Student Placements

2024-05-28T07:59:26Z

Keiron:

We have a long history of supporting students in both undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD). Undergraduate students have joined us for placements in their final year. Postgraduate students have helped us in producing and directing performances, and in delivering workshops.

==Undergraduate Students==
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Emily:
Emily undertook a placement with us in the Autumn of 2017.

Laura:
Laura undertook a placement with us in the Autumn of 2018. She helped us set up our evaluation protocols for the work we do at London South Bank University, and helped with our film projects. Laura sent us this testimonial:

<blockquote>I will never forgot my third year Winter Term at Central. Starting my final year with a placement with Encore Theatre Company was a perfect way to draw the degree to a close. In around 2 months I gained an insight into so many different areas of performance and was lucky enough to have a wide variety of experiences to reflect on. Encore truly opened my eyes up to an array of different opportunities there are to get involved in. From the very first time I met the company I was welcomed with warm spirits and I knew from the start there was a real ethos of togetherness and community. I think this essence of collaboration is what makes Encore so successful, working together to not only support fellow members of the company, but equally students in their studies, staff in their training and people like me in their placements!

Some of the exciting opportunities I had with Encore included: a Haemodialysis Nurses Drama workshop; a Managing Difficult Situations seminar; a Mental Health Role Play project; Mock Interviews; a Nursing and Pharmacy Students project; an Occupational Therapy Students project and even a go at editing a film! Not to mention work on their revisit to their fantastic show Ruffled Feathers and the chance to compere their performance in the Harlesden Variety Show! Wow! I am not only grateful for all these experiences, but proud to say that I have worked with Encore Theatre Company. Every member of Encore is a unique individual, with a kind and caring heart. I am so lucky to have learnt so many different skills and techniques from each and every one of you and look forward to seeing the great work continued to be produced by the company. So, all that’s left to say is thank you Encore. Thank you for being a perfect placement to end my degree, thank you for providing me with so many enlightening experiences and thank you for being YOU! Wishing you all the best for the future and I will forever spread the word…</blockquote>

Susie:
Susie undertook a placement with us in the Autumn of 2019 and helped both with our production of Love: the only story, and with our archives. She sent us this testimonial:

<blockquote>I am immensely grateful for my placement hosted by Encore Theatre Company. Encore’s relationship with LSBU School of Health and Social Care provided a platform on which I was able to observe the interactions and applications of theatre in a university educational setting. In addition, I assistant directed on Encore’s December production at Theatre Peckham which was a fantastic opportunity to work with this driven and enthusiastic company. I was very kindly mentored by Viv Peyton and Yvonne Levy, they offered me great feedback which has helped me continue to develop my practice as an applied theatre practitioner.</blockquote>

Nikki:
Nikki undertook a placement with us in the Autumn of 2020. She helped produce and direct Under Milk Wood, and helped us with the technology that underpins our performance projects and supports our general communication and administration.

<blockquote>It has been a delight to work with Encore and I am exceptionally thankful for the joyful time I had with them, especially in the uncertain times of 2020! I felt entirely welcome in the group and I was provided with many opportunities on helping with editing, directing, and producing Under Milk Wood and helping to sustain the team online with their technologies through the pandemic. It was lovely being able to get to know members and learn how best to support them remotely with some creative solutions. I had a lot of fun working online with this caring and talented bunch of actors! Their enthusiasm was infectious and shows in the costumes and time they gave to the characters, making the process uniquely enjoyable. They were incredibly patient, kind and encouraging, especially when I was figuring out Zoom workshops! I discovered so much from the experience, especially learning, and working with the ever understanding and reassuring Keiron, whose teaching and support has been incredibly invaluable. All of them were a beacon whilst I was studying online, so I am thankful to continue working with them, I look forward to their next production. It was very honestly an unforgettable placement and thank you to Encore for a wonderful time!</blockquote>

Charlotte:
Charlotte undertook a placement with us in the Summer of 2020. She helped produce and direct A Christmas Carol, and helped us to record our feelings about lockdown in 2020.

Miranda:
Miranda undertook a placement with us in the Autumn of 2021. She helped with our production of Dying to be a Walrus.

YuChi:
in 2023 YuChi was our first student to be placed with us from Goldsmiths, University of London. She assisted in the production of Food for Thought.

