Study-Day for Teachers of Ancient History and Classical Civilization
University College London
Department of History

 

On June 8th 2009, UCL History Department will hold a study-day for teachers of Ancient History and Classical Civilization, which is intended to offer Classics and History teachers support in their teaching. With this aim, the event will not only offer talks on two major topics that feature prominently in the schools’ curricula (see programme below), but will also include an interactive session in which teachers will be able to share with academic members of staff any problems they encounter and have the opportunity to find possible solutions to them. In addition, recognising the major role played by the British Museum in disseminating the study of ancient history, a session will be held at the museum to explore its enormous potential as a teaching resource.

In the light of the main aim of the day, UCL is delighted to offer one year’s free reference access to its library to the first twenty teachers who will register for the event.

This will be the first time that such an initiative is organised by the department, and, in order to shape the character of any future events, we will be very much interested in the response of those who attend.

For any enquiries, please contact Ms. Gemma Barber or on 020 7679 1348.

Enrolment is open until Thursday 4th June 2009.

Full Programme:

9.30 Registration and Refreshments
10.00 Prof. Hans van Wees to give a talk entitled “Sparta: what’s new?”
11.15 The British Museum as a Teach Resource (at the British Library)
12.45 Lunch
13.45 Dr. Benet Salway to give a talk entitled “Augustus and the administration of empire at home and abroad”
14.45 Interactive Session with History Department academic staff: Teaching Ancient History to A Level students
15.30 Library Visit
16.30 Final discussion
17.00 Drinks and Departure

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Iris Festival for London schools
17 - 19th June, 2009
all day at The Scoop, City Hall, More London.

The Iris Festival is a three-day festival of Classics, including plays and performances of Greek drama by London state schools, activities, workshops and talks. It will be free to schools and other members of the public. Details to be confirmed, but a provisional programme is given below for each day of the festival:

12:45 : Opening remarks - Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

1 – 2pm : A double bill of Greek Comedy (Birds by Aristophanes; Clouds by Aristophanes). Performed by local primary schools.

2:30pm – 4:30pm : activities and workshops (details to be confirmed)

6pm: Pre-performance talk on ancient theatre

6:30pm : A Classical tragedy (Euripides' Bacchae). Performed by local sixth forms.

Alongside the space around the Scoop will be used for family-orientated activities such as mosaic-making, mask-making, story boarding of myths, and stalls.

Six schools will be involved in total with different schools performing on different days. Over one hundred pupils from London state schools will act on stage. The festival would be a culmination of a year's work with schools, introducing Greek civilisation and culture in the form of classes and workshops that aim both to teach about Greek culture as well as working into the school's social curriculum: Greek drama is inextricably linked with themes such as civic and social responsibility. These themes will be brought out both in the plays and in the workshops through discussion and role play.

The festival is an opportunity for children of all ages in inner London state schools to perform in public to a wide audience in an exciting professional venue and a chance for members of the public and schools to enjoy a three-day festival of Classics and Classical drama.

For more details, please get in touch with us. If you would like to help out with the running of the festival or offer financial support, please also get in touch

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Cloudcuckooland

What happens when the birds get sick of the humans ruining their home? Why they poo on the human, and roast Gordon Brown for Sunday lunch, of course! Cloudcuckooland is a fantastically funny children's musical about not trashing the planet.
The Total Theatre Award nominated show is a laugh for all ages as it is also infused with political humor. Based on Aristophanes' The Birds, it follows the story of some Birds that decide to form their own habitat in the sky, Cloudcuckooland, after the humans have ruined their habitat on Earth. Gordon Brown comes to visit, and is sentences to a roasting unless he complyies with their eco-demands. The talented cast is a all-singing, all-dancing, troupe that plays 22 instruments between the handful of actor-musicians.

The show has received brilliant reviews:

‘Terrrifc and topical…smart and very entertaining’ (The Observer) Pick of the Edinburgh Festival

‘Serious fun… Multi-talented performers …. an exciting, carnival atmosphere’ (Three Weeks)

‘Hugely enjoyable’ (The Guardian)
‘Fantastic feathery fun… a wonderful hour of musical mayhem’ (The List)

Cloudcuckooland Tour Dates 2009...

