The Riding Lights Summer Theatre School is one of the creative highlights of our year. The reason these weeks are so brilliant is the people who get together from all over the country to make it all happen. Every year we are bowled over by the range of gifts, imagination, personalities and sheer enthusiasm of those who come to generate that special Summer School community.
It’s a lot of fun and arguably one of the best creative holiday weeks you could ever experience. Maybe you’d expect me to say that but it’s borne out by those who have returned (several times in some cases) for more. The week quickly creates a real sense of community and generates the exhilaration that comes from people of all ages engaging ambitiously and energetically with many forms of theatre. All this in an atmosphere where christian faith and practical ‘art’ are explored side by side.
As in some previous years, we are holding the 2010 Summer School at HARROGATE LADIES’ COLLEGE, a leafy spot near the centre of one of the most distinctive North Yorkshire towns, where all of us (gentlemen as well as ladies) will benefit from good food, comfortable accommodation, a range of sporting activities, a swimming pool, a bar and even, for some, the occasional pilgrimage to Betty’s Tea-rooms - all those essential
ingredients which help provide that illusory feeling of holiday relaxation amid the theatrical hurly-burly!
This year we plan to start the week by spending two or three sessions in a variety of specialist workshops outside our course groups – to make sure that every one can take advantage of the skills of a number of professional tutors on our team, but also to build friendships and interaction across the whole Summer School. To provide a unifying focus for our work, discussions, the plays we will create and work on and general interaction we have decided that our theme for the week will be Powerful Stuff! (power – precious or dangerous?) It will also provide a focus for our daily worship and the scheduled performances by Riding Lights Theatre Company and other performers who will be flying in and out of the Summer School.
Bringing together 120 creative people for a dynamic week of theatre training and experiment is something we regard as a privilege to organise and I sincerely hope that among the various courses here, you will find the one best suited to your needs. If you want further guidance about the right course to choose, please have a chat with someone in the Riding Lights office. And if you haven’t yet dipped your toe into our theatrical whirlpool, can I urge you to book your place without delay – before those who have already taken the plunge in previous years nab all the places… I am sure that July 24-31 2010 will be another brilliant week. Why not add your light to make it shine all the brighter?
Paul Burbridge - Artistic Director