==Postgraduate Students==
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Ben:
We first met Ben when we undertook a project ‘South Facing Patio‘ with him when he was an undergraduate student. Ben then came back and helped us with our first performances of Ruffled Feathers. He has also led a number of summer workshops for us. Ben gave us this testimonial:

<blockquote>Encore Theatre Company is an imaginative London-based cast and crew made up of talented individuals who look to explore a wide range of themes through the performance of original new work. With their vast portfolio of on-stage/digital theatre experiences, including projects with LSBU: The People’s Academy, the cast of Encore challenges the stereotypes of ageing head-on with innovative performance work. I was first introduced to the cast members of Encore in 2016 whilst training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and have since been a follower and fan of their work. Returning to work with the company several times since, I am continuously impressed by the levels of passion and dedication that they have towards creating high-quality theatre. I will always be thankful for the time that I spent with the Encore Theatre Company, the experience I gained from the cast, and the work that we produced. I look forward to collaborating with Encore on future projects!</blockquote>

Javier:
Javier joined us to direct our first performances of Ruffled Feathers.

Valentina:
Valentina helped us with a number of projects as a director Ruffled Feathers at The Half Moon & Love: the only story at Peckham Theatre) while undertaking post-graduate studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and sent us this testimonial:

<blockquote>In 2018 I started to work with the Encore Theatre Company as part of my placement during my studies in Applied Theatre at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. The company, which is composed of a number of very talented actors aged over 60, is based at London South Bank University. I have been a great supporter of the incredible work that they have done over the years with the People’s Academy, and I have directed two of their theatrical productions, and a theatrical workshop on Zoom, since 2018. The company is driven by a real motivation, a concrete necessity to share and give, and by incredible energy and dedication. I have never met such a unit and a solid collaborative group of elders. They have shown a powerful commitment and an extraordinary artistic capacity as well. It is clear that there is a tangible benefit that such activities have on their lives. For the Company, it is fundamental to keep going with a systematic rhythm of activities and meetings during the week. They represent a vulnerable part of society and the risk of isolation has become higher during the Covid-19 pandemic, which seems to have changed the habits of everyone. It is notable how fast and how well the Company has reacted to the pandemic. They are carrying on working online with an extraordinary will to experiment using a new way to interact. I wish all the best to them and I hope to work and collaborate with this lovely Company for a long time going forward.</blockquote>

Ben, Summer & Richard:
Ben, Summer and Richard joined us on a placement in 2021 while undertaking post-graduate studies at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. They helped us with our non-linear experimental project At the stroke of a pen. A very complex project which required great team working and creativity.

Shunzi:
Shunzi had a long placement with us in 2022/2023. She directed our radio play Alice in Wonderland.

Lauren:
Lauren joined us in 2023 and assisted Lucy, our guest director, in bringing Food for Thought through to the final production.

<blockquote>Encore Theatre Company is an experience I will never forget. From the moment I started my placement with them, I knew I was in for something special. As a Masters student, ending my final terms with Encore Theatre Company was not only informative but also incredibly fun. The team at Encore provided me with invaluable insights and hands-on training, allowing me to apply what I had learned throughout my studies in a real-world setting. Gaining experience in stage managing, facilitating and co-directing. Their commitment to delivering exceptional performances and pushing the boundaries of creativity truly left a lasting impression on me. If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience that blends education and entertainment seamlessly, look no further than Encore Theatre Company.</blockquote>

Jay:
Jay joined us in 2024 working on 2 productions - Reunion! and More Food for Thought. She left us these thoughts:

<blockquote>No matter who we are, where we come from, or how old we are, there is always a way to play together through theatre. This is the beauty of theatre, and of course, the beauty of Encore.<blockquote>

2024-05-26T08:31:09Z

Keiron:

News

2024-05-26T08:30:11Z

Keiron:

==May 2024==
===More Food for Thought===
We had a very successful run at the Half Moon. Sold out audiences and good reviews. Lots of interest in the issues raised around food poverty and how that can be brought into the performance space.

[[File:Mfft_menu.png|left|250px]]

<blockquote>A great example of theatre feeding more than the mind. Five stars!</blockquote>

<blockquote>How wonderful! You are all amazing ❤</blockquote>

<blockquote>From all of us at the Trussell Trust I wanted to send our heartfelt thanks for all that you have done for us. It has been a week since your amazing achievement – we hope you are feeling proud and energised by your success! We are extremely grateful for all your support for people facing hunger and poverty – THANK YOU!</blockquote>

[https://norwoodbrixton.foodbank.org.uk/2024/05/09/please-support-this-fundraiser/| Norwood and Brixton Foodbank article]
<hr>

File:Mfft menu.png

2024-05-26T08:24:29Z

Keiron:

News

2024-05-26T08:06:00Z

Keiron:

==May 2024==
===More Food for Thought===
We had a very successful run at the Half Moon. Sold out audiences and good reviews. Lots of interest in the issues raised around food poverty and how that can be brought into the performance space.

