre, and the day in 1961 on which 5 Britons were tried for allegedly passing secrets to the Russians (McCarthyism? The Crucible?). You can even get it RSSd to your desktop for easy access.
Obviously as you can see the events are quite Anglo-centric, but interesting, nevertheless. Could make for good classroom discussion, especially considering so many of what we consider to be historically significant events happened before this current lot of students was even born.
Another fantastic BBC site I just stumbled across is their "On this Day" page, which is great for teaching history because it lists some significant historical events for that particular day. For example, March 13, 1996, was the day of the terrible Dunblane massacre, and the day in 1961 on which 5 Britons were tried for allegedly passing secrets to the Russians (McCarthyism? The Crucible?). You can even get it RSSd to your desktop for easy access.
Obviously as you can see the events are quite Anglo-centric, but interesting, nevertheless. Could make for good classroom discussion, especially considering so many of what we consider to be historically significant events happened before this current lot of students was even born.
Monday, March 12, 2012
"Reader, I...did not marry him"?
A new competition by Britain's The Times newspaper which which should appeal to feminist literary critics everywhere - "What Jane did next".
This competition allows you to re-write the ending of this novel by editing the most famous line (read "understatement") of the novel: "Reader, I married him". The challenge is to do it as a tweet, i.e. in 140 characters or less. This is a bit like the website "Summarise a Novel in 25 Words" (warning: some undesirable language on this site!). You could, for example, decide that Jane in fact does not marry Rochester, or that she decides to run away and start her life again, a wealthy woman, or...?
First prize is a night in Yorkshire staying in "the room of Amos Ingham, Charlotte and Patrick Brontë’s physician". Runners up receive a copy of the most recent Jane Eyre DVD. Sadly, this competition is only open to residents of the UK or Republic of Ireland!
This competition allows you to re-write the ending of this novel by editing the most famous line (read "understatement") of the novel: "Reader, I married him". The challenge is to do it as a tweet, i.e. in 140 characters or less. This is a bit like the website "Summarise a Novel in 25 Words" (warning: some undesirable language on this site!). You could, for example, decide that Jane in fact does not marry Rochester, or that she decides to run away and start her life again, a wealthy woman, or...?
First prize is a night in Yorkshire staying in "the room of Amos Ingham, Charlotte and Patrick Brontë’s physician". Runners up receive a copy of the most recent Jane Eyre DVD. Sadly, this competition is only open to residents of the UK or Republic of Ireland!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Happy 200th Birthday Charles Dickens!
Yes, the late great Charles Dickens, Victorian novelist and social commentator extraordinaire, turned the ripe old age of 200 on February 7 this year. He's looking good for his age - there are a number of events being held worldwide to commemorate this milestone (and to coincide with the London Olympics and increased tourist traffic - but this is not a bad thing!).
You can find information about events, exhibitions, etc. at the official Dickens 2012 site.
The Picks
These are the highlights, AKA my own personal wishlist if I had a private jet and carte blanche:
Miriam Margolyes' Dicken's Women touring Australia
Most excitingly (if that's a word), Miriam Margolyes is currently touring her much-lauded one woman Dickens' Women show around Australia as part of the Dickens's birthday festivities. Make sure you get along if you can - I've got tickets and can't wait! To whet your appetitie, here is a sneak preview on YouTube - Margolyes is delightful.
You can find information about events, exhibitions, etc. at the official Dickens 2012 site.
The Picks
These are the highlights, AKA my own personal wishlist if I had a private jet and carte blanche:
- The actor Simon Callow, who is releasing his own book about Dickens (Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World) and has performed a one man Dickens show (The Mystery of Charles Dickens), will be speaking on Wednesday, February29, at the Museum of London
- UCL will be hosting a Dickens's London evening at their Bloomsbury campuse on March 15
- My good friend, Ben Winyard, will see his hard work come to fruition when the University of Buckingham officially launches the ambitious but amazing Dickens Journals Online digital project from March 28-31
- Some place called Simpich, Colorado Springs, USA is hosting a "lavish two-part" Dickens Festival from June 26-December 31 (whew!)
- Charles Dickens: Legacy and Life exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, London (my favourite gallery ever!), until April 22
- The Dickens and London exhibition at the Museum of London until June 10
Miriam Margolyes' Dicken's Women touring Australia
Most excitingly (if that's a word), Miriam Margolyes is currently touring her much-lauded one woman Dickens' Women show around Australia as part of the Dickens's birthday festivities. Make sure you get along if you can - I've got tickets and can't wait! To whet your appetitie, here is a sneak preview on YouTube - Margolyes is delightful.
"The Best of Times..."
...to start blogging again! Yes, the new school year is up and running and, as I have not blogged here since May last year (!), I felt it was high time that I did.
Twenty Twelve is shaping up to be an exciting year for Anglophiles (as well as English and History teachers), as it is London's year to host the Olympics, the Queen's diamond jubilee and Charles Dickens's 200th birthday.
It is also the first year of implementation of the new Australian Curriculum, and it will be interesting to hear how Australian teachers have been rising to the challenges of change, something which we all do so well!
So stay tuned for more posts on great events and resources for teachers this year. And, to echo the great Dickens, may 2012 be the best of times, not the worst of times, the age of wisdom, the season of Light and the spring of hope.*
* from A Tale of Two Cities, of course!
Twenty Twelve is shaping up to be an exciting year for Anglophiles (as well as English and History teachers), as it is London's year to host the Olympics, the Queen's diamond jubilee and Charles Dickens's 200th birthday.
It is also the first year of implementation of the new Australian Curriculum, and it will be interesting to hear how Australian teachers have been rising to the challenges of change, something which we all do so well!
So stay tuned for more posts on great events and resources for teachers this year. And, to echo the great Dickens, may 2012 be the best of times, not the worst of times, the age of wisdom, the season of Light and the spring of hope.*
* from A Tale of Two Cities, of course!
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