Oxford
OFS Studio, OX1 2AQ
Satuday 21st March, 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Box Office – 0844 844 0662
www.ofsstudio.org.uk

London
Riverside Studios, W6 9RL
Friday 27th March, 2pm (signed performance)
Box Office – 020 8237 1111
www.riversidestudios.co.uk
www.seetickets.com

Warsaw
Tuesday 31st March – 2nd April

Liverpool
Everyman Theatre, L1 9BH Tuesday 7th April, 7pm
Wednesday 8th April, 7pm
Thursday 9th April, 3pm and 7pm
Friday 10th April, 7pm
Saturday 11th April, 2pm and 7pm
Box Office – 0151 709 4776
www.everymanplayhouse.com

Brighton
The Parlure Spiegeltent at the Brighton Fringe Festival, BS99 2JZ Monday 4th May, 11am and 1pm Box Office for Fringe Festival 01273 709709 and Box Office for The Parlure at 0844 8007114 www.theparlure.com and www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk

Exeter
Northcott Theatre, EX4 4QB
Sunday 21st June, 1.30pm and 5.30pm
Box Office – 01392 493 493
www.exeternorthcott.co.uk

For more information please visit our website

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Pick 'n' Myths

No one is too young for Greek tales. These tales come to life though song, silly hats, audience participation, and friendly monsters, and is aimed at children ages 3-6 years. Get ready to hear about king who grew donkey's ears, the minotaur trapped in a maze, and a little boy who learned to fly.

Upcoming performance:

The Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, W6 0QL, March 28th 2009

For more information please visit our website

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The Times Stephen Spender Prize 2009
for poetry in translation

Translate a poem from any language,
classical or modern, into English

Closing date Friday 22 May 2009

Three categories
Open
18-and-under
14-and-under
Cash prizes
All winning entries published in a booklet
Selected winning entries published in The Times
Details and entry forms at
www.stephen-spender.org

Or email here for posters, entry leaflets and the free booklet of winning entries from previous years

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Autumn 2008, World Premiere of a new opera
Manning Camerata and The Onassis Programme present

THE BURIAL AT THEBES

A version of Sophocles' Antigone
Text Seamus Heaney, Music Dominique le Gendre,
Direction Derek Walcott, Conductor Peter Manning

Shakespeare's Globe, 11th 12th October 2008;
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 17th October 2008;
The Oxford Playhouse, 19th October 2008

For the first time in his illustrious career Seamus Heaney has allowed an operatic approach to one of his works. With Derek Walcott directing, for the first time in history two Nobel Prize-winning english language poets work together creatively on live music.

"I look forward therefore to the huge enhancement that 'The Burial at Thebes' will receive from the collaboration of such abundantly creative artists as Dominique Le Gendre, Peter Manning and Derek Walcott. Their partnership is bound to produce work where the tragic note of the original Antigone will sound more deeply and the pity and terror strike home more immediately." Seamus Heaney

The creative team spans both nations and generations: Dominique Le Gendre, Trinidadian Composer; Seamus Heaney, Nobel Prize-winning Irish poet; Derek Walcott, Nobel Prizewinning St Lucian Poet and Director; Peter Manning, Artistic Director, Manning Camerata, Concertmaster, Royal Opera House, Artistic Director Musica Vitae. Thirteen musicians from Manning Camerata are joined by an international and multicultural cast of actors and singers from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.

VERY LIMITED CAPACITY, so please book early: CLICK HERE

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For a wonderful day out...

The Roman Baths at Bath

The Museum, Caerleon

St Albans, Herts

Fishbourne Palace

Bignor Roman Villa

Hadrian's Wall

The British Museum

 

We believe that all children are entitled to the opportunity of learning about the languages and cultures of the ancient world, and that these subjects are wonderful tools for enhancing literacy, social awareness and analytical skills. Through a range of initiatives in UK state schools, we work to enrich the curriculum by promoting learning about the ancient world.