Workshops
Pirate
parade at the Sage Gateshead.
For
performance or workshop information please
contact:
.
Mike,
email: storychairarts@gmail.com
Working
alongside a network of multitalented community artists and performers guarantees
the running of high quality community arts workshops these have included work
with: Festive Road, InterAction MK, Lets Circus, The Sage Gateshead, Dott 07,
BBC Blast, Pady O'conner (of the clown doctors), Lets circus, Dilston college
and many more.
We
love what we do and we wish not only to show off our skills, though our performances
but to pass them on to others, opening up the world of the arts to a wider audience.
Our aim is to enthuse audiences and participants with the same verve and emotion
that we feel in all aspects of the arts. I've have had the privilege to train
and work with some truly inspirational individuals and companies and now delight
in the opportunity to pass on my skills and experiences.
Scrap
sculpture Dott 07
We
offer workshops in:
Scrap
sculpture,
Junk Instrument making,
Mask Making,
Circus Skills,
Circus
Craft (equipment making),
Shadow Puppet (Making and Performance),
Face/body
painting (including henna and UV),
Glass Painting,
Banner Making,
Willow
sculpture
Lantern Making,
T-shirt Designing & Making,
Costume Design
and Making,
Leather working,
Street Theatre (including mime and clowning),
For
detailed workshop information and images see below.
All
of our workshops can be tailored to specific events/themes.
We
also run sessions aimed at team building, confidence boosting and stress release
which include techniques and elements from many of the workshops above. These
can be effective in a huge variety of settings from schools to offices. Particularly
useful for exploring themes and current issues such as racism, bullying and healthy
eating.
Prices:
Average at £185 per worker per day (plus materials and travel expenses).
In some cases, for example work for charities and private commissions, prices
are negotiable as are discounts for block bookings.
Some
sessions can be run on a drop in basis (check detailed info.). Our workshops are
aimed at all ages and abilities and can be tailored to meet the requirements of
most groups/individuals. We want to make our events and workshops accessible to
as many people as possible and we are always delighted to discuss any alterations
that will make this feasible. There are some restrictions, such as no unaccompanied
under 8's.
Provision
for groups with special needs
We
have extensive experience of working with groups and individuals with special
needs and all workshops can be tailored to accommodate any individual requirements.
In certain situations individuals/groups who need extra help may want to arrange
for careers/assistants to be present. Always discuss this with a member of the
company who will be happy to help with arrangements.
Detailed
Workshop Info.
. .
Scrap sculpture:
With
emphases on safety, fun, eco awareness, participation, free expression and
creativity these workshops are a great way of getting groups actively involved
in recycling. Each individual gets a chance to add their ideas to help shape of
the whole sculpture, encouraged and supported by our artists. Can be run
as drop in sessions.
.
Junk
instrument/ making:
Drinking straw clarinets, fog horns, shakers, carpet tube drums,
lolly stick thumb pianos. In these workshops participants can make "real"
instruments that make real sounds (and can even be tuned!) out of household rubbish.
More extended sessions can culminate in a performance from a junk orchestra or
a musical sculpture. Can be run as drop in sessions.
.
.
Mask
Making:
From
traditional Commedia dell'Arte half masks to leather masquerade creations, groups
create their own masks from a variety of materials, pape Mache, leather, gum tape,
cardboard depending on the type of session required and space available. Mask
sessions can become part of a longer series of workshops developing into a performance
or carnival costume, (above photos were taken from a series of 3 day workshops
where masks clowning and drama techniques were explored with myself and Pady O'conner
of the 'Clown docters'.The sessions cumulated in an exhibition of masks and images
at the Buddle arts centre Wallsend). Can be run as drop in sessions.
.
. . .
Circus
Skills:
Ever
wanted to run away and join the circus? Groups are taught various techniques and
skills: Poi, Staff, Juggling, Devil Sticks, Plate Spinning, Diablo, Balloon Modeling,
Stilt Walking, Fun, Games and more. Session starts with a full body warm up. These
sessions are especially good for confidence building and can be run weekly to
build up to a parade or larger performance. Can be run as drop in workshops
(but late comers must warm up!).
Circus
Craft Sessions:
Participants
are shown how to make circus equipment to take home with them. Poi, Staffs, Juggling
balls, Flower sticks. All materials and fact sheets supplied. These sessions make
a great accompaniment to a circus session, letting the group practice their newly
learnt skills with the equipment they made themselves. Can be run as drop
in workshops.
Shadow
Puppet Making:
The
focus of these workshops is on creating characters and making puppets. The session
ends with short group performances. Further sessions can develop stories, characters
and performance techniques.
.
. .
.
Face,
hand and Body Painting:
These
workshops teach techniques from basic use of brushes and stencils, to latex prosthetics
and special effects. Giving an insight into the history of face and body decoration
as an important aspect of many cultural and religious rituals. We can also offer
face, hand and body painting for parties, clubs and festivals, including airbrush,
henna, UV and latex. Can be run as drop in workshops.
.
Glass
Painting, Banner Making*, Willow sculpture and Lantern Making:
These exciting workshop can be run as individual activities ,as
elements of a general craft session or combined with other workshops to create
extra dimension for performance. Emphasis on using recycled materials. *(Groups
create their own slogans which can be in response to themes such as healthy eating.
Banners can also be a colourful way of advertising an up coming event) Can
be run as a drop in session.
T-shirt
Designing and Making: Encouraging participants to come
up with their own snappy slogans and accompanying funky design through a short
series of writing and art workshops. The second half of the session will be spent
decorating the T-shirts. Can be run as drop in sessions.
.
.
Examples
of work from "Costume Design And Making" session
Costume
Design and Making: As part of
a performance, Carnival or parade or to tie in with a themed event we work with
groups to develope their ideas into amazing and original costumes. Giving added
colour and vibrancy to any event
. .
Poi
And Staff Dancing: (Non-fire, soft play equipment and
controlled fire workshops available) Originating in New Zealand and Hawaii, Poi
has become a popular activity across the world. An excellent form of exercise
improving fine motor control and coordination, as well as muscle tone and flexibility.
The hypnotic repetitive motions of poi/staff dancing are very meditative, relieving
stress and tension. Resent research suggests that stimulating both sides of the
brain can help those with Dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Each workshop
incorporates a full body warm up. Can be run as drop in workshops
(but late comers must warm up!).
.........
Street
Theatre (including mime and clowning): Explore the ideas
and uses of street theatre. Session are focused on helping the participants to
create their own performance. Emphasis is on audience interaction and story telling.
We will demonstrate and discuss techniques such as mime, music, working with an
audience and improvisation. The workshop culminates in the participants performing
their own devised pieces. Can be booked as one off workshops or developed into
a longer series.
Leather
Working: Create your own leather masterpieces from simle
pouches or masks to full dragon puppets or suits of armour(several sessions required).
Personalise, custom, colour and let your imagination free. All materials, tools
and expert guidence along the way, included (Larger projects materal price to
be negotiated). Commissions undertaken.
Arts
in Education:
All
workshops are available to schools/colleges etc. and often work well in a gallery
or theatre setting. They can be included, not only in the arts curriculum but
as a means a facilitating other subjects. A play-a-day is the example sighted
below although, obviously, the possibilities are endless. Please feel free to
contact us for further information or to discuss workshops specific to your school.
Play-a-day
in educational setting:
We can take this workshop into schools to aid the
teaching of drama, music, history and social sciences. The play-a-day workshop
should act as a sounding board for the young people's own ideas. This is a day
long workshop culminating in a short performance (between fifteen to forty minutes)
and includes up to five workers. The morning session involves a dance, drama and
voice warm up, a writing/devising workshop and discussion about production techniques/issue
based drama. The afternoon session is the rehearsal period. The day ends with
a performance.
