Long Cloud Youth Theatre
“If Long Cloud Youth Theatre represents the next generation of theatre practitioners, our creative industries and the community at large will be the richer for it.” John Smythe, Theatreview.
Long Cloud Youth Theatre is a hothouse for New Zealand's most exciting young acting talent.
Long Cloud Youth Theatre, run by Whitireia Performing Arts Company, is a unique training and production company for young actors aged 16-21 years. Long Cloud is based in Wellington, New Zealand. Entering its fifth year in 2010, the Company gives young actors the means to enhance their theatrical skills through practical performance experience and the opportunity to work with Wellington’s foremost directors and tutors. The program is led by award winning teacher and director Willem Wassenaar.
The members of the Company get intensive training in movement, voice and acting by various tutors as well as working on stage productions throughout the year.
HISTORY:
Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind (2008), GRIMM and Colony! (2008), Fringe season GRIMM and Colony! (2009), Scene Bites (2009), The Crucible by Arthur Miller (2009), Monologue Showing (2009), Clown Showing (2009), Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare (2009), Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre (2010)
COMING UP IN 2010:
GREEKS (Sat 27th March 2010 @ Wellington Performing Arts Centre, 36 Vivian St, 8.30pm-10pm, entry KOHA)
The advanced class of Long Cloud explores the world of ancient Greeks and performs scenes out of Antigone, Medea and Oedipus.
SCENE BITES (31 March & 1 April 2010 @ Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, 11 Hutchison Rd, 8pm-10pm, entry KOHA)
17 young new actors of Long Cloud throw themselves into breathtaking scenes out of masterpieces by New Zealand and overseas playwrights.
Experience how the finest young acting talent of Wellington bite their teeth into the most challenging slices out of world literature.
SHEEP, a devised theatre project in collaboration with award winning New Zealand playwright Arthur Meek (2010)
THE MISANTHROPE by Moliere (2010)
WANT TO BE PART OF SOMETHING?
Long Cloud Youth Theatre has proven its potential by producing the highly successful Spring Awakening and the devised shows Colony! and GRIMM in 2008. In 2009 the Company continued its success by performing The Crucible by Arthur Miller and participating in the Two Day Play festival as well as having several showings (scenes, monologues, clowns) throughout the year. Long Cloud Youth Theatre organized a summer school in 2010 to open the theatrical year for Downstage Theatre with the New Zealand premiere of the play Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre.
The members of the Company get intensive training in movement, voice and acting by various tutors as well as working on stage productions throughout the year. The program is designed to equip the company with the necessary performance skills to create vibrant, dynamic, bold and relevant theatre. Long Cloud Youth Theatre provides ongoing opportunities for talented and hungry Wellington young actors to work together on high quality theatre productions. The training fee per term is $300.
In this unique Company talented young actors grow as artists and at the same time make theatre with likeminded passionate people. The members of the Company come from different ethnic and social backgrounds and schools and show huge commitment in being part of Long Cloud Youth Theatre. The program is intense with at least two rehearsals/classes each week, and a majority of the actors involved desire to pursue a career in the performing arts. Various members have enrolled into Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School and are already working in the industry for stage, television and screen.
Entry to the Company is by audition only. If you want more informantion on Long Cloud, contact Artistic Director Willem Wassenaar:
longcloudyouththeatre@gmail.com.
ACCLAIM FOR THE COMPANY
Each time they seem to peak and I am left coming away with the conclusion that they couldn’t possibly get any better than this. Vernon God Little, their latest work, once again proves me wrong. Once again, they have bettered themselves. [...] It is the cast’s commitment and energy, along with the wise words of the script modulated perfectly through Wassenaar and Roberts’ directorial voices that makes Vernon God Little the best show I’ve seen so far this year.
Uther Dean, Salient on Vernon God Little.
Willem Wassenaar and Sophie Roberts have pulled off a blinder with this production, especially given they’ve created it in just four weeks at a summer school for young actors. [...] Long Cloud Youth Theatre continues to produce some of the most thrilling work in the capital.
Lynn Freeman, Cap Times on Vernon God Little.
It is wonderful to have a highly trained youth theatre company playing at Downstage again. Long Cloud has become a vital energy source in Wellington’s vibrant theatre scene.
John Smythe, Theatreview on Vernon God Little.
A vivid and visceral critique of human behaviour, still all too relevant to 'modern man', this Titus Andronicus caps a remarkable year of Compleate Workes project productions.
John Smythe, Theatreview on Titus Andronicus.
It is not often that you see an ensemble as in tune and connected to each other as Long Cloud, they are a joy simply to watch work together. [...] A triumph. A palpable triumph. Uther Dean, Salient on The Crucible.
Wassenaar and his cast should once again be commended for producing theatre that challenges and develops their burgeoning skills whilst remaining enjoyable for the audience. Look out for their next productions.
Helen Sims, Lumiere Reader on GRIMM and Colony.
Long Cloud Theatre Company is slowly positioning itself as an alternative to Young and Hungry. Another program to fill the gap between high school theatre and professional theatre or university study. It is fertile soil in which these young actors are to frolick and grow their talent. And talented they are. Without exception, these are a gifted bunch.
Uther Dean, Salient on GRIMM and Colony.
[...] I've seen turgid productions of Spring Awakening in the past and the fact that this company's audience of peers, on opening night, were so hugely responsive proves they found the comedy and held their attention by exploring, exposing, questioning and celebrating the timeless truths immortalised in this extraordinary classic.
John Smythe, Theatreview on Spring Awakening.
Who is Long Cloud?
TUTORS/DIRECTORS
Willem Wassenaar (Artistic Director), Sophie Roberts, Aileen Davidson
SUPPORTERS OF LONG CLOUD
Andrea Cochrane and Brian Steele, Paddy Steele, Bette Cosgrove
LONG CLOUD IS
Ben Crawford, Jack Buchanan, Felix Borthwick, Anthony Young, Anna Harcourt, Felicity Milovanovich, Liffey Jacobson-Wright, Estere Dalton, Ali Lai-Carlyle, Michael Boyes, Ngakopa Volkerling, Nathan Mudge, Michelle Ny, Freya Sadgrove, Fran Olds, Patrick Carroll, Jonathan Price, Lucy Suttor, Michael van Echten, Riley Brophy, Isabelle Stewart, Ingrid Saker, Betty Chung, Augusta Wills, Barney Cooke, Julia Rjordan, Corinne Knorr, Gussie Larkin
HALL OF FAME
Saskia Ymker, Tamara Jones, Richard Child, Michael Trigg, William Donaldson, Leon Wadham, Emerald Naulder, Ally Garrett, Philly JasonSmith, Imogen Zino, Stella Reid, Harrison Clare, Zac Kerr, Sophie Hambleton, Nicole Steven, Bea Joblin, Cam Jones, Teina Moetara, Robert Hartley, Richard Osborne, Tai Berdinner-Blades, Joe Dekkers-Reihana, Hayden Frost, Tim McDonald, Johanna Cosgrove, Vanessa Cullen, Alisha Tyson, Sharon van der Vreede, Dan Williams, Andrew Foster, Nathan McKendry, Jenny Stevenson
WHITIREIA PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY
Alan Palmer, Carmel McGlone, Laura Hewetson, Vernon J Prime
PHOTOGRAPHY
Philip Merry (pmerry@clear.net.nz)
