News and Reviews

News: Music Project Brings Shakespeare to Life
March 2009

More than 100 pupils from three Derby schools and students from Derby College are taking part in a special music making project as part of the innovative Shakes in the City programme – celebrating the life and work of William Shakespeare.

Pupils from Becket Primary School, Bemrose Community School and St Benedict Catholic School and Performing Arts College will join music students from Derby College to create original music and theatre inspired by the story of Romeo and Juliet and Prokofiev's ballet music inspired by the tragic love story. They are all taking part in workshops with ViVA animateur James Redwood, ViVA's musicians and associate actors Aaron Kelly and Kim Voisey-Youldon from Derby's 1623 theatre company – composing their own songs, instrumental and theatre pieces, which they will perform alongside the Orchestra and 1623 at the Assembly Rooms on Wednesday March 4.

The concert will be conducted by ViVA's internationally-renowned Principal Conductor André de Ridder and this will be his first involvement in an education project with the Orchestra.

The 'Romeo and Juliet' project, supported by Rolls-Royce plc, Derby City Council and Orchestras Live, is part of Shakes in the City which is an innovative programme of live performances, film and community workshops at various venues across the city involving a wide range of arts organisations including Derby LIVE, sinfonia ViVA (East Midlands' professional orchestra), Derby Shakespeare Theatre Company, 1623 theatre company and Quad.

ViVA Education Manager Marianne Quintrell explained: "We develop an education project every year involving different schools and on a different theme and I am delighted that the 'Romeo and Juliet' project is part of the innovative Shakes in the City programme to celebrate the life and work of William Shakespeare. The performance brings together parts of Prokofiev's hugely popular ballet music with the young people's original compositions and theatre narrative to take the audience through the tragic love story."

She went on: "In previous years, the concerts have been in two parts with young people performing and then joining the audience for the Orchestral items. This year, they will be on stage throughout the concert and will be involved in the entire performance. This will be exciting both for the participants and for the audience as it will create a wonderful visual, as well as audio, impact."

1623 theatre company Actor Aaron continued: "We are delighted to be working with sinfonia ViVA and the young people to bring an innovative blend of Shakespeare's text and Prokofiev's music to the Assembly Rooms. We at 1623 are proud of our reputation for bringing Shakespeare's work to new audiences in fresh and exciting ways."

Jane Bates, Head of Becket Primary School added: "The children are thoroughly enjoying learning more about Shakespeare. As always the enthusiasm and professionalism of the ViVA musicians is engaging the children and ensuring that they gain the best possible experience from this project."

Tickets for the performance at the Assembly Rooms on Wednesday March 4 at 7pm are priced at £6 with £3.50 concessions and £10 family tickets and are available from the Box Office on 01332 255800.

Media enquiries: Sarah Jenkin-Jones - Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945 665 sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk