Superstar English Drama－ English Drama Animateur Pilot Scheme

“Superstar English Drama” English Drama Animateur Scheme introduces students to the whole gamut of reading, analyzing and adaptation of a classic English play as well as the basic elements of drama from blocking to body movement and from concept to practice in a performing venue. It encourages drama appreciation through the active and persistent participation of students and to motivate them in English learning and speaking. The purpose is to enhance the participants’ expression, communication skills, problem solving, critical thinking, team sprit and interest in the performing arts. The project includes 2 types of training workshops (in speech and drama), rehearsals and auditioning. On completion of the course, students will take part in the finale performance and share with their audience what they have learned throughout the year. Dr. Vicki Ooi and Dominic Cheung, local theatre professionals, will be the artistic and creative consultants of this project.

The project is implemented in 4 primary schools and 4 secondary schools.

Participating Schools
Primary
Tai Po Baptist Public School
Pat Heung Central Primary School
Chi Lin Buddhist Primary School
Yan Chai Hospital Choi Hin To Primary School

Secondary
HHCKLA Buddhist Ching Kok Secondary School
St Stephen’s Church College
Po Kok Secondary School
Caritas Tuen Mun Marden Foundation Secondary School

Theme
Two classical English drama namely The Story of the Seasons and Treasure Island are chosen for primary and secondary schools respectively.

The Story of the Seasons
The Story of the Seasons, a Greek myth, tells the story of Hades, the king of the underworld, who is shot by an arrow from Cupid, the god of love, during a tour around his kingdom. At that very moment, he happens to meet Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest – who is in charge of the earth’s fertility. He falls in love with her. He tries all possible ways to capture her and make her his wife, or the queen of the underworld. Demeter, overwhelmed by grief at losing her daughter, ignores the needs of all things growing on earth. As a result, crops die and famine arises everywhere.

Zeus, the leader of all gods, orders Hades to return Persephone to her mother. Hades answers a firm “Yes”, but secretly makes Persephone eat the fruits of the underworld, making it necessary for her to return to the underworld for half of each year. Since then, whenever Persephone and her mother enjoy a reunion, all things growing on earth thrive. However, when Persephone returns to the underworld, Demeter is in grief, and the earth again becomes bare and dry.

Greek myths are an important origin of western literature. They tell of the origin of the world, and how the wisdom, battles and powers of all gods influence the world, including the formation of typhoons, seasons and other natural phenomena. Like human beings, the gods in Greek myths exhibit all kinds of emotions. Students can enter the wonderland of Greek mythology through participating in a performance, whilst feeling strong family love.

Treasure Island
Treasure Island was written by Robert Louis Stevenson, a 19th century Scottish novelist. It relates the treasure-hunting adventures of Jim, the leading character, and several pirates. Ten-year-old Jim is a brave, upright and witty young boy, whose parents operate the Admiral Benbow Inn. One day, a traveller with a knife scar on his face arrives at the inn. This traveller – called Billy Bones – subsequently dies of a stroke in the inn. Accidentally, Jim finds on his body a treasure map, which pirates will risk death to fight for.

Subsequently, Jim becomes drawn into a succession of battles for treasure. There are thrilling escapades involving treasure hunting and seafaring, full of unexpected events and strange characters. Through a series of adventures depicted in the story, students will realise that one needs bravery and wisdom to solve problems, and the greatest treasures in life are not gold or silver, but unselfish love and a sense of justice.

Content
The project will run for 11 months, from September 2010 to July 2011 and will be implemented in 4 phases:

Phase 1: Drama Workshop
September 2010 to March 2011

Part 1: English Drama and Speech Workshop (14 sessions)
September to December 2010
Through the training of drama vocabulary in English, stress and intonation for expression of emotions, feeling and motivation, students will be encouraged to express in English with more confidence. They are given the chance to learn and analyze an adapted and modern version of a western classical play. By reading and interpreting the lines of the play, they are given the chance to practice the acquired knowledge.

Part 2: Acting Workshop (8 sessions)
January to March 2011 Through the training of basic skills and performing techniques like use of space, body language, gestures, etc, students will acquire presentational skills in English drama theatre.

Phase 2: Rehearsals, Auditioning and In-school Performance
April to June 2011
There will be 7-session rehearsals, 1-session auditioning and one in-school performance. Rehearsals will be an amalgamation of all elements of basic drama techniques and presentational skills. Students will be divided into groups and ready for a school performance in the final session. Through a formal audition exercise, students will learn in the process of a stage production and be cast in roles for the finale performance. The casting and allocation of duties will be determined by the Project’s Artistic Directors and instructors.

Phase 3: Rehearsals for Finale Performance
July 2011
There will be 4 in-school rehearsals directed by the Artistic Director, Dominic Cheung, after the casts have been determined. Other than performing in the finale performance, students are also encouraged to take an active part in the making of sets, props and costumes.

Phase 4: Finale Performance
July 2011
All participating schools will participate in the finale performance at the performing venue outside schools to show what they have learned during the year. The Project’s Artistic Director, Dr. Vicki Ooi will be the director and artistic consultant of the performance and she will also lead the intensive rehearsals on stage. Students from each participating school will share the results of their training with members of the public in the making of the English drama performance.