W o r k s h o p s
Peter Polycarpou

i have developed a one-day workshop for schools and youth theatres staging the schools edition production.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

see the workshopoutline

 
The students in the schools and youth theatres I have been to are enormously committed to their production and I work with them for a whole day intensively.

Some of the youth theatres I have been to recently are shown below.

recent workshop

Pictured with the entire cast of Les Miserables

James Baker playing Javert wrote to say, "I just wanted to thank you for what was a fantastic experience for me personally, and I believe I can say for the company as a whole. I believe the day you had with us had a massive impact on our production and it was overall even better because of everything we did with you that day."

Pictured with Jason Curtis and choreographer Nina Bradley.

 

Jason Curtis the artistic director of STC wrote to say -

"Just wanted to say a huge thank you for all you did at
the workshop with us. We could really see the
transformation in the cast's performance and saw how
very much each and every one of them enjoyed the day.

We had our first rehearsal since the workshop this
Sunday just gone and were pleased to see that the
elements you encouraged them to add to their
performances were visible and we are confident that
the standard of performance will be far higher as a
consequence."

July 2008
The Essex Group Stage Schools

Picturedd with a coupldof the cast

Gary Sullivan Artistic Director of Stageability wrote to say

“A day with Peter Polycarpou is a great bonus when you’re on your way to staging Les Miserables. An up close , in depth character study of all the characters bring so much to the end product I reckon anyone staging this fantastic show needs to book a day with Peter just for his insight. Our cast is already a bunch of high profile local young actors but I tell you, a few hours being directed and motivated by Peter squeezes the last drip from the grapefruit!”

July 2008

Pictured is Peter (centre, 7th from left) with the Tread the Boards Company, production team and NODA region 2 representative Roger Buist (far right).

Pictured are Agnes Boardman (choreographer), Brian Boardman (director), Peter Polycarpou (workshop teacher) and Ian Strachan (musical director).

“Peter is a great motivator and is so passionate and committed to his craft. It is an absolute joy to watch him working and teaching. His musical theatre workshop was a ‘Masterclass’ on stagecraft. I'm sure our youngsters will be much better prepared, emotionally ‘in character’, and better all-round performers as a result of this intensive two-day workshop. His teaching methods certainly proved very popular with our young performers and I know he'll have added to his growing fan base in Tayside. A presentation showcase ‘at the end of the day’ was extremely well received by an enthusiastic audience of parents, relatives, friends and invited guests. We can’t wait to have him back again next year!”

Tread the Boards’ director Brian Boardman says “Peter teaches performers to look at a script or a song from an actor’s perspective, analysing it in strict detail and finding the inner emotion required for a particular character in any given scene or song. He emphasises the need to prepare and research every role you play and song you sing to make your character more believable, encouraging you to think how your character reacts and interacts with other characters. It’s a tough business, so he works the students hard, urging them to perform at the top of their game at all times, often exuding levels of performance they didn't’t think was possible themselves. His ‘in-your-face’ method challenges the students while focusing on the three central tenets of theatre: creativity, confidence and collaboration.

June 2008

 

Emma Tarrant (Head Of Drama) wrote to say "The cast and myself are so grateful for everything that you have done for us. It has lifted the show to an incredible level and given it the magic touch it needed. It was great for all of them to experience such a fantastic opportunity of working so thoroughly on a school show with yourself - something that we don't have the luxury of time to do often enough and it was equally great for me to see them working and producing the standard of performance they did."

 

Feb 2008
 

 

Nov 2007

 

Johanna Egar head of Theatre Studies wrote to say, " Thank you again for your fantastic support. I am in absolutely no doubt that the way in which you inspired the cast and demanded such standards of them on the day made the show what it was; a huge success!"
 

 

Jeannie Woods Artistic Director (left)

Oct 2007

 


"Thank you so much for the workshop on Sunday, it was so helpful to both me and the children, and I know they all enjoyed it Immensely, as did the adults attending too. I hope I can now do this wonderful production justice, as I am only an amateur and have not directed that many musicals, but I promise I will give it my best, and I have the video footage to help...for me this was a wonderful experience, and I cannot thank you enough. You made me want to improve on my performance in the shows that I appear in too!
Lots of luck with all your future productions, please keep in touch."

 

their web site is currently under construction
 
The Essex Group Stage Schools

Gary Sullivan left - Director StageAbility and his wife Ann

 

Jan 2007

 
A day in the company of Peter Polycarpou took our cast of seventy young performers on an emotional journey that made our production of Les Miserables take on a whole new dimension and I am sure, contributed to eight full-house standing ovations!

From the youngest cast member aged eight through to our Jean Valjean aged seventeen the entire cast found something extra that made their performance come to life even more. Peter’s unique and dynamic enthusiasm squeezed every drip of emotion, pathos, humour, sadness and tears from them.

Whilst Peter claims his objective is to offer suggestions that may enhance the show, I know that without Peter our show would not have reached the heights it did!

Thank you Peter for making the difference!

Gary Sullivan - Director StageAbility Stage Schools
 

"Thanks so much for coming to Solihull last week to run the workshop. We were all impressed with your enthusiasm and the way you were able to inspire the kids to dig deep into their emotions." Lucilla Lang Joint Artistic Director

 

Jan 2007

Act Too Youth Theatre

On Sunday 2nd April 2006 I did one of the most enjoyable workshops it has been my privilege to teach. There were over a 100 performers attending! It was at Act Too and I had this email (right) from the principal director..

I have been giving classes to students at Act Too theatre schools throughout this and last year. I have also undertaken to direct a production of Les Miserables for Act Too.

Valerie Warnett (Producer), Lance Milton (Producer/Director), me and Barry Dowden (Director)

 

"I felt utterly compelled to write and say thank you once again for your brilliant workshop. Your energy, passion and insight were incredible. As a director myself today was a true revelation to me and an inspiration for me to further develop my own techniques. I witnessed some truly amazing transformations in the attitudes and the performance standards of some of the cast and a vast improvement in all, without exception. You have given these youngsters a great set of tools to use both in this production and also to use in their continued development in the performing arts. This is a truly wonderful gift and more than I could have possibly hoped for from a one day workshop."

Lance Milton Producer/Director of Act Too

Download a .pdf slide show of this very special workshop.

Lamproom Youth Theatre

L to R Karen Harris (the MD), Me, Donna Turner (Dir) and Louise Weigold is the shy one at the back!!

Donna emailed to say, "Just wanted to say thank you for the support, encouragement, and feedback you gave to everyone connected with the Lamproom Youth Theatre's Les Miserables workshop. We all had a fantastic day, and it was a real thrill that you were able to make a return visit to Barnsley to see one of the performances. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to Les Miserables, you helped to make a special show extraordinary."

"Thanks for the wonderful Les Miserables workshop which took place in Barnsley last month." Jack Land - Noble

I did three workshops whilst I was appearing at The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and I had a fantastic time at all of them. They were in Barnsley at The Lytes Theatre Company, The Centre Stage Theatre School in Derby and at Macclesfields' Fallibroome High School.

Centre Stage Derby

"I would just like to say a massive thank you for all the help you gave to the cast at Centre Stage, Derby. We finished the show last week and the response has been incredible!" Faye .A

"I would just like to say how amazing your workshop was. It was so inspirational, you have helped all those who attended to see Les Miserables in a different light.You can use all of the techniques you have showed us in any character." -Siobhan

L to R with Andi Rowlands, Director and Principal of Centre Stage and Nigel Taylor, Musical Supervisor and vocal coach.

Tread The Boards Youth Music Theatre

I gave a workshop in Dundee to the Tread the Boards Youth Music Theatre. It was a terrific group of young people who gave everything they had and I had an enormously enjoyable day with them.

 

I was met at Dundee airport by Craig Weir whose sister Rachel is playing young Cosette in the production and I was given the honour of being piped into the city with Bonnie Dundee and Highland Cathedral.

What a welcome!

The full production team (from the left) of Andy Grier (Musical Director), Agnes Boardman (Chorus Director/Choreographer) and Brian Boardman (Director) from Tread The Boards Youth Music Theatre. At the End Of The Day!

SOHAM HIGH SCHOOL

I did another workshop last November, though this time it was for their production of "Crazy For You" by George Gershwin.

David Tickner, Head of Expressive Arts wrote to say, "Thank you once again for an inspirational day yesterday. This has kick-started the production and the cast are raring to go – they hope you come back again soon."

Brian Boardman, director of Tread the Boards’ production of Les Miserables in Dundee, said “Peter was very tough with them. In fact, he told me that with ours being a youth theatre production he pushed them further than he would have done had it been a school group. However, once he broke down the barriers, they really rose to the challenge. The performers have gained enormously from this 'masterclass' from an actor who cares passionately about his craft. Peter is a great motivator and his work has been invaluable to everyone involved with this production and we can’t thank him enough. I know those who took part will go on to give even better performances in the future, taking on board his comments and training technique. Peter's over-all knowledge and passion for Les Miserables was clear for all to see and he has helped in taking our young cast to another level. They are now more emotionally aware and committed to this epic piece of musical theatre and they have a better understanding of their roles. I recommend this outstanding workshop to any school or youth theatre who intend performing the musical. Your society will reap the rewards with their production and you can thank Peter afterwards. We definitely intend having him back in Dundee sometime in the not too distant future.”

Mary Considine Head of Drama (below left) and Elizabeth Sleightholme Head Of Music at Polam Hall School For Girls. Mary wrote to say, "The workshop was excellent, and all the girls are really fired up about it; it's made a huge difference to how they're approaching their performances."

 
Teachers Esmé Lewis and Geoff Hinde from Wirral Grammar School where I have given several workshops. I am going back in the New Year to do an Oliver workshop which will be the first time I have looked at the musical since I did it at school myself, when I played the Artful Dodger!
  One of the students wrote to say, "The time you spent working with me individually has really helped. The chorus numbers have also improved massively since your visit. I've looked on your web site, and am so impressed with all the work you have done. So thank you again, you have been a huge inspiration."

 

COSTESSEY HIGH SCHOOL IN NORWICH

Some of the comments I have received from students and staff at Costessey High School appear below.

"Peter's professionalism and enthusiasm was infectious from the start and he encouraged our students to develop their characters, while bringing out confidence and self-belief, giving them pride in their performances.

We would thoroughly recommend Peter's Les Miserables Workshops. His secure knowledge, insight and enthusiasm for the musical will most definitely enhance any performance."

H Vernon (Head Of Music) and D Watson (Head Of Drama)

Students - Costessey High School

"I personally found the help and guidance that he gave to me particularly useful, as it was my first year as a lead role. I feel that from his one to one technique sessions I gained in confidence and understanding of my own character as well as others that I had to interact with. When applying Peter's advice to my performances I felt as though I had improved and delivered a better performance to my audience and to myself."

Samantha Rose

"Peter was incredibly supportive and positive and gave us lots to think about. Most of what he said can be applied to other roles we have in the future. I have learnt a lot in so short a time spent with him and I am really grateful that he gave up his time to work with us."

Hanna Graves
ARTURO UI WORKSHOP AT BROCKENHURST COLLEGE
QUOTES FROM STUDENTS:

The workshop really made me appreciate the practical implications of the theory of Brecht’s theatre.

I feel I understand the play better, now.

The way Peter incorporated Brecht’s audience intentions – to shock, to force an opinion, to provoke an alert a critical response – and the bullying characteristics of Ui, into his own initial delivery methods and style for the workshop was exciting and effective, bringing home to the students these aspects of the play and Brecht’s theatre.

 

Excellent at practically showing the importance of the visual, the physicality of Brecht.

Very good demonstration of Brechtian acting style, how to use his techniques and its importance.

Fun and exciting!
Wish we could have worked for longer. Peter was really motivating!
ST JOSEPHS RC SCHOOL NEWCASTLE
Lizzy Finn (Head Of Drama) wrote to say, "Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves last Thursday and the kids are still talking about it."