<blockquote>A great example of theatre feeding more than the mind. Five stars!</blockquote>

<blockquote>How wonderful! You are all amazing ❤</blockquote>

<blockquote>From all of us at the Trussell Trust I wanted to send our heartfelt thanks for all that you have done for us. It has been a week since your amazing achievement – we hope you are feeling proud and energised by your success! We are extremely grateful for all your support for people facing hunger and poverty – THANK YOU!</blockquote>

[https://norwoodbrixton.foodbank.org.uk/2024/05/09/please-support-this-fundraiser/| Norwood and Brixton Foodbank article]

Main Page

2024-05-26T07:54:54Z

Keiron:

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==About Us==
The Ǝncore Theatre Company is an inclusive and innovative over 60’s theatre company currently based at [https://lsbu.ac.uk| London South Bank University]. The Company creates and performs original work, showcasing the diverse talents of the company members and challenging the stereotypes of ageing. We also work with other partners on community and intergenerational projects and are a resident company within the Institute of Health and Social Care, using drama techniques to enhance student learning in a variety of ways. The flipped ‘E’ in Ǝncore demonstrates our reflection and building on past experiences. The rest of the word is forward facing, because as we draw on the past, we move forward with our lives and our performance projects. The word encore can be used in a variety of ways, but the core meaning is being asked to perform again … and we hope that having been part of one of our performance projects you will want more!

==Experience==
Many of the current members have extensive experience of performing in theatre and dance groups, and the core group of members were for many years, part of over 60s companies, taking performances to the Edinburgh festival and around the UK, as well as to Berlin and Venice.

==The Company==
In 2017 the Ǝncore Theatre Company was created as a Community Interest Company, as the next step to becoming fully independent and self-sustaining. Our mission is:

<blockquote>"to provide benefit to older people, including those whose health and wellbeing are at risk by reason of disability and/or social isolation, through the exemplary quality and range of its public performances and distance electronic media, and thereby challenge, and raise, society’s expectations of the capabilities and the potential quality of life of older people."</blockquote>

We are currently the Company in Residence within the Institute of Health & Social Care, London South Bank University. This allows us to continue with our performance activities (two projects a year) alongside working with staff and students within the Institute and gives us access to facilities for rehearsals. We like to work collaboratively and would welcome contact from other groups.

As well as the performing members that we need as a theatre group, we also need help with all of the ‘behind the scenes’ activities that make a performance successful. We currently rehearse at London South Bank University every Wednesday afternoon 12:00-14:00, and add in other dates as and when needed. if you are interested in meeting or joining us, please get in touch using our [[Special:Contact|Contact form]].

News

2024-05-24T12:49:17Z

Keiron: Created page with "A great example of theatre feeding more than the mind. Five stars! How wonderful! You are all amazing ❤ From all of us at the Trussell Trust I wanted to send our heartfelt thanks for all that you have done for us. It has been a week since your amazing achievement – we hope you are feeling proud and energised by your success! We are extremely grateful for all your support for people facing hunger and poverty – THANK YOU! https://norwoodbrixton.foodbank.org.uk/20..."

A great example of theatre feeding more than the mind. Five stars!

How wonderful! You are all amazing ❤

From all of us at the Trussell Trust I wanted to send our heartfelt thanks for all that you have done for us. It has been a week since your amazing achievement – we hope you are feeling proud and energised by your success! We are extremely grateful for all your support for people facing hunger and poverty – THANK YOU!

https://norwoodbrixton.foodbank.org.uk/2024/05/09/please-support-this-fundraiser/

Dying to be a Walrus

2024-05-24T10:33:19Z

Keiron:

==Context==
Dying to be a walrus – an absurdist play, with an end-of-life 'edge’.

After toying with some absurdist drama in 2021, Encore decided to put together a piece for free performance before invited audiences early in 2023. The material was drawn from writing by members of the Company and from If so, then Yes by ‘Wally’ Simpson.

==Performance==
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<blockquote>"As we rehearsed our Walrus compilation under director Kevin Katner, further developments took place to character and plot. The company also experienced the challenge of performing drama requiring high accuracy of witty text and inventive movement with minimum set.

Who will ever forget Richard Worland’s portrayal of the charity salesman for The Little Known and Unfairly Neglected Poems Rehabilitation Society? "We have a team going out to Zanzibar to recite The Lay of the Last Minstrel".

