Frequently Asked Questions:In On The Act

What is In On The Act?

Theatre Royal Wakefield wants to develop young theatre-makers and support home-grown talent. With In on the Act we want to increase confidence and skills in 18-30 year olds.We will focus on five key skills areas:

  • Acting
  • Directing
  • Writing
  • Facilitating
  • Devising

In on the Act is a regular weekly session led by two professional directors and facilitators. There will be two to three opportunities over the course of each year to create or be in a performance. We expect all of our participants to be open to each of the skills areas but there will be opportunities to specialise.

  • We ensure the performers develop a real range of skills and give you relevant experience to increase your employability in the sector.
  • We give the opportunity to young people who already have a passion for theatre to explore this further
  • We support professional development for artists.
  • We give people a creative outlet and an opportunity to shine, develop passions and meet like-minded creatives in the district!

Who is this for?

18-30 year olds who want to develop their skills to support them into a career in the performing arts or to have a creative outlet and develop confidence.You may have left college or be an undergraduate. You may have never had formal theatre training but have always performed with a youth theatre. We are looking to work with a fresh and dynamic group to develop performance skills, tell stories and learn from other theatre-makers.

When and where do the sessions take place?

  • Regular sessions will take place on Wednesday evenings from 6pm-9pm
  • There will be occasional daytimes, other evenings or weekends – particularly in the lead up to a performance
  • Each term will last twelve weeks generally
  • Yearly schedules will be given to all new starters and circulated to current members in the summer for the following academic year. Please let us know if you have not received a schedule
  • The sessions will generally take place in the Performing Arts Building, Mechanics Theatreat Wakefield College’s Waterton Building, Wood Street, Wakefield WF1 2EW. See link for directions
  • Or see the map at the end of this document
  • We will let you know when sessions are elsewhere

How much?

£120 is the full price fee for a twelve week term. This breaks down as £10 per session or £3.34 pence per hour. We are able to provide financial support to a limited number of participants. Please ask Jenny for a form to complete if you think you may be eligible.

How do I join?

  • Get in touch with Jenny to find out when our next free taster session is on
  • Please complete the application formand submit this to Jenny Jones or post to Theatre Royal Wakefield, Drury Lane WF1 2TE in advance of the free taster
  • If you also wish to apply for financial support then please submit your application for this at the same time as your application form
  • It will then be your responsibility to pay the termly fees (unless you have been awarded financial support) by either:
  • Signing up for a direct debit (please contact Jenny Jones on or 01924 330065 for a form). We recommend direct debit as the easiest payment method
  • Pay with cash/or direct debit by the payment deadline for that term directly to the theatre Box Office on 01924 211311
  • Pay online via the link which Jenny will circulate

Discipline:

All participants are expected to demonstrate a professional attitude and commitment. This includes an excellent level of attendance and punctuality and full commitment to any extra rehearsals, events and performance commitments as negotiated. You must let us know in advance if you are unable to attend a session for any reason. Theatre Royal Wakefield reserves the right to remove any participant at any time without warning from its sessions if it feels that the behaviour or conduct of that participant is not conducive to the working environment or to the progress of other participants.

It is also important that fees are paid on time. Failure to pay by the deadline (without prior arrangement with Jenny) may result in participants being asked to leave the group.

Who is the practitioner leading the group?

Tina Shuker-Abell:

Tina completed her degree in Dramatic Arts at Bretton Hall University and has worked ever since as a lecturer, freelance director, writer, choreographer and workshop leader for a variety of youth theatre and community companies, in the UK and abroad. These include Kilpeck Youth Theatre, Hereford, The Music Pool, Hereford, Dorset Youth Theatre and the Theatre Royal Wakefield Performance Academy. She has directed a vast array of full scale productions ranging from Shakespeare to modern classics and musical theatre. She also regularly writes plays for educational institutions as well as community based projects and is passionate about adapting short stories for the stage from writers who inspire her such as Angela Carter. Tina is also a keen practitioner of movement and physical work, and is skilled in working with large ensemble casts.

Since she was a student Tina has worked with an array of professional practitioners and theatre companies such as Pentabus in Shropshire, and Teatro Regional da Serra do Montemuro in Portugal, through this she has gained skills in many areas such as set design and painting. These skills are utilised come production time!

Tina has been Co- Director of In on the Act since its inception in 2012 and is committed to seeking and evolving challenging projects that promote and encourage innovative practice in creating work as well as enhancing the performance skills of the company.

What if my question has not been answered here?

Please contact Jenny Jones on 01924 330065 or email

Wakefield College : Waterton Building

Wakefield College, Mechanics Theatre, Waterton Building, Wood Street, Wakefield WF1 2EW

(More or less opposite the police station)

From M1 Northbound

Leave the M1 at Junction 39 and join the A636 towards Wakefield.

Turn left at the third roundabout and pass around the one way system following signs for the town centre and Westgate Railway Station.

After passing Westgate Railway Station turn left at the second set of traffic lights onto Wood Street.

The Waterton Building is then 100m on the left.

From M1 Southbound

Leave the M1 at junction 41 and join the A650 towards Wakefield.

Continue over three roundabouts onto the A61 for a short distance before rejoining the A650 for the town centre.

The Wakefield City Campus is then on the right hand side.

By Train

5 minute walk from Westgate station.
10 minute walk from Kirkgate station.

Application Form: In On The Act ( 18-30 year olds)

APPLICANT NAME:
APPLICANT ADDRESS:
POST CODE:
APPLICANT AGE: / APPLICANT D.O.B:
APPLICANT TEL: / APPLICANT EMAIL:
CONTACT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
ACCESS NEEDS: (If you have any access needs that you think it would be useful for us to know about then please use this space to tell us about them. These may include; learning difficulties or disabilities; sensory or physical disabilities. )

If you haveaccess needs that make completing this Application Form difficult then please contact Jennyusing the details at the end of this form to discuss alternative ways of applying.

Have you had any formal training (school, college, uni etc) in Drama or Performing Arts?
Please list these
What other experience have you got that might be relevant? (e.g youth groups, amateur dramatics etc)
Please list these
Tell us about a performance/piece of theatre you’ve seen that was inspirational (1/2 page maximum please)

Tick all that apply:I am interested in:

Acting

Directing

Writing

Facilitating/running workshops

Devising

Other- please specify…………………………………………………………………………………………..

PLEASE TICK THE BELOW STATEMENT IF TRUE:

I give permission for photographs / video pictures to be taken which may be used for documentation or publicity purposes

PLEASE TICK ONE OF THE BELOW STATEMENTS:

I can pay full fee of £120 in one installment if awarded a place

I would like to set up a monthly direct debit

I am applying forfinancial support and attach my completed form and relevant documents (please note we can only accept these applications in tandem)

NAME:
SIGNED: / DATE:

Please complete this form and return to Jenny Jones by email on or post to Theatre Royal Wakefield, Drury Lane, Wakefield WF1 2TE. If you have any enquiries please phone Jenny on 01924 330065.

Please note: This application will be considered alongside any prior experience the tutors have of working with the applicant.