The 2018 Remote theatre competition
So here's a little video that George and I made about this year's remote theatre competition for Palestinian children. (The full rules and requirements are underneath) Last year was incredible but here's hoping that this year we get even more amazing entries from all you creative kids in Palestine. Good luck to you all...https://youtu.be/DNL7kb3u1eoThe Hands Up Project Remote theatre competition 2018A play writing and play performing competition open to young people living in Palestine, launched, administered, and judged by the Hands Up Project, a UK based educational charity (Charity number 1170272)Objectives -to provide a motivating context for young people in Palestine to practise and develop their spoken and written English.-to provide young people in Palestine with an international audience for their creative work.-to raise awareness around the world about the creative work of young people in Palestine.Requirements-The play must be a maximum of 5 minutes long. (It can be less than 5 minutes.)-It must be with a maximum of 5 actors (it could be fewer than 5 and each actor may play several parts)-All participants must be aged 15 or under and attend an UNRWA or Ministry of Education school in Palestine.-Participants need to send a video recording of them acting the play to this email address: info@handsupproject.org. The file will probably be too large to send as an attachment so it can be sent using https://wetransfer.com/-Participants also need to send a written version of the play in the form of a script (with stage directions if necessary) to info@handsupproject.org-The main language of the play must be English.-It must be an original piece of writing. Participants may choose to use an existing, well known story but the lines of the play must be their own words.-The video and the script must reach us by 31st December 2018.-Anything reaching us after this date and which does not fulfil the other requirements will not be considered for the prize.Suggestions for playsProviding the requirements are fulfilled, the topic of the play is very flexible. Plays could be performed with or without narration. Some suggested topics could include:-
- An adaptation of a traditional story
- An adaptation of a modern story
- A story about life in Palestine
- A story created entirely by the participants
- A play about an event in history, or a famous person
Suggestions for performanceSince the play will initially be performed through video, rather than face to face, it’s important to ensure that the actors are as close to the camera as much as possible and that they make eye contact with it as much as possible. Incorporating gesture and physicality wherever possible will also make things clearer for the audience. It is fine to include, masks, puppets, music or singing in the play but none of these things are a requirement.
Prizes
The best entries will be published in a Hands up project book and credited to the group who created them. If desired, the videos will be published on our youtube channel. All finalists will be awarded with trophies at an awards ceremony and invited to perform at conferences in the West Bank. One group from the finalists will be randomly chosen to spend a week in the UK at the beginning of April 2019.
Judging criteria
The panel of judges will pick the best play based on quality of acting performances, quality of the play, creative expression and clarity of expression. Though English should be used, the plays will not be judged on the level of English of the participants. So it will be possible for learners of English at a low level to also take part.
We very much look forward to seeing your entries. Good luck!Nick Bilbrough, Founder and Coordinator, The Hands Up Projectinfo@handsupproject.org