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News

  • Fun in the Sun

     Created 2 weeks ago.

    Our next Youth Theatre venture is a family theatre day on 20th July in Ringwood. Our oldest members of youth theatre are currently working hard creating 3 new performances for children. Sunshine Storytime will be a sensory piece for under 3 year olds and will take them and a teddy of their choice to the seaside using story, rhyme and movement to involve the audience. For the under 7's there will be a puppet version of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina narrated by puppets, performed by puppets in a magical piece of storytelling. And finally there is Story Quest, a promenade adventure for under 11's in which the audience get to take part and influence the story. These performances will repeat all morning so there will be plenty of opportunity to catch them all.

    As well as all this theatrical fun, members of our youth theatre will be on hand to teach circus skills, do facepainting, and the ever popular interactive games will be back - the Human Fruit Machine returns!

    Read More >>

  • The Gap perform 'Alice'

     Created 1 month ago.

    Tonight marks the opening of The Gap's first production, 'Alice' by Laura Wade.

    The Gap is one of Forest Forge's Creative Learning projects, formed of young people from our Youth Theatre who have taken gap years after leaving school. Forest Forge has offered them the opportunity to form a theatre company and stage a show in a professional space with the help of its staff.

    Read More >>

  • 'The Wolves of Willoughby Chase' published!

     Created 1 month ago.

    Forest Forge is proud to announce that 'The Wolves of Willoughby Chase' is being published by Nick Hern Books.

    The show, written by Russ Tunney, was commissioned by Forest Forge in 2010 as our winter production.

    Read More >>

  • Autism Awareness in your Arts and Cultural Organisation

     Created 4 months ago.

    Join us to find out about making you and your organisation accessible and welcoming to those on the Autistic Spectrum.

    On the 21st March and the 30th April, Forest Forge are presenting two one-day training sessions that will include real and practical guidance on Autism Awareness and its applicaiton in the Arts. Each day will include Autism Awareness training from Hampshire Autistic Society.

    Read More >>

  • Rehearsals begin for The Boy At The Edge Of The Room

     Created 4 months ago.

    Rehearsals for 'The Boy At The Edge Of The Room' are now a week underway.The songs and choreography are coming along and progress is looking amazing. We even managed a staggered run at the end of the first week!

    We're particularly excited to be working with some amazing puppets for this show. Have a look at our video of Helen and Chris operating the little wooden girl. We hope you'll fall in love with her too! And remember to check out Kirstie's Director's Blog for more updates.

    Read More >>

  • Valentines Fair

     Created 5 months ago.

    This Spring Forest Forge is holding a Valentine's Fair, as part of the company's ongoing fundraising efforts.

    The company will be taking over the Fordingbridge Town Hall on Saturday 9 February, flinging open the doors at 10am for a day of fun and frivolity.

    Read More >>

  • pool (no water) Production Week

     Created 5 months ago.

    pool (no water) is the Forest Forge Youth Theatre's Group 5 show of 2013!

    Writen by Mark Ravenhill and commissioned by Frantic Assembly in 2006, pool (no water) is about “The Group”, a collective who met at Art school ten years ago.  While meeting up with an incredibly successful friend, old rivalries and unspoken resentments flare up and the visit takes an unexpected turn, leading them to question what constitutes Art and how far can a friendship be pushed.

    Read More >>

  • Great review from The Stage for Midnight is a Place

     Created 5 months ago.

    We have had a great review from The Stage and continue to get excellent audience feedback for Midnight is a Place.  There are only four weeks left to see the show so brighten up your January by booking tickets and then tell us what you thought, we love to get audience feedback.

    To read the review follow the link below:

    Read More >>

  • Putting the Fun in Fundraising

     Created 6 months ago.

    Forest Forge will be working hard at the start of next year to give its fundraising efforts a big push.  By the end of the financial year, we're aiming to raise a massive £3000!  After bounding around a few ideas here at Forest Forge HQ, we've got a couple of great events coming up for everyone to enjoy.

    At the start of the new year, Forest Forge will be running a Spring raffle with a fabulous selection of prizes up for grabs.  The top prizes include two one-night stays in Fuller's pubs and two adult tickets for a day at GoApe!  Tickets are only £1 each and will be available to buy as soon as we get back after Christmas.

    Read More >>

  • Social story now available

     Created 6 months ago.

    The social story for the relaxed performance of Midnight Is A Place is now available to be downloaded from our website.  It, along with more information about the relaxed performance, can now be found on the Midnight Is A Place page, under the 'Relaxed Performance' tab.