ArtsAround@Work:
Arts activities aren't just for kids and culture vultures; everyone
can benefit from getting involved. There are physical and mental benefits to taking
part in activities like dance and singing. Arts activities can give people a sense
of achievement and aid lateral thinking and team building skills. Movement and
singing workshops are a great way of de-stressing and learning to work cooperatively.
We offer four workshop programs for work places. These can be a day or half a
day:
We
also offer longer workshop programs which respond directly to issues arising within
the sessions.
Assistance's
(job opportunities)
As young artists and performers
the team have all experienced the difficulties of getting "the first gig":
You can't get any work unless you have experience but you cant get any experience
if you don't get any work! In the early stages of our careers we were all lucky
enough to benefit from well established companies and individual practitioners
placing their trust in our abilities and we have these people to thank for where
we are today. We now aim to offer similar opportunities to local young people
who are interested in a career in the arts. Giving them a chance to gain valuable
paid work experience in workshop coordination, performing arts, administration
and other related areas.
To
Become and assistant you will need to apply to "Random Mike" With your
CV, contact detail and a covering letter- tell us about why you are interested
in a career in the arts and including all voluntary work you have been involved
in. Also list any arts or performance activities you are/have been involved in
with school college or local groups. References can be an employer, teacher, lecture,
workshop or production leader.
To
work as an assistant you must apply to the IR to obtain a self employed tax code.
We can give you advice on how to do this. You will also need your own liability
insurance and a police check. You will not be employed by "Random Mike"
but by organisers or venues who are employing us. As a self employed person you
will be responsible for looking after your own tax and NI contributions. If all
of this sounds very complicated it's because it is!! But if you intend to work
in the arts the likely hood is that you will be self employed and need to deal
with all this at some point. If you require any help or more information then
contact us.
Fire
Show for Dilston College
Performances
Fire
Shows.
Walkabout Characters.
Musical Performances.
Shadow
Puppetry.
Clowning.
Story Telling.
Fire
Shows
Primal and mesmorising fire has fascinated people thought out time.
Using an eclectic mix of unique equipment and wide range of skills (poi, staffs,
ropes, swords, eating, body burning and breathing). I Create a visual feast with
patterns and spirals of fire that captivate and hypnotise the viewer. Combining
dance with Danger, adrenaline, excitement, and of course the primal magic of fire.
An enchanting element bewitching audiences, transforming any event into a magical
evening. My performances have taken me from on top of a Norman Castle to Kho Phi
Phi Island Thailand, for illustrious clients such as her grace The Duchess of
Northumbria and the BBC.
Balloon
modelling
Balloons, dogs, cats, swords, guns, bears, hats, butterflies
created before your eyes. More risqué models suitable for clubs and hen/stag
nights. Ideal for children's parties, and makes an impact for promotions and private
parties.
Stilt
walking
Height gives giant impact and add that to a crazy costume and anything's
possible. Ideal for promotions, festivals, and clubs stilt walking can be combined
with fire and balloons. Clown, burlesque carnival clown, Dragon, ugly sister*
(*character incoporates a shadow theatre under dress)
Walkabout
characters
A variety of costumes from authentic
to outrageous bringing added colour, comedy, character and spectacle to any event.
Shinning Knights, Loui the Dragon (hand puppet),Ugly sister, Elves, Pixies, Samurai,
Swash Bucklers, Tudors, a dragon, Huge insects, Mad Dentist, UV Butterfly, Tall
clown, knight on a sea horse and many more.
Tailor
made
If you are organising a special event I can tailor the show for you,
using music of your choice, creating costumes to suit your theme and even colouring
the fire (red, purple, blue or green) to tie the show into the event, in larger
spaces I can also create huge patterns of sparks for a dazzeling finalle. Fire
is ideal for outdoor events and can be used inside many venues, but I can use
glow equipment as an alternative to fire.
(Please
note that although I am fully insured if I feel the venue is unsafe or unsuitable
I will not put others at risk)