The Shakespeare Adventure Program
11th to 30th July, 2011
offering a detailed insight into theatre’s greatest work
Taking our lead from the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, we know from experience that the best results for our academic summer school are achieved in a fun, friendly and supportive environment, so although our program of study is rigorous and there is always a lot to do, we make sure we enjoy the experience. We work hard but make sure we have plenty of fun in the process. This is a time to make new friends, explore new skills and immerse yourself in a new and exciting environment. There are two strands to CADA’s academic summer school program. The major strand, which will take up approximately two thirds of your time, is concerned with theatre studies and performance. Although you will receive all the theoretical support you need, this is a ‘learning by doing’ program and you will spend a lot of your time performing, rehearsing and learning acting techniques. The minor strand of the academic summer school is concerned with an understanding of European culture, music, art and architecture. This is facilitated through study visits (supported by class-work) to museums, concerts, galleries and so on.
Course overview: Shakespeare and performance
All students on the academic summer school program receive the same balance in terms of the range of activities that are studied. You will receive classes in acting techniques, text analysis and verse speaking, and with the help of our team of professional actors and directors, will work towards a fully-staged production of a Shakespeare play in one of the venues used by the Shakespeare Festival. In order to facilitate this, students will have access to the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival costume store, which currently holds in excess of 600 full Elizabethan costumes, plus a wealth of stage props.
Course overview: cultural study and experience
In addition to the work encountered in the major strand of CADA’s academic summer school, there will be a parallel program of cultural study, including lecture trips to museums, art galleries and concerts. The summer school program also includes study trips to both London (to visit the Globe Theatre) and Stratford-upon-Avon (to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace and tomb).
Students are divided into small groups for study and leisure activities. Download the pdf below for examples of typical days for two groups.
Dr David Crilly MA, LTCL, LLCM, ALCM, PhD (Oxford)
Dr David Crilly is Director of CADA. He is an academic, a composer, a theatre and opera director, an orchestral conductor and author. He has been the Artistic Director of the Cambridge Shakespeare Festival since 1988. As an academic he was Senior Lecturer and Director of Research in Music and Performing Arts in Cambridge for over twenty years, and was also Director-in-Residence for Anglia Opera during that period. He gained a doctorate in the philosophy of music and art from the University of Oxford and a Masters (with Distinction) in Drama and Theatre Studies from the University of London. He is an Associate and Licentiate of the London College of Music and is also Licentiate of Trinity College, London.
Simon Bell MA, BA
Simon Bell trained at Reading University and Guildford School of Acting, and has an MA in Contemporary Performance from Cambridge. Since ’93 Simon has worked extensively as a freelance theatre director and practitioner, having directed over 110 productions. As well as having been Resident Director at the Thorndike Theatre in Leatherhead, he is currently co-founder of the Regenerator Theatre Company, and Resident Director of Theatre of the Wheel. Both companies run extensive touring programmes. For the past fourteen years he has been Associate Director of The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, with whom he has directed 46 plays. Teaching engagements are extensive and varied; as acting tutor and guest director (from Shakespeare to audition technique) at various drama schools, including Mountview, Drama Studio, Italia Conti, Redroofs Theatre School, Birmingham School of Acting, and R.A.D.A. Simon is also a qualified stage combat instructor, with displays at the Globe Theatre, Southwark. He is currently engaged in doctoral research into Central European Theatre practice.
Jan Burns BA
Jan studied English Literature in Cambridge and was awarded a First-Class degree in 1995. She has also undergone training as a professional counsellor at the University of Chester, accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Jan took over as Executive Producer of The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival in 1996, prior to which she worked in publishing and investment banking. Apart from her administrative responsibilities for the Festival, she is also the Company dramaturge and advises on aspects of text editing leading to performance.
David Rowan
David trained at the Guildford School of Acting. He has worked extensively in theatre as an actor, playwright and director for companies including Wimbledon Theatre, The Thorndike Theatre, Farnham Redgrave, BAC, Channel Four Schools and Theatre Exchange. He now teaches, writes, directs and works in corporate training and events, specialising in forum theatre. David is a visiting tutor at Blackheath Conservatoire and Age Exchange for whom he works with children and the elderly on reminiscence projects. David is Chairman of Board of Trustees at the Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre and Gallery and is also a regular on the UK stand-up comedy circuit.
Jake Lyons
Jake has worked as a professional actor for fifteen years following training at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, London. He appears regularly for BBC drama and his theatre experience includes performances at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, The Bridewell, Lawrence Batley Theatre, The Palace Theatre, The Lyric, and many touring productions. As a Director he founded Stark Theatre Company and is Associate Director of Walking Forward Theatre Company with a remit to create innovative drama for young people. Jake is also Associate Director of The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival. As a writer his ‘Theatre In Education’ plays continue to tour universities throughout the UK and his work has been produced and performed at London Theatre venues. Jake’s screenplays have been shown at both the Berlin Film and Cannes Film Festival. Jake has experience of teaching a wide age range and level of ability at Drama schools, Summer Schools and regular Workshops. He is currently a member of the teaching faculty at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
Heidi Gjertsen BA, CertEd
Heidi trained at Mountview Theatre School and has worked as a professional actress since 1990. She has a degree in Philosophy from Birkbeck College, University of London, and has a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Wales (Cardiff). She has been Education Co-ordinator for The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival since 1994 and is currently Equal Opportunities Coordinator for 16-18 year-old students in Cambridge. She has produced shows on the London Fringe and devised and acted with the acclaimed film director Stephen Daldry (The Hours, Billy Elliot, An Inspector Calls in London’s West End and on Broadway).
Sean McGrath
Sean is joint Artistic Director of AlterEgo Theatre Company for whom he produces, writes and directs. He also teaches acting and performance skills in schools, colleges and universities – specialising in Uta Hagen/Stanislavskian techniques and Performing Shakespeare. Sean trained as an actor at The Oxford School of Drama. His credits include four seasons with The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival, playing roles such as Iago, Don John, Demetrius, Laertes and Macbeth. National theatre tours for Black Cat Theatre Company and Shakespeare Works Theatre Company. London fringe productions at venues such as The Latchmere Theatre, The Cockpit Theatre, The Battersea Arts Centre and The Arcola Theatre. ‘Read not Dead’ performances at Shakespeare’s Globe and a multi-award winning production of ‘Loaded’ at The Edinburgh Fringe festival.
Phillipa Paget
Philippa is joint Artistic Director of AlterEgo Theatre Company for whom she writes, acts and directs. Her main teaching interests lie in The Actor and their Voice. She works with actors to help them to engage both physically and emotionally with voice production. Philippa trained as an actress at The Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre, gaining a Degree in Acting. Her credits include four seasons with The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival playing notable roles such as Hermia, Desdemona, Ophelia and Juliet. National Theatre-in-Education tours for Walking Forward Theatre Company and Firehorse Productions. London fringe productions in venues such as The Clerkenwell Theatre, The Etcetera Theatre and The Bloomsbury Theatre.