    We have spent a long time researching how to create the most effective and helpful social story possible.  By taking the time to work out what we needed to include and to collect feedback from users and specialists, we believe that the social story is now ready for use by our audience.

    Read More >>

  • First reviews for Midnight Is A Place

     Created 6 months ago.

    The first reviews for Midnight Is A Place are in, and it seems people are loving the show.

    We've had two lovely reviews and lots of fantastic audience feedback. Here's a couple of our favourite comments.

    Read More >>

  • Relaxed Performances of Midnight Is A Place

     Created 8 months ago.

    Forest Forge is proud to announce that there will be two relaxed performances of the Christmas show, Midnight Is A Place, as part of its regional tour this winter. The first performance will be at the Forest Forge base in Ringwood on 3rd January 2013 at 3pm, while the second will be on 7th January 2013 at 6.30pm at Forest Arts in New Milton.

    A 'relaxed' performance is a specially adapted version of the play, re-imagined for children on the autistic spectrum and with disabilities.  The whole performance has a more relaxed approach to the theatrical experience, where noise and movement in the auditorium are completely accepted and prepared for.  Other techniques that will be employed include the re-working of  sound effects, keeping lights on in the auditorium and special rehearsals with the actors to soften the performance.  A social story will also be available from the Forest Forge website in the near future, to aid those who plan on attending the performance at the Forest Forge base.

    Read More >>

  • New Business Partnerships Announced

     Created 12 months ago.

    Forest Forge Theatre Company, based in Ringwood, has just announced seven new business partnerships with local companies. The new relationships are designed to encourage local working.

    Sophie Dubber, General Manager of Forest Forge said: “Forest Forge has always been about working locally and using theatre to improve the lives of people in the region.  To carry this through we believe in using local services and providers where possible. Our new partnerships with seven fantastic local businesses are an extension of this belief.”

    Read More >>

  • Construction of the Potting Shed

    Created 12 months ago.

    With the approach of Bloom, Forest Forge’s Associate Director and Bloom Designer David Haworth and Technical Manager Dom Phillips have been busy creating an interactive Potting Shed which will tour around the seven Bloom locations.

    Mutterings and gnome-ish giggles have been heard coming from beyond the workshop door and today we managed to sneak a few pictures of the creation of the shed.

    Read More >>

  • Hampshire Welcomes the World

     Created 12 months ago.

    This term a group of young people aged 10-12 years old from Forest Forge Youth Theatre have been working with Noah Messomo, an African Storyteller and drummer to learn about and be inspired by African Storytelling. Under the direction of Lucy Phillips the cast of 15 have brought tales of King Rufus and Lovey Warne and the smugglers alive with their new found storytelling skills.

    The group will be performing alongside other local groups in the New Forest as part of a full day of events inspired by African traditions.  You are invited to take a walk through the Forest at either 10am or 2pm to experience the stories, music dance and art that has been created. Each walk will last approximately 2 hours and will include performances from 8 local schools.

    Read More >>

  • Open Youth Theatre Sessions

     Created 1 year ago.

    We're opening up our weekly youth theatre sessions so anyone who is interested can see how we work each week.

    Sessions will be intorduced by Creative Learning Director Lucy Phillips, who will explain the activities and the reasons behind them.

    Read More >>

  • Workshops for Young People on the Autistic Spectrum

     Created 1 year ago.

    This summer Forest Forge will be running holiday drama workshops for young people on the Autistic Spectrum on behalf of Hampshire Autistic Society and The Mayflower, Southampton.

    The workshops will take place at The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton and will see the participants actually work on the stage where hits such as Oliver, Les Miserables and Dirty Dancing have been performed!

    Read More >>

  • Forest Forge gives local businesses the chance to win sponsorship deal

    Created 1 year ago.

    Forest Forge has this week announced its Forging Business Links scheme for the second year running, giving businesses the chance to win a sponsorship package worth £3000!

    The scheme offers local businesses the chance to support the company and communicate with its audience members, helping to raise brand awareness and link directly to potential customers.

    Read More >>

  • Tickets for Beauty and the Beast at Ringwood Festival 2012 now on sale!

     Created 1 year ago.

    Tickets for Forest Forge Youth Theatre's re-staging of Beauty and the Beast at Ringwood Festival on 13 July 2012 are now on sale!

    Beauty and the Beast - the greatest show on earth - was first staged in Devember 2011 and was a huge hit.  Following its success the youth theatre are presenting it again as part of the Ringwodd Festival 2012. 

    Read More >>

  • Charity Walk

     Created 1 year ago.

    On Sunday 1 July the Rotary club is holding a special sponsored walk around the Beaulieu estate.  Members of the public are invited to register for an 8K, 5K or miniwalk to raise money for charity, and we are looking for supporters who would be interested in taking part in the walk to raise money for Forest Forge!

    The walk promises to be a great day for all the family, giving you a chance to explore to the Beaulieu estate on waymarked routes.

    Read More >>

  • Rough Diamonds - Intergenerational Project in Andover

     Created 1 year ago.

    2012 is an important year of celebration and Forest Forge Theatre Company has been making the most of it in Andover!

    The theatre company, which is based in the New Forest, has spent the last four months working with people in the town to develop a very special theatre event called Rough Diamonds to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

    Read More >>

  • Gnome Spotting

     Created 1 year ago.

    In preparation for Bloom in the autumn Forest Forge have gone gnome spotting.

    Luckily for us we have some gnome experts on hand, who have helped make this fantastic documentary guide. So for all you ever wanted to know about Gnomes watch this......

    Read More >>

  • Call for Freelance Theatre Practitioners

     Created 1 year ago.

    Forest Forge Theatre Company is one the South’s leading touring theatre companies.  We specialize in creating and touring small-scale theatre and in running Creative Learning projects.

    Each year Forest Forge runs over 400 workshop sessions and is now looking for a number of Theatre Practitioners and Drama Workshop leaders to join a pool of freelancers. 

    Read More >>

  • Forest Forge announces continuation of successful Tots Workshops.

     Created 1 year ago.

    Following the popularity and success of Forest Forge’s spring term of Tots the theatre company are excited to be forging forward with another ten sessions inspired by a collection of children’s stories.

    Forest Forge Tots is a weekly drop-in theatre session at Forest Forge Theatre Centre in Ringwood. The creative workshops are aimed at children aged 0 – 5 years old and their parents or carers.

    Read More >>

  • TaleChamber

     Created 1 year ago.

    This spring two of Forest Forge’s Youth Theatres are coming together to present TaleChamber, a new production based on four fairy tales – Iron Hans, The Tin Soldier, The Princess and the Wizard and Bluebeard’s Bloody Chamber.

    The ambitious production is performed by a cast made up of 50 local young people aged 12-16 who have joined to form one company.

    Read More >>

  • Forest Forge Tots Is Now Weekly!

     Created 1 year ago.

    Tailored specifically for children under 5, these lively creative sessions are run by experienced workshop leader Lucy Phillips. Our usual Tots leader Lisa Halpin is on maternity leave, so the wonderful Lucy will be taking over these new weekly sessions. Lucy has years of experience working with children of all ages, and is looking forward to introducing drama to a new set of young minds!

    As usual, these vibrant sessions will engage and stimulate your child, using music, movement and drama to encourage a sense of play, develop imagination and build confidence. Sessions will last for 45 mins, but we’re then inviting you to stay on for a cup of tea or coffee (with juice and biccies for the little ones) and a chance to catch-up and chat with fellow parents. Regular Tots members are welcome and we encourage you to bring a friend to enjoy the fun!

    Read More >>

  • The Bloom Project

     Created 2 years ago.

    Forest Forge Theatre Company has been celebrating this month after announcing its new exciting work -The Bloom Project.

    The Bloom Project is Forest Forge’s new immersive theatre project that will take place from August to October 2012. It will see the company visit seven different arts and community venues in Hampshire, taking up residency in each for one week and presenting a new play that will involve the audience.

    Read More >>

  • Christmas Workshops

     Created 2 years ago.

    Forest Forge Theatre Company are inviting your Little Elves to get into the Christmas spirit with a series of mad-cap creative Christmas workshops.

    Young people have the chance to be transformed into busy elves for two workshops to make a Play in a Day. One group will design and make the sound, lighting and the set. Another group will devise and then perform the play for family and friends at the end of their workshop. There is also a session to keep your littler elves entertained with Christmas stories and games.

    Read More >>

  • Beauty and the Beast

     Created 2 years ago.

    As The Phoenix and the Carpet flies out on tour, the circus is coming in to Forest Forge as our wonderful Youth Theatre presents their Christmas production of Beauty and the Beast.

    The production is performed by the company’s oldest youth theatre group aged 16 – 21. It is the traditional story of Beauty and the Beast which was originally adapted by Katie Mitchell and Lucy Kirkwood for the National Theatre. Forest Forge has changed it slightly to be set in a circus and each of the cast members has learnt a magic or circus skill to perform, including unicycling, juggling, magic tricks, poi and even a human cannonball!

