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*FAQ’s *Coaches *Contacts
Q. Does my child need to have previous creative arts or performing arts experience?Drama Scene is ideal for all levels, an ideal place to make a first exploration or to increase skills. We use original programs for all sessions that have been designed by Drama Scene to respond to the interests and skill levels of players. Sessions are conducted in a friendly atmosphere that fosters a positive group dynamic and confidence and encourages players to acquire new techniques and build on skills at an age appropriate and individual level.
Q. How will I receive feedback on my child's progress?We often invite family and friends to 'Sit & See Sessions' or performance. Newsletters are sent home regularly and the website Player Scene page updated (with photographs that can be printed at home). Children are presented with certificates of progress and participation and bi-annual reports. Coaches also welcome discussions with parents.
Q. Can my child join Drama Scene at any time throughout the year? Our Rolling Curriculum means children may join a group at the commencement of any of the four terms in a year. School holiday programs run on both daily and weekly enrolment lengths and participation in these events can be on a program by program basis.Saturday programs run as either two or four week workshops and masterclasses and participation in these events can be on a program by program basis.
Q. When are enrolments and fees due?As all sessions run with the optimum number of players, an enrolment form must be received at least 10 days before the first session. Fees for School Holiday workshops are due 1 week prior to the workshop. Term Fees must be finalised before the end of the fifth week of the term. All fee payments are finalised with a tax receipt.
Q. Are there any additional charges?Drama Scene provides drama materials & resources, costumes, props, masks, music, art & craft supplies etc.
Q. What does my child wear to a session or workshop?School uniforms are suitable for sessions during or after the school day. Players should wear comfortable ‘play clothes’ to Sunday and school holiday workshops and sessions. Players may be asked to remove their shoes for safety reasons. Members of the Drama Scene Players, Sunday Scene, Dramasceners or Players Stage Crew may be requested to wear all black clothing (Theatre Blacks) to some rehearsals or performances.
Q. What does my child bring to a session or workshop?Please bring a bottle of water to every session. If required, the need for snacks and hats will be advised.
Q. What do I do if my child will be absent?It is important that Drama Scene Coaches are made aware when any absences are intentional as this allays any fears that a child has not arrived as intended and also allows session planning suitable for participating Players. Please call the Drama Scene office mobile on 0407 235 914 with details of your name, your child’s name and the session your child will miss.
Q. What do I do if there will be different arrangements for my child’s departure from a session?Even if changes are temporary, please call the Drama Scene office mobile 0407 235 914 with details of your name, your child’s name and information about any alterations. It is important Drama Scene Coaches are aware of your child’s departure on all occasions.
Q. Can I watch my child’s session?We appreciate your interest in the content of your child’s sessions with Drama Scene. Please also appreciate that some children behave differently in front of an audience and a parent or carer or any non-group member in the back of the drama room can create the sensation of an audience that influences Players responses in a session (increases and decreases in confidence and focus etc.). For this reason we look forward to inviting family and friends to v'Sit & See Sessions' or presentation. We also encourage you to make a time to chat with your child’s Drama Scene Coach after a session or please call the studio office to discuss your child’s participation or progress in any program – (02) 9716 6604.
Q. What if a child loses focus or is disruptive?At the start of every Drama Scene program, Players agree to a ‘Drama Deal’ – a method of playing and working with other Players that is suggested by group members and agreed by all.No child is ever excluded from the drama room however we do not encourage children who don't want to do drama to stay with Drama Scene.If a Player aged 4 – 8 loses focus, they may be reminded of ‘Our Drama Deal’ and asked to participate as an audience member until the activity changes direction (a maximum of 3 minutes).If a Player aged over 8 years loses focus, they may asked by the group to participate as an audience member until the activity changes direction.
A TYPICAL DRAMA SCENE DEAL 1.Be a good audience, play to make others look good. 2.No falling down. 3.No wrestling. 4.No gymnastics. 5.Have fun and leave with a sparkle in the eye!
CONTACT US DRAMA SCENE POSTAL: PO BOX 92 HABERFIELD NSW 2045 Tel / Fax: (02) 9716 6604 Mobile: 0407 235 914 Email:enrolment@dramascene.com.au
COACHES
STEPHANIE WAITES(Drama Scene Head Coach) BA Theatre, Theory & Practice Theatresports® Teacher Accreditation 2007-2008 Drama NSW Committee - Arts Industry Promotions Officer Proud Member of Actors Equity since 1979 St John Emergency First Aid certificate
Trained in Theatre, Drama, Voice, Singing, Dancing (RAD Ballet, FATD Tap, Jazz Ballet), with fourteen years professional performance experience including title roles in musical theatre productions and roles in film, television, voiceovers and radio plays, Stephanie worked across Australia and in the United Kingdom and the United States before establishing the Drama Scene studio in Sydney. In response to working professionally from the age of 8 years and with 15 years experience in working with pre-school aged children, school aged children, children with special needs, teenagers, professional juvenile performers and adults, Stephanie continues to write for children and to develop a range of unique programmes for children in the creative, practical and performing arts. Stephanie also acts as a mentor to Student Primary Drama Teachers and in the past 5 years has run workshops for Drama NSW, Drama Australia and the Sydney Theatre Company, to train Primary Teachers to use drama in the BOS primary curriculum.Specialisations include acting technique, voice, movement, mime, improvisation, musical theatre, puppetry, mask, characterisation, Shakespeare, script analysis, playwriting, Storybook Theatre, Narrative Theatre, Readers Theatre, Image Theatre, playbuilding, Theatresports®, monologue creation, poetry presentation, audition technique and Drama Scene’s unique ‘Dramadance’ programme.
ROMY BARTZ
BACHELOR of DRAMATIC ART (Acting) Proud Member of Actors Equity
Romy graduated from NIDA (the
National Institute of Dramatic Art) in 2002. She has worked professionally as
an actor in television, film and theatre, most recently in the STC’s (Sydney Theatre Company’s) Rabbit at Wharf 1. Romy works extensively for the NSW (DET) Department of Education Arts Unit – Student Company and Ensemble, State Drama Camps and the South West Region’s Primary
Play Day.In London she worked
with 3-13 year olds teaching for Act
Drama and Perform, directing final year performances of Aladdin and Noah’s Arc. In Australia, Romy has
worked with Theatre of Image holiday workshops and she coaches for NIDA’s Open Programs (improvisation, acting, audition,
camera technique, movement and script work for 6-16 year olds) and she is a
Casual Teacher at McDonaldCollege. Romy is
also skilled in RAD Ballet,
Tap, Jazz, Piano and musical theatre, clowning, monologue, puppetry and
clowning.
JACQUELINE BROWN(Jackie)
Jackie has extensive experience in theatre and
education, performance, writing, devising & drama teaching. She has toured
as a performer and workshop leader in Australia,
the UK
and Europe & has worked with children & young people
from ages 4-18. She has toured throughout Scotland in
4 Generation Science tours and in over 2000 schools throughout Italy
with A.C.L.E’s
theatre troupe Theatrino using short
comic sketches, fairytales and interactive theatre workshops to teach English.As an Assistant Project Officer and Drama
Workshop Leader with the Barking Gecko Theatre Company, Perth’s
leading children’s theatre company for 4 years, Jackie researched projects and
co-wrote a play for young teens and devised and taught numerous after school
drama programs.She also assisted the
Director in creating a Youth Writing Program.Recently Jackie has written and facilitated original primary aged school
holiday workshops for ATYP (the Australian Theatre for Young People)
in Sydney.
ANGELA CARMICHAEL BA PERFORMANCE Dip Ed Drama
From studying drama for
the HSC and extensive performance experience with Theatre Nepean, Angela demonstrates a passion for devising
performance and her talents in voice, movement, singing and acting. Last
year we saw her on TV in Home &
Away and Double the Fist Series two for the ABC, this year on Jesters and commercials.Her professional performances over the past 5 years
have also included work with the Globe Shakespeare Company, DwaKonie
Physical Theatre Company, numerous television commercials and a roles on the
television series Love My Way. Angela appeared at the Adelaide Fringe Festival with a self-devised company in a
production of Peep. A popular
Coach in 2006, Angela returns to Drama Scene in 2008 from her Double Drama
Diploma of Education studies, qualifying as a NSW school Teacher. Angela
specialises in coaching HSC IP
monologue performances and her past students have achieved band 6 & 5.
HANNAH COURTNEY BA – Theatre &
Performance / English Graduate Diploma of Arts
English MA – English Literature
(research) – Current
Hannah joined Drama Scene in 2007 and
she specialises in teaching our younger Primary school groups.With 21 years of dance training (ballet,
contemporary, tap, jazz and musical theatre), she also teaches drama, ballet,
musical theatre and contemporary dance to children in a range of age
groups.Her Acting roles have
included; Lady Macbeth – Macbeth, Evelyn – The Shape of Things, Directing; Man of La
ManchaandSalomé. Hannah
is also extremely experienced in backstage and technical production roles as
she has stage managed,
choreographed and event coordinated professionally and designed numerous
independent and amateur shows, also working as a script editor and extra on
two Australian short films.While
working as a Drama Coach, Hannah is researching and writingher Masters in English Literature.
ZUZANA FORT(Zuzi) Bachelor of Arts - Drama Bachelor of Arts –
Communication – Writing/Directing Proud Member of Actors Equity
Zuzi studied at the University of Western Sydney – Nepean (Theatre)
and at the University of Technology – Sydney (BA
Communication – directing and scriptwriting), she also attended the FilmmakersCollege of Arts & Sciences and The Australian Playhouse Studio where she trained in voice, movement,
physical theatre, experimental and street theatre. Since her graduation from
UTS, Zuzi has worked as an Actor, Director, Scriptwriter, Playwright, Coach, Drama
Teacher, Reporter, Editor, TV host as well as, after gaining her
accreditation from MEAA, a Stunt Performer. Zuzi’s stunt skills include body
control, martial arts, weaponry, abseiling, rap
jumping, rock climbing, horse riding, basic acrobatics, tumbling, she holds a
jet ski and a speedboat license, bronze medallion and a senior first aid
certificate. Her stunt portfolio includes doing stunts on the Superman
movie, False Witness, All Saints,
Packed to the Rafters, Gladiators and Home
and Away, being Lara Croft and Wonderwoman for Plastic Wax Productions
and working for the Universal Studios in Terminator 2 – 3D and High Noon Stunt Shows. Acting,
however remains Zuzi’s passion; highlights include performing Moliere at the Belvoir, acting with David Ritchie in Place with the Pigs, playing Tiger Lily in the Peter Pan Launch at Capitol Theatre, performing in plays by
Sartre and Kohout and many others. Zuzi’s teaching experience includes working for Hot M, Powerhouse Youth Theatre, PAC
Station, Art Umbrella ands specialist
coaching in combat live show and film fighting. Finally, Zuzi has been
involved with community theatre and has been working closely with refugees to
help them express their experience and discover their voice through
self-devised theatre.
KAREN JONES BA (Hons) Drama &
American studies LAMDA British Equity Karen has been acting for 8 years and her
first job was in the National UK and Ireland tour playing Lulu in Bananas
in Pyjamas. Acting led to teaching and
working as a freelance Drama Coach with different theatre companies and youth
theatres throughout the UK, including 4
years designing drama programs and coaching children 5–10 years old. Karen is
a Shakespeare specialist, working with Dramarama & The Royal
Shakespeare Company at their annual Shakespeare
4 Schools festival and last year being
a Festival Director at one of the venues. She works regularly for Dramaworks in schools across the UK on various
subjects such as Text, Devising, Improvisation, Vocal Studies, Creating Characters
& of course Shakespeare. Over the past 5 years Karen has also
enjoyed directing Pantomime and youth theatre Productions.
AMY McMILLAN TRINITY COLLEGE LONDON – ACTL Cert SPEECH & DRAMA BACHELOR PRIMARY TEACHING
– Current
Amy has moved to Sydney to complete her
Primary Teaching degree and brings with her, musical talent, she is currently
teaching a school choir program at St Peters Public School, and her extensive
musical theatre experience, recent roles in Queenstown, New Zealand includeRapunzel
from Into the Woods and Glinda from The Wizard of Oz.Back home in Brisbane, Amy was
involved in the Queensland Musical
Society and Brisbane Arts Theatre. Not just a performer, Amy is a keen
improviser and creator of work so she has played in Theatresports® and a number of independent theatre
productions and directed plays. She comes to Drama Scene from teaching with
Kidz N Co Talent and the Tarragindi Players.
TIM MARTIN BACHELOR CREATIVE ARTS –
Theatre Performance BACHELOR SECONDARY
TEACHING – Drama & Dance Certificate IV Performing
Arts In many years of drama teaching, Tim
has also managed to combine a busy professional career as a Performer and Choreographer.
In addition he has been involved with the Rock Eisteddfod Challenge
productions many times, including; working with
Australian and international students in Sydney, Singapore, London, New York,
Washington and Los Angeles Global
Tour 2000 and Directing award winning
productions in 2002, 2003, 2005.In 2006 he was fortunate to
extend his teaching skills at TereoraCollege in Rarotonga, Cook Islands as part of an Overseas Professional Experience
Program. As an Actor Tim has played; Edmund in King Lear, Chino in West Side Story, Geoffrey in Stepping Out, Curly in Oklahoma,Frank
Butler in Annie Get Your Gun, Lt Joseph Cable in South Pacific, Jerry Lukowski in The Full Monty,Al
in A Chorus Line, and the twin role Tonnino/Zanetto in The
Venetian Twins. Dance
credits include Human Nature, Jimmy Sommerville & The Christopher Reeves Benefit. Tim also worked on the Sydney Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies as assistant to the TV Broadcast Director
Peter Faiman. Most recently Tim appeared in the children’s show: Fairy
Princess’s Surprise Birthday Party at Glen
Street Theatre, 2009.
CAMILLA VERNON BACHELOR Media Writing / Major
in Drama Performance DIPLOMA of Arts in
English Literature A favourite Coach with Drama Scene,
Camilla has recently returned to us from three terms in America where she
studied ‘Acting For Film’ at the New YorkFilmAcademy based at Universal Studios
in Los Angeles.She was also very fortunate to be granted a
Theatre Internship in acting and directing with Taproot Theatre Company in Seattle one of the
biggest theatre companies in WashingtonState that has
main stage productions an acting school and a touring company.Camilla has therefore retuned from the USA
with new experiences in her favourite areas of children’s theatre,
improvisation, writing and acting.She
also specialises in teaching Shakespeare, modern and classical playwrights,
actor's technique, theatre history, educational/children's theatre,
directing, scriptwriting, alternative theatre, production and Theatresports®.Camilla has many years experience
coordinating children’s entertainment programs and teaching at drama clubs
and holiday camps.When Camilla was
young, she competed in Eisteddfods and completed Speech and Drama AMEB
examinations.