School Groups - Shaw Festival Theatre

Beyond the Stage for Students

Let the magic of the theatre capture student’s creativity in these high-energy workshops. Discover how to extend your acting, voice, movement and characterization skills for the stage. An hour-long session with Shaw professionals. Book at 1.800.511.7429. $5 per student

• The Magician’s Nephew – join an actor from The Magician’s Nephew and help to create the show
• Acting – using tools from the actors’ toolkit, breathe life into characters for the stage
• Musical Theatre – learn a dance routine from Grand Hotel
• The Actor’s Angle – delve into scene work from one of our 2018 plays
• Accents – experience how accents can help define a character
• Voice and Speech – voice and the spoken word through fun, practical activities
• Stage Combat – the basics, how to do it safely, believably, and bump-free!
• Stage Pratfalls – trips, falls, spit-takes, and more. Serious work with hilarious results!
• Theatre Makeup – transform yourself! Learn make-up application for the stage
• Costume Design – using simple materials and your imagination, design a theatre costume
• Stage Management – see the stage from the other side

Planning a class trip and wondering what’s suitable for your students?

Here are our age recommendations for the 2018 Season plays.

Festival Theatre
The Magician’s Nephew – Grade 1+
Grand Hotel – Grade 9+
Mythos: A Trilogy — Gods. Heroes. Men. – Grade 7+
The Hound of the Baskervilles – Grade 6+

Royal George Theatre
Stage Kiss – Grade 9+
Of Marriage and Men: A Comedy Double-Bill – Grade 7+
O’Flaherty V.C. (Lunchtime one-act) – Grade 7+
Oh What a Lovely War – Grade 9+
A Christmas Carol – Grade 1+

Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre
The Orchard (After Chekhov) – Grade 9+
The Baroness and the Pig – Grade 11+
Henry V – Grade 7+

Enhance your Shaw experience!

These activities are available with the purchase of group theatre tickets. Prices are per person. Book with Group Sales at 1.800.511.7429.

Backstage Tours
An hour-long tour of the Festival Theatre reveals the secrets that bring our work to the stage. $5/$3 per student

Pre-show Talks
Learn more about the production you are attending with one of our company members. $5/$3 per student

Post-show Chats
After the play, book a Q & A with members of the Ensemble. $5/$3 per student

The Magician’s Nephew Backstage Tour
Discover the magic involved in the creation of Narnia. Fun for people of all ages. $5/$3 per student

Continue the Conversation – Moderated discussions
Long after the curtain falls, Shaw audience members continue to talk about the intellectual and emotional meanings of the play. Following Tuesday and Friday matinee performances (except those marked P and OC), join fellow patrons for an engaging discussion. Free to all.

Students are some of our most enthusiastic audience members and we want to ensure their visit is memorable.

To that end, please take the time to review these theatre etiquette tips with your students:

• • Stash your coats and backpacks at Coat Check on your way into the theatre.
  • Be nice to the ushers; they may be famous one day. And besides, it’s good karma!
  • Impress everyone around you before the show by reading the house programme and saying loudly “So good to see Deb Hay back at The Shaw”.
  • We invite you to take photos when the house lights are on – pre-show, at intermission and post-show –please share your experience by tagging ShawFestival or using #shawfestival
  • During the performance, out of respect and for the safety of our performers, we ask that you turn off your cell phones.
  • Laugh, cry, sigh – you hear the actors and they hear you. The actors feed off your energy, so if you enjoy their performance, please let them know by responding!
  • Actors get hungry too – they will hear if you’re eating, unwrapping candy, or sharing gum. Wait until intermission or after the show to unwrap candy and merchandise.
  • Love the show? Want to share with your friends? Tweet @Shawtheatre, follow shawfestival on Instagram, comment on our Facebook page or subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Tips for Teachers

• • Arrive at least 20 minutes early.
  • Assign one chaperone for every fifteen students.
  • Remind students to use washrooms before the show and during intermission.

We want to extend our most sincere thanks to all teachers who bring their students to the Shaw Festival, and for supporting theatre and arts education!

$25 Student Group Tickets

Student groups can book $25 tickets in any seating location at Special Matinee performances, marked SM on the calendar.

Students can also see great theatre for $30 in balcony Blue seating for any Festival Theatre regularly-priced performance. Valid student ID required. Price does not include applicable taxes.

Contact our Box Office at 1.800.511.7429 to book.

Need help getting here?

School groups booking tickets to Shaw Festival productions may receive a subsidy towards the cost of bus transportation. Call us at 1.800.511.7429 for details.

The Bus Subsidy Program is supported by Niagara Airbus.

Play Posters

Promote your visit by downloading one of the 2018 play posters and customizing it for your own Group!

The Magician’s Nephew
Grand Hotel
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Stage Kiss
A Christmas Carol
2018 Season Poster