Best Theatre Arts - Content Channel Best Theatre Arts Content and Resources, Articles & News & Forums. http://www.besttheatrearts.com en-us Copyright 2006, Best Theatre Arts http://backend.userland.com/rss ASPPortal High School PantomimeWe’ve just announced some very exciting news - next term we’ll be putting on a workshop production of ‘High School Pantomime’. It will be full of the best songs from the shows but mixed with a hefty dollop of British pantomime tradition. Sounds unusual? Er… yes… and we still have to write this epic. But in true Best tradition there will be parts for everyone,  really awful jokes, a mix of unique and classic characters and loads of fun for all. The end of term showing  will of course be accompanied by our traditional mince pies and coffee get-together although it seems very odd talking about this in June. We can’t wait!

]]>http://www.besttheatrearts.com/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=5210/06/2009LAMDA classes now availableBest is delighted to announce that it is now offering LAMDA classes at all grades. Classes are on Fridays and Thursdays - give us a call if you are interested! ]]>http://www.besttheatrearts.com/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=5112/05/2009TheBYTE rocks WelwynOur youth theatre group, TheBYTE, took the Welwyn Youth Drama Festival by storm last night - a simply wonderful production of The Runaways directed by Adam Shorey which left the audience spellbound and, in one case, literally breathless!

 

Pictures will follow...

]]>http://www.besttheatrearts.com/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=5012/05/20092009 Spring and Summer Academy Dates announced - don't miss out! ]]>http://www.besttheatrearts.com/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=4307/01/2009Calling all Mums and Dad's - join the Feelgood Factor!At last! This is a chance to sing those songs you sing in the shower – but for real! 

Run by Best Theatre Arts, St.Albans favourite theatre school for children, this is our response to the countless parents who have wailed “Why don’t I ever get a chance to do this kind of thing?”

We’ll meet for 90 minutes on Wednesday evenings for 10 weeks during term time at a venue in St.Albans (TBA) to put together a musical medley with movement from a show which may be...

Mamma Mia!    Hairspray!   Wicked!

...or it may be a collection of songs from different shows/sources with a common thread (e.g. summertime, Halloween, Christmas).  And then at the end of term we’ll have a showing for partners / children / relatives / friends and a few drinks afterwards.

(Go to our Download Centre to download a PDF of details about the Feelgood Factor! to stick on your fridge or email to all your friends!)

The group is open to anyone over the age of 18 and you do not have to have a child at a Best class to come along.

And we’re looking for enthusiasm rather than ability! The sessions which will be fun, energetic, sociable and totally fulfilling.

Members would enrol on a term by term basis and price would be £130 per term.

So are you up for the challenge? Do you want to Feelgood?

Numbers will have to be limited, so please let us know as soon as possible whether you’d like to come along.

And bring a friend or two – the first session will be FREE as a taster!

Come on! Give it a go!

To book your taster session call Annette or David on 01727 759634, or e-mail bestarts@aol.com ]]>http://www.besttheatrearts.com/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=4207/01/2009St Albans 2009 show datesIt s back to normal next term with the St Albans shows on the weekend before Easter. the key dates for your diary are 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th April. Exact group timings will be given later. ]]>http://www.besttheatrearts.com/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=4001/10/2008Best Spring Academies ever!We have received huge praise for the Spring Academies recently run in Berkhamsted and St Albans. Here are a couple of typical comments:-

Dear Annette and David

Just to say a big thank you for the spring academy. L and E had a fantastic time.  L said it was the best thing she has ever done (and she does a lot) and E (in spite of being a bit wary) ran in every day and smiled all through the show.

 Dear Liz,
Please pass on an enormous thank you to Annette and David from R and G and myself, for the fantastic week they had with you at Easter. They both thoroughly enjoyed themselves, especially the productions at the end of week.

I was very very impressed with the overall standard of the shows. The sight of my son dancing, singing and saying his lines so amazingly, and my daughter singing, dancing and beaming her way through Mary Poppins was overwhelming, and there were certainly tears on my part! R s experience, I think, was particularly valuable in terms of developing his confidence. Overall, it was great to see so many children and teenagers losing any inhibitions and just
going for it.   They both want to come back in the Summer!

 

 

We think these were the best academies we have run - but we seem to get better each time. Our unique approach is becoming more effective and we re really looking forward to the Summertime. book early!

 

]]>http://www.besttheatrearts.com/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=3911/04/2008Best wins NSPCC Accreditation

Best Theatre Arts has become the first drama school in the country to be accredited under the NSPCC Staying Safe Commitment Scheme.

“This demonstrates our total commitment to the care of our students and is a real independent badge of quality for Best!” said Annette Holland, Best’s co-founder.

The nationwide scheme requires organizations to prove to the NSPCC that their procedures and policies surrounding child safety rigorously address all aspects of their activities, and that foreseeable eventualities have been analysed and appropriate responses prepared.

Fiona Becker, Senior Consultant, NSPCC, said: ‘The commitment scheme helps organisations to focus on safeguarding and think about it in a broader sense than just child protection.  For many organisations it’s the start of a journey towards meeting safeguarding standards. By gaining the NSPCC Certificate of Recognition, Best Theatre Arts are demonstrating a real commitment to safeguarding children and young people who take part in their activities. Their efforts are to be commended and we hope they will continue to build a safer organisation through the implementation of their safeguarding action plan.

 “It took months of work to refine our processes and procedures to meet the NSPCC’s exacting standards – but now we’ve achieved it we think it’s been worth the effort,” says Annette. “Hopefully all organizations such as ours will realize the importance of having demonstrably robust child safety procedures in place and will follow our lead. But for now we’re happy for Best to be unique!”

“When parents bring their children to Best, either for term-time classes or a holiday course they can be sure they are dealing with a totally professional organisation uniquely dedicated to the welfare of its students. And we’ll be staying vigilant to ensure that we adopt new best practice as and when it is identified. We’re thrilled to have reached this important landmark in our development on our 10th birthday!” says Annette.

 

]]>http://www.besttheatrearts.com/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=3827/03/2008Best makes a 10 year award!Best Theatre Arts is ten years old!

 

On their first day in 1998 a little four year old girl, Stephanie Booth, was one of the first to arrive. Ten years later she is still with Best! This amazing loyalty was recognised at the end of Best’s show ‘Best of Dreams’ this week when Stephanie was presented with a beautiful framed print of Waterstone’s Ophelia, signed on the back by all Best s students and teachers.

 

 

Best makes awards to students at each anniversary of their joining. Prizes awarded include wallets, bags and pens, umbrellas, mugs, picture frames and clocks – and at five years students are awarded ‘The Complete Works of Shakespeare’ - “A book no performer should be without!” says Annette Holland, Best’s co-founder.

 

“But for ten years we knew the award had to be something very special and personal. We hope the picture will be a permanent reminder for Stephanie of her happy times with Best.” She arrived as a feisty little four year old, and here she is a confident and poised young lady. We’re proud that she has chosen to spend so much of her childhood with us!”

 

“Stephanie plays ‘Nightmare’ in the ‘Best of Dreams’ and has been able to use all the skills and techniques she’s learned in her time with us,” says Annette.” The show brings back all the goodies and baddies from Best’s past shows in a final, music and dance filled showdown. “The show has been a massive hit, particularly because there have been so many big choral numbers. This means every child has had lots to do – no matter how old or how long they’ve been with us. We’ve had some lovely compliments from our parents.”

 

The attached picture shows Stephanie (centre) surrounded by the excited cast of Best of Dreams at The SandPit Theatre.

 

About Best

 

Best Theatre Arts is Hertfordshire s leading independent theatre school with term-time and holiday courses in St Albans, Berkhamsted and Hertord for children aged 4 to 18. In 2008 it celebrates its 10th birthday!

 

For further information, contact Best on 01727 75307 (bestarts@aol.com) or go to www.besttheatrearts.com

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