    Read More >>

  • Forest Forge Pyjama Day!

     Created 2 years ago.

    To launch our new Community Fundraising Pack everyone here at Forest Forge wore our pyjamas in to work last Thursday to raise funds! The actors rehearsed The Phoenix and the Carpet in their pyjamas, Dom, Carl and David were building the set in their pyjamas, and Jemma, Max and Sophie pootled round the office in their pyjamas!

    Lucy and Max spent most of their week in their PJs as all of the Youth Theatre sessions last week were being done in pyjamas too. All the Groups were amazing in their PJs and managed to raise a brilliant amount for doing so! A special mention to Jemma Darnley who raised £100 by herself!

    Read More >>

  • Arts Council article celebrates Forest Forge work

     Created 2 years ago.

    In an online article, which made the headlines on the Arts council newsletter, Forest Forge were praised for our work within museums and libraries.

    The article looks at our tour of Operation Oliver from 2010 and how it is going to be touring around libraries and schools again in the new year. It is the first article in a series on good work between theatres and libraries and museums so it is a great achievement to be recognised in this manner.

    Read More >>

  • Theatre Skills Day - CHANGE OF DATE!

     Created 2 years ago.

    Theatre Skills Day – the date of this workshop has been changed to Saturday 22 October.

    Forest Forge Theatre Company is a professional small-scale touring company based in Ringwood which tours Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. We specialise in creating new productions and touring to non-theatre spaces.

    Read More >>

  • Forest Forge Tots

     Created 2 years ago.

    The autumn 2011 term of Forest Forge Tots has begun.

    Forest Forge Tots are creative workshops for the under 5’s inspired by the seasons and well known picture books. 

    Read More >>

  • Theatre Skills Day

     Created 2 years ago.

    Forest Forge Theatre Company is a professional small-scale touring company based in Ringwood which tours Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. We specialise in creating new productions and touring to non-theatre spaces.

    Forest Forge is inviting members’ of regional Amateur Dramatics groups to join them at their base in Ringwood for a day of workshops and theatre making skills.

    Read More >>

  • Forging Business Links

     Created 2 years ago.

    Forest Forge Theatre Company are offering businesses in Ringwood and the New Forest the opportunity to work in partnership through the new Forging Business Links scheme.

    The new initiative is designed to give smaller businesses in the region the chance to connect with Forest Forge’s audiences through a sponsorship competition.

    Read More >>

  • David Lane wins award nomination

     Created 2 years ago.

    David Lane, the writer commissioned by Forest Forge to write two new plays to commemorate the company’s 30th anniversary, is celebrating this week after being nominated for the national Meyer-Whitworth scriptwriting award. The Meyer-Whitworth Award is one of the largest awards for playwriting in Britain.

    David Lane, who is currently working with Forest Forge on the two autumn productions of The World Outside and Born, received the nomination for his play BEGIN/END that he wrote for the Half Moon Young People’s Theatre. The production was created for teenage audiences and toured throughout the UK in Spring 2010.

    Read More >>

  • When We Were Thirty hits the road!

     Created 2 years ago.

    This week Forest Forge Theatre Company is on the road touring a new production all about turning thirty.

    Since April Forest Forge Theatre Company has been working on a very special project entitled When We Were Thirty, which has seen the company work with elderly members of New Forest communities in residential homes and day care centre’s, running reminiscence workshops with participants and helping them to think back to the year they turned 30.

    Read More >>

  • 30th Birthday Bash!

     Created 2 years ago.

    Last week friends and supporters of Forest Forge gathered at the Theatre Company’s base in Ringwood to celebrate its 30th Anniversary.

    In honour of the company’s long history actors, staff members and others read out short clips from four previous productions, including the very first play ever produced and Free Folk that was produced in 2010. Speeches were made by previous Artistic Director Sean Aita, founder of the company Karl Hibbert and current Artistic Director Kirstie Davis.

    Read More >>

  • Free performances of When We Were Thirty!

     Created 2 years ago.

    When We Were Thirty -
    Discovering stories from the year New Forest residents turned Thirty

    Since April Forest Forge Theatre Company has been working on a very special project entitled When We Were Thirty.

    Read More >>

  • Character! Workshop

     Created 2 years ago.

    On Tuesday 21 June Forest Forge will be holding a Character workshop.

    The session is open to anyone age 13 – 16 who wants to learn more about developing characters through drama techniques and styles.

    Read More >>

  • Elevate 2011

     Created 2 years ago.

    From today young people from Hampshire will be getting a taste for working in theatre as a group of students take over at Forest Forge!

    It all takes place as part of the Elevate work experience project, that sees students from two local schools join the professional team to become the cast, set designers and technical team of the company for two weeks, before touring their performance across the county.

    Read More >>

  • Text Message Donations Begin

     Created 2 years ago.

    Forest Forge is amongst the first charities in the country to use its own, unique personalised text code, FFTC30, to raise funds using JustTextGiving by Vodafone.

    From today you can make donations of up to £10 to Forest Forge by texting FFTC30 and either 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 to 70070 . The text message is free and all of the donation will be passed to us.

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  • New Writing Win For Forest Forge Writer

     Created 2 years ago.

    David Haworth, Forest Forge’s Associate Director has won ‘Dialogue’ the yearly new writing competition hosted by Salisbury Playhouse and Theatre Works. Scripts were invited from the whole of the South West, entered anonymously. The four finalists were treated to a rehearsed reading at Salisbury Playhouse on Wednesday 11th May. David’s piece, ‘First Kiss Goodbye’ about the confusing and tragic experience of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, was voted the winner by a panel of professionals. The prize for winning is a year’s professional development for David as a writer.

    David trained as a theatre designer but has developed into directing and writing in recent years while at Forest Forge. He has written several plays for the Company. David said “Winning this competition has really given me confidence in my writing and is a testament to the faith shown by Forest Forge in this area of my work. I’m very excited!”

    Read More >>

  • Arts Council Funding

     Created 2 years ago.

    Forest Forge has lost 100% of its Arts Council core funding from April 2012. This is a major blow to the organisation but there is something you can do to help us….

    On Wednesday 30 March the Arts Council, England withdrew its regular funding from Forest Forge Theatre Company starting from April 2012. The funding withdrawn is a total of over £117,000 which equates to 30% of the company’s income and over half of it core funding. This is a major blow and will mean some big changes for the organisation and even possible closure.

    Read More >>

  • The Forgotten Odyssey

     Created 2 years ago.

    As well as touring Peeling, Forest Forge are busy with another production….

    In April two groups of the Forest Forge Youth Theatre are joining together for a production of The Forgotten Odyssey, with a cast of 52 young people age 12 – 16.

    Read More >>

  • A thought from Kaite O\'Reilly - Writer of Peeling

     Created 2 years ago.

    The Western theatrical canon is full of disabled characters: From the pathos of the blinded Oedipus to the personification of evil in Richard III, the impaired body has often been used as a metaphor for the human condition. But seldom have the plays been written from a disability perspective, or performed by disabled actors. This was the impetus for my writing ‘peeling’ in 2002 for Graeae Theatre, Europe’s foremost company of practitioners with sensory and physical impairments. I wanted to write an edgy, inventive, and humorous play specifically for Deaf and disabled actors, which used Sign performance (theatricalised British Sign Language), and reflected the experience of disabled and Deaf women. Unfortunately so often in the media, we are portrayed as the victim or the villain – the object of sympathy, or charity, or superhuman inspiration. In ‘peeling’ I wanted to create women who were witty, sexy, complex human beings who made difficult decisions about their fertility and potential offspring; women whose lives didn’t necessarily differ so much from non-disabled, hearing women’s lives.

    But the women in ‘peeling’ are actors in a post-modern production of The Trojan Women – Then and Now. They are sometimes ‘on stage’ and sometimes ‘off’ – gossiping and arguing in the shadows, revealing their recipes alongside their secrets.

    Read More >>

  • Howling Half Term

     Created 2 years ago.

    This February half term Forest Forge and the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton are running a range of workshops inspired by our winter show The Wolves of Willoughby Chase.

    Taking elements from the show the Forest Forge and Nuffield teams have created a number of great sessions to be enjoyed by children of all ages.

    Read More >>

  • Wolves at Naomi House

     Created 2 years ago.

    The cast of Forest Forge’s winter show The Wolves of Willoughby Chase recently visited Naomi House children’s Hospice near Winchester for a very special performance.

    Several of the children staying in the hospice gathered around to watch members of the theatre company performing songs and extracts of dialogue from their latest production, “The Wolves of Willoughby Chase”.

    Read More >>

  • Forest Forge Tots is back!

     Created 2 years ago.

    Starting on Tuesday 25 January, Forest Forge Tots is back!

    A New Year of creative sessions for toddlers and young children will be starting on Tuesday 25 January at Forest Forge Theatre Company in Ringwood.

    Read More >>