December started this week, and so we were feeling festive at Stagedoor HQ. Of course, the festive season began last week for the Everyman, with the opening of this year’s pantomime, so we did feel a bit like we were playing catch up.
This week saw more Stagedoor students visiting local primary schools along with Everyman practitioners to run workshops to introduce children to Dick Whittington and his Cat – Macie and Kelly went along with practitioner Caro Day to Greenfield Park Primary School and ran a workshop for the entire school in advance of their theatre trip the following day. We also responded to an emergency call from Joe Hackett, marketing assistant at the theatre to pack 300 bags with goodies from Regent Arcade store Tiger for children who are invited on stage during the show, and spent time in the Everyman studio watching a section of the technical rehearsal for Hammerpuzzle’s production of The Tales of Hans Christian Andersen.
We finished the week, after decorating Stagedoor HQ, with a Friday evening performance for the Everyman Theatre Association, singing carols and Christmas songs at their annual Christmas Dinner. The short programme included traditional carols such as Silent Night and O Holy Night, as well as more upbeat numbers such as Winter Wonderland. The big hit of the evening was a version of The 12 Days of Christmas. ETA later tweeted “The Stagedoor students entertained us brilliantly at our Christmas Dinner, and were a huge hit! Thank you so much, Jenny and students! We especially loved the 12 Days of Christmas jostling!”
Once again, I was incredibly proud of the students, not just for the standard of their performance, but for the commitment they showed in giving up their Friday evening to entertain the Everyman Friends.
