"Thank you! The greatest compliment is that the pupils are now using the ideas from the workshop in their GCSE performance." Dormers Wells School

WORKSHOPS FOR SCHOOLS
Koru values its education work and we supplement productions with a programme of workshops in secondary schools. Our vision is to inspire young people with the sheer power of theatre through immediate, exciting and relevant work that extends theatrical form.

Each workshop is designed by the artistic director Ken Rea, who is also a senior acting teacher at Guildhall School of Music & Drama. The actors who lead the workshops are company members who have wide experience of working in schools and have also worked in companies such as the RSC and the National Theatre.

We have created the following workshops to offer a unique look behind the scenes. They show how we develop our ideas and the techniques we use to create our particular brand of innovative physical theatre. The workshops are for up to 20 people and they will be available throughout the year. We can also tailor our workshops to the individual needs of your group.

Approaches to Physical Theatre
A two-hour workshop in which we show how to create vivid, believable characters through a heightened energy that is economical, centred and released. We focus on methods of developing the creative imagination and finding spontaneity. We explore ways of dramatising stories, and using simple props to create scenic elements in a story. We show how actors can increase their rapport with each other and with an audience through strong ensemble work. We look at ways of developing bolder choices and of matching language with the physical skills of the actor.

Devised Theatre
A two-hour workshop that teaches the techniques we use to explore a theme, and to lift a story or non-dramatic text off the page and turn it into a vivid piece of theatre. As an illustration we will focus on some of the sources used in our production To Hell With Love. These include Dante's Inferno and Ovid's Orpheus and Eurydice. We will show how music can be used as a starting point for improvisations. We will show how to remove blocks in the creative process and we will also cover aspects of dramaturgy in structuring the overall piece.

Communication Skills for Sixth Formers
An intensive two-part course designed for Sixth Formers to develop their influencing skills in all forms of communication. Click here for details.

What the schools say...

"Another good workshop. Always a high standard. Chris has been absolutely fantastic. We had a really great couple of days and the work the kids produced for him was superb." Isleworth & Syon School for Boys

"The trainer had excellent rapport with the students - they are still talking about him and his ideas." Claremont School

"The students loved it and it really moved them along." Chiswick Community School

"Excellent stuff. They really enthused the group." Acton High School

"Did exactly what it said on the tin! Students got a lot out of it and it is informing their approach to Paper 2." Convent of Jesus and Mary Language College