Sandra Melville excelled herself as Lorna, the devoted but lovelorn personal secretary to the infinitely boring senior resident Geoffrey of Hereafter House rest home, played by Donald Elliott.

Other cast members were Judith Bevan as Lorraine and Viv Peyton as Tracy, domestic workers at Hereafter House contemplating joining the Rapture at the Second Coming;
Jeannie Dean as Dame Hilda, with no sympathy for funeral director, played by Nina Ezra;
Yvonne Levy as Hereafter House manager, Maureen, whose guilt-ridden persona almost persuades her to become a walrus; Judy Elphinstone and Sean Kibbey as Claudia and Robert whose son Robin, played by Angie McIntosh, undergoes forced ordination to be a high-flying clergy person. Ann Andic El Mahjoub played a nosey fresh resident at the rest home; and Anna Brown was a visitor at the Hereafter House Summer Fete. Most cast members played several other parts.

We enjoyed good audiences who in turn (mostly) enjoyed the free show."</blockquote>

Donald Elliott

==Production==

Director: Kevin Katner

Assistant Director: Miranda Williams (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama)

Stage Manager: Lauren Sammé (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama)

2024-05-16T14:04:44Z

Keiron:

2024-05-14T19:47:51Z

Keiron:

File:Allsorts balcony.png

2024-05-14T19:44:18Z

Keiron:

Food for Thought

2024-05-14T19:25:41Z

Keiron: Created page with " Food for Thought Ǝncore Theatre Company and Lucy Scammell Directed by: Lucy Scammell  Assistant Director: Lauren Sammé (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama) Production team: Keiron Spires, Yuqi Wen (Goldsmiths, University of London) Script Development: Anna Brown & Sandra Melville Rehearsal Support: Sean Kibbey Food for Thought first presented at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses, London, on 28th & 29th July 2023. The cast as follows: Michael: Richard Rus..."

Food for Thought
Ǝncore Theatre Company and Lucy Scammell
Directed by: Lucy Scammell
 Assistant Director: Lauren Sammé (Royal Central School of Speech and Drama)
Production team: Keiron Spires, Yuqi Wen (Goldsmiths, University of London)
Script Development: Anna Brown & Sandra Melville
Rehearsal Support: Sean Kibbey

Food for Thought first presented at Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses, London, on 28th & 29th July 2023.

The cast as follows:

Michael: Richard Russell
Kitty: Jenni Wredden
Petronella: Yvonne Levy
Sylvia: Jeanie Deane
Lyndsey: Viv Peyton
Shirley: Judy Elphinstone
Audrey: Judith Bevan
Kirsty: Cathy Jeffrey
Cleopatra: Sue Thomas
Tarquin: Richard Worland

Food was our starting point. Food is a necessity. Food is a function. Food is a love language. Food is life. Food contributes to your health. Food contributes to your mood. Food contributes to Climate Change. The list is endless.

Food is many things, in many ways. Food contributes to many things, in many ways. Everyone needs food.

Ǝncore created Food for Thought to creatively explore food, while highlighting the current food bank crisis in our communities. Designed to be thought provoking, informative and entertaining, it included comedy, drama, dance and song suitable for everyone at any age.

It is widely reported that our food banks are struggling to meet the record demand they are experiencing. It is for that reason we asked the audience to bring an item to donate. All donations were received by the Norwood & Brixton Foodbank.

Food Banks
In 1997 Carol and Paddy Henderson founded The Trussell Trust based on a legacy left by Carols mother, Betty Trussell. At first projects focussed on improving conditions for 60+ children sleeping at Central Railway Station in Bulgaria. Then in 2000 Paddy received a call from a mother in Salisbury who was struggling to provide food for her children and faced sending them to bed hungry. Paddy looked into the situation and found that many were struggling in the same way. As a result he set up the first food bank in his shed and garage, providing 3 days emergency food to local people in crisis. The model spread rapidly through church networks and 23 years later there are 2000 food banks in the UK with little indication of the need lessening.

Everything we said about UK food banks was true. If you would like to learn more, find out how to access food bank vouchers, or locate your nearest food bank, we found the below sources particularly helpful:

https://www.helplondon.co.uk
https://www.trusselltrust.org/
 https://thefelixproject.org/
https://foodbank.org.uk/
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Your local council, GPs and the Government website also have further information. Food banks often have financial advice services available. Further support is available via the ‘Welfare Assistance Scheme’ and ‘Household Support Fund’.

Alice in Wonderland

2024-05-14T19:24:18Z

Keiron:

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==The Context==
"At the beginning of 2022, some Covid restrictions were still in place. We had successfully produced video versions of [[Under Milk Wood]] and [[A Christmas Carol]] and decided to launch into audio. Having chosen Alice in Wonderland, we rose to the challenge of re-writing the book as a radio script. We cast all the characters and introduced a narrator. Rehearsals were held on Zoom and recording was done over a period of a couple of weeks in the home of one of our members. Creating the voices of all the bizarre creatures was enormous fun. The hardest job was in the editing and we are indebted to Keiron Spires for achieving a seamless piece of radio theatre which we hope you will enjoy." Yvonne & Viv, Co-Chairs of The Ǝncore Theatre Company

==Production==
The performance was recorded over a number of days in the house of one of the cast. Not all cast members were available on the day their scene was recorded and so they were recorded separately and their part edited in. We used a ‘Yeti’ studio microphone into a laptop, but this was then recorded remotely via Zoom. The remote recording did lead to a few parts where sound levels were dropped despite re-recording scenes, but overall we feel the quality we achieved was very good.

==Cast & Production Team==

*Narrator: Viv Peyton
*Alice: Yvonne Levy
*White Rabbit: Kevin Katner
*Mouse: Cathy Jeffrey
*Dodo: Donald Elliot
*Lory: Nina Ezra
*Pat (the gardener): Sean Kibbey
*Bill: Cathy Jeffrey
*Sam: Donald Elliott
*Caterpillar: Richard Russell
*Pigeon: Judith Bevan
*Fish Footman: Cathy Jeffrey
*Frog Footman: Kevin Katner
*Duchess: Sandra Melville
*Cook: Sean Kibbey
*Cheshire Cat: Anna Brown
*March Hare: Sean Kibbey
*Mad Hatter: Richard Worland
*Dormouse: Nina Ezra
*Two: Nina Ezra
*Five: Jeanie Deane
*Seven: Richard Russell
*Queen: Jeanie Deane
*King: Donald Elliott
*Gryphon: Richard Russell
*Mock Turtle: Richard Worland
*Knave: Sean Kibbey
*Sister: Cathy Jeffrey

Director: Nishunzi Gao (Royal Central School of Speech & Drama)

Editor & Producer: Keiron Spires (The Ǝncore Theatre Company)

Alice in Wonderland

2024-05-14T19:11:18Z

Keiron:

==The Context==
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At the beginning of 2022, some Covid restrictions were still in place. We had successfully produced video versions of Under Milkwood and A Christmas Carol and decided to launch into audio. Having chosen Alice in Wonderland, we rose to the challenge of re-writing the book as a radio script. We cast all the characters and introduced a narrator. Rehearsals were held on Zoom and recording was done over a period of a couple of weeks in the home of one of our members. Creating the voices of all the bizarre creatures was enormous fun. The hardest job was in the editing and we are indebted to Keiron Spires for achieving a seamless piece of radio theatre which we hope you will enjoy. (Yvonne & Viv, Co-Chairs of The Ǝncore Theatre Company)

Production
The performance was recorded over a number of days in the house of one of the cast. Not all cast members were available on the day their scene was recorded and so they were recorded separately and their part edited in. We used a ‘Yeti’ studio microphone into a laptop, but this was then recorded remotely via Zoom. The remote recording did lead to a few parts where sound levels were dropped despite re-recording scenes, but overall we feel the quality we achieved was very good.

Cast (in order of appearance):
Introduction & credits Ann El Majhoub
Narrator Viv Peyton
Alice Yvonne Levy
White Rabbit Kevin Katner
Mouse Cathy Jeffrey
Dodo Donald Elliot
Lory Nina Ezra
Pat (the gardener) Sean Kibbey
Bill Cathy Jeffrey
Sam Donald Elliott
Caterpillar Richard Russell
Pigeon Judith Bevan
Fish Footman Cathy Jeffrey
Frog Footman Kevin Katner
Duchess Sandra Melville
Cook Sean Kibbey
Cheshire Cat Anna Brown
March Hare Sean Kibbey
Mad Hatter Richard Worland
Dormouse Nina Ezra
Two Nina Ezra
Five Jeanie Deane
Seven Richard Russell
Queen Jeanie Deane
King Donald Elliott
Gryphon Richard Russell
Mock Turtle Richard Worland
Knave Sean Kibbey
Sister ?
Production
Director: Nishunzi Gao (Royal Central School of Speech & Drama)

Editor & Producer: Keiron Spires (The Ǝncore Theatre Company)

File:Alice3.png

2024-05-14T19:09:29Z

Keiron: