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THE CLOWNby Sydney Higgins
with music by Lamberto Lugli with Claudio
Sagretti Tiziano
Giglio Francesca di Pastena
Director: Sydney Higgins Musical Director: Lamberto Lugli Lights & Sound: Francesco Concetti Scenery: Finlay Cowan & Chiara Giulianini Costumes: Janette Swift |
The show comes from an original idea of Sydney Higgins who has written the script and lyrics, as well as producing and directing this new play for young children. Although it has an educational purpose, this innovative and unique show is full of laughter, colour and music. It presents primary school pