Pioneering Theatre in the West Midlands
Recent Productions
Behind A Smile
by Jon Lingard-Lane
Behind A Smile is a programme which has been carefully designed for pupils in Years 6, 7 & 8
to raise awareness of the very real issues around the sexual exploitation of children.
"The content is very comprehensive, many of the hidden dangers are revealed.
The use of language is excellent and pertinent to the age group.
The performance was gripping and entirely believable and children's attention was held throughout.
The presentation was pitched at the right level and is entertaining as well as being informative.
The follow-up workshop made children think, made them unpick what they had seen and heard
and gave them strategies to cope."
(Headteacher of a Wolverhampton junior school.)
Click here for more information
about this unique and important programme of work
about this unique and important programme of work
Packers
The riotous new comedy by Alex Jones
Set in the heart of what was once the cradle of industry, the Black Country, Packers is about a bunch of women packing for an unscrupulous boss in a draughty warehouse, running up to Christmas. Poignant and hilarious, it is a story of pain, pathos, severed digits, mad boyfriends, hypochondriacs, attempted murder, sex and parcel-tape.
But most of all Packers is a life-affirming story of ordinary people: their struggles, hopes and aspirations
Sparx!
The stunning play about arson by Jon Lingard-Lane
Zip Theatre's very successful play about arson - developed through an exciting and important partnership between the West Midlands Arson Task Force and Zip Theatre is designed to raise awareness of the dangers of malicious fires and the importance of fire safety for young people.
The messages of Sparx! are reinforced with contemporary music and original songs and young people are encouraged to take a responsible attitude towards fire safety.
"This dangerous, hard-hitting and disturbing play raises awareness among the target group
of the costs and very real dangers inherent in malicious fire setting."
Some comments from teachers who have taken parties to see the show:
"The most powerful production for teenagers that we have ever seen."
"The message was direct and well delivered by talented actors."
"Sparx is an outstanding example of getting young people to think seriously about an important issue."
"It was a superb theatrical experience, brilliantly written, performed and staged."
"Superb acting and use of resources appealed to a range of learning styles."
"The music was very powerful and effective."
"An excellent performance which initiated lots of discussion work
and resulted in pupils admitting some of the arson they had committed."
"The use of multi-media was very effective."
"We would like to hear in advance about any other similar productions for teenagers."
Comment received from a teacher who took a party to Birmingham's Old Rep in June 2007:
"Sparx! is a powerful and thought provoking play, which the children thoroughly enjoyed.
The follow up pack has allowed us to continue working towards educating children about the dangers of fire and continue taking preventative measures to stop arson before children consider it.
The actors were excellent as were all involved in the scenery and lighting. I shall be recommending this production to all appropriate Year Groups whose teachers I know!
A wonderfully educational morning that has inspired many of my children to become firefighters and instilled in my children a real respect for those in the Fire Service. Thank you."
Rachel Reid, Year 6 Teacher, Longford Park Primary School, Coventry.
Dying2Drive
Produced in association with West Midlands Fire and Police Services
Dying2Drive
raises awareness among young people of the dangers of becoming involved in vehicle crime.
The project focuses on the consequences of joyriding and other forms of illegal and unsafe driving.
The harrowing consequences of vehicle crime affect young people themselves, crash victims, families of those involved and members of the emergency services.
The Wolverhampton Mystery Cycle 2004
Sponsored by Arts Council West Midlands, Foundation for Youth Music, Mander Centre
Over 400 local people were involved in this spectacular community play, performed at Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre in June 2004
More on The Wolverhampton Mystery Cycle
Piratz!
".....Zip's accomplished performance team! Superb!"
Piratz! is the second production in Zip Theatre's citizenship awareness strand for children in key stages 2 and 3.
Building on the success of Zip's production of Citz, the play explores major themes for young people and addresses curriculum areas which include:
Developing decision making skills and resisting peer pressure
Making informed and responsible personal choices
Knowledge and understanding about becoming informed citizens
Developing skills of enquiry and communication
Developing skills of participation and responsible action
A new night club has opened in town.
Sunny Halliday thinks it could be the perfect venue for her eighteenth birthday party.
But why is club manager Calico Jack so keen to offer Sunny a free party?
Who are the pirates? Will Sunny and her friends be tempted to try everything the club has to offer?
Piratz! is an exciting new play, featuring Zip Theatre's accomplished professional performing team, which has been carefully designed to raise awareness of issues around drugs, bullying and personal safety
Combining comedy and a gripping plot, this latest example of Zip's special brand of educational theatre will absorb young audiences, who will be entertained as they learn.
Piratz! includes popular music, colourful characters and explores the themes of peer pressure, personal safety and the potential dangers of the club scene, with particular reference to the availability of drugs.
Citz
"Clever stuff, and a great way of entertaining
and educating youngsters."
Citz is aimed at pupils in secondary school year 7 and considers:
developing skills of enquiry and communication
developing skills of participation and responsible action
Citz is presented as an accessible and humorous adventure story:
Nasty goings on at Dogwarts have the whole school in turmoil. What has happened to the trampoline? Who is Semolina and why is there a dog in the staff room? Unpleasant and inexplicable events threaten to undermine the entire school and even the world. Time is running out! Join the Agents of C.R.I.S.P and Zip Theatre company in this entertaining and accessible exploration of some of the main issues of Citizenship.
Citz is an exciting piece of theatre featuring Zip Theatre's professional performing team. The play includes popular music, colourful characters and explores the themes of Confidence, Respect, Individuality, Self-Esteem and Power (C.R.I.S.P).
Rattling
by Jon Lingard-LaneRealistic, gritty and hard-hitting.....
Entertaining, hard hitting, humourous and thought-provoking theatre, with original music and evocative songs expertly performed by an accomplished cast of 9 professionals. We are all affected, but what are the links between drugs, crime and prostitution?
This powerful play tells it how it really is. Four women relive the stories of their individual battles and downward spiral into drugs. Now they want to get free. From prison, crime and most of all addiction. But is anybody listening? And can they cope?
"The drugs thing, it's all about coping, and the crime's all about paying for the drugs.
And what's it all costing? And who pays for all of that?
Everybody. Everybody pays."
Rattling commissioned by Nexus, was researched with the assistance of 54 young women in Brockhill Prison who shared their experiences through the use of drama, discussion and structured workshop activity. Much of the material in the play is in the actual words of those women.
"Realistic, gritty and hard hitting sum up Zip Theatre's new play Rattling the portrayal of four women prisoners involved in drugs and prostitution. Just a look around the audience showed how this powerful production was getting through to both young and old. Excellent performances all round...." review, Express & Star, Wolverhampton.
"Rattling should be billed as the most authoritative representation of the issues of drugs and prostitution for young women - essential viewing for professionals, policy makers, young people and the general public." Mary Ireland - Nexus project co-ordinator.
"...everything about the play was true to life, having been through this situation with my daughter who fell prey to drug abuse and a controlling partner. Many, many thanks for allowing us the privilege of watching the performance." Parent, Birmingham.
Click here to read comments by some of the people who have seen the play
Crazy World
".....this should be seen by every young person in secondary schools."
A play for pupils in Year 10 and above which raises awareness of the very real issues around children being forced into prostitution. The play centres on Jenny, a 15 year old schoolgirl who is unwittingly lured into the world of drugs and prostitution.
Accurately researched with the professional input of experts working with young people in this situation, Crazy World clearly demonstrates the early warning signs of a new relationship which is potentially abusive.
Using a positive approach to address the issues, young people are encouraged to be aware of the very real dangers which do exist. Accurate information is given about how and where to seek effective help.
Live music and powerful performances underscore a very high quality piece of theatre-in-education which was originally commissioned by Barnardo's PHASE (Providing Hope Against Sexual Exploitation) Project in Wolverhampton.
The programme includes follow-up workshops, delivered within a structured and safe framework to address the sensitive issues raised in the play.
".....this should be seen by every young person in secondary schools." (Head of PSE, Walsall school.)