In March 2010, Newcastle College showcased an exciting theatre production called ‘The Northern Journey’ for Year 10 students held at our £21 million purpose built Performance Academy at our city centre Rye Hill Campus.

The central themes of the performance are similar to that of other education theatre productions such as Zip Theatre and Cragrats, including life choices about education, different progression routes and the various ways students can explore different careers opportunities delivered in an entertaining and interactive format. Ultimately the aim of the performance is to enhance students understanding of HE in its broadest sense and to compliment existing activity at other Higher Education institutions such as ACE days. 

Building on the success of last year’s performances, the play itself centres around three young people who are due to leave school and face tough decisions on where their next steps will lead them. Confused and unsure of what to do and under constant pressure from parents, school and friends it seems there is no hope or drive towards a successful future. Slipping into a surreal dream world our young people transform into contestants on a wild, wacky and humorous game show that awakens their inner hobbies and interests. Our characters go through an epic adventure of self discovery and unearth some useful career paths learning about and using Higher Education as their goal. This ‘Northern Journey’ guides and aids them to make decisions on the next stage of their lives.

 Supported by Aimhigher, the performance has been written and directed by BASE Theatre Company with the actors involved in the performance being current Newcastle College HE Performing Arts students, year 10 Drama students, professional actors and student actors from the wider community.

Michael Richardson

HE Project Facilitator at Newcastle College      

Video  coming soon

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Friday 5th March 2010                          

Performance Day             9am – 2.30pm

Thursday 4th March 2010                    

 Performance Day              9am – 2.30pm

 Wednesday 3rd March 2010              

Full day Tech and Dress Rehearsal (Everyone to attend)

 Monday 1st March 2010                         

Acting Rehearsal              5pm-7pm (with actors from base and Yr 9, 10 & 11 School Students)

Dance Rehearsal              7pm-9pm

Saturday 27^th February 2010             

Full Cast Run Through (Everyone to attend)

Monday 22^nd February 2010              

Acting Rehearsal              5pm-7pm (with actors from base)

Half Term Break

Saturday 13^th February 2010             

Production Meetings      9am–10am

Acting Rehearsals            10am–12pm (with Yr 9, 10 & 11 School Students)

Lunch                                   

Acting rehearsals             1pm–4pm

Monday 8^th February 2010                  

Acting Rehearsal              5pm-7pm (with actors from base)

Dance Rehearsal              7pm-9pm

Saturday 6^th February 2010                

Production Meetings     9am–10am

Acting Rehearsals            10am–12pm (with Yr 9, 10 & 11 School Students)

Lunch                                   

Acting rehearsals             1pm–4pm

Monday 1^st February 2010                   

Acting Rehearsal              5pm-7pm (with actors from base and Yr 9, 10 & 11 School Students)

Dance Rehearsal              7pm-9pm

Monday 25^th January 2010                 

Acting Rehearsal              5pm-7pm (with actors from base)

Dance Rehearsal              7pm-9pm

Saturday 23^rd January 2010              

to be finalized

Monday 18^th January 2010                  

Acting Rehearsal              5pm-7pm (with actors from base)

Dance Rehearsal              7pm-9pm

Saturday 16^th January 2010                

Production Meetings      9am–10am

Acting Rehearsals            10am–12pm

Lunch                                   

Acting rehearsals             1pm–4pm

Monday 11^th January 2010                  

Acting Rehearsal              5pm-7pm (with actors from base)

Dance Rehearsal              7pm-9pm

Saturday 9^th January 2010                 

Production Meetings      9am–10am

Acting Rehearsals            10am–12pm

Lunch                                   

Acting rehearsals             1pm–3pm

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Christmas Break

Monday 14th December Acting rehearsal 5 -7       Dance Rehearsals 7 – 9

Saturday 12th december cancelled due to lack of numbers

Thank you to all that are keen to get involved in this year’s production of ‘The Northern Journey’. If I have met with you already you will know that rehearsals will be running Monday evenings 17:00 – 21:00 and Saturday throughout the day 09:00 – 17:00 in performance academy room 201.

Introduction workshop and Company read through on Monday 30^th  November 2009 at 17.00

The central themes of the performance will be similar to that of other education theatre productions such as Zip Theatre and Cragrats, including life choices about education, different progression routes and the various ways students can explore different careers opportunities delivered in an entertaining and interactive format. Ultimately the aim of the performance is to enhance students understanding of HE in its broadest sense and to compliment existing activity at other Higher Education institutions such as ACE days. 

The play itself centres around two characters, Chris and Amy who are due to leave school and face a tough decision on where their next steps will lead them. Sixth Form, College and Employment are some of the many options that they must choose from in the coming weeks. Pressure from their parents on the day before a college visit is no help at all as Chris and Amy travel into the T.V  to begin their ‘Northern Journey’ which will guide and aid them to make decisions on the next stage of their lives. The performance has been written and directed by BASE Theatre Company with the actors involved in the performance being current Newcastle College HE students studying Music and Performing Arts Foundation Degrees.

 Last years performance was a huge sucess but this year it is going to be better than ever. Check out some shots and Footage from last year.

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© Paul Brown Photography

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‘Drugs are 4 Mugs’ is a performance that was constructed by a group of young people who attend the Lobley Hill and Kingsmeadow curriculum programme. This is an alternative programme for young people with behaviour problems. The young people were successful with an application to the Youth Opportunity Fund to use drama to tackle the issues surrounding drugs. All performance material was developed using improvisational methods allowing the young people to actively learn throughout the project. Young people were involved in all aspects of the process from rehearsals, stage management, production roles and music/film production. Using forum theatre and improvisational techniques the young people were able

• Look at why young people take drugs in the first place, so they can identify with the issues and why taking drugs is often a way of coping
• Look at the psychological impact of drugs and how this affects the thinking of a drug taker
• Recognise the difficulties in saying no – including peer pressure
• The link between soft drug taking and how this is likely to lead to harder drugs
• Recognises the difficulties in managing addiction – impacts on own life, family, community
• Look at ways that young people can be supported to manage drug addiction – include the likelihood of failure of first attempts of trying to battle addiction and the probability of failure
• Recognise that drugs are often used recreationally and are seen as a fun past time!
• Include the own experiences of a person who has battled drug addiction and the impact it has had on their life

“Drugs Are 4 Mugs” was performed to community centres from the 5 areas in Gateshead. Following each performance a question answer workshop was conducted to forum this issue and help others openly discuss the impact it has on people’s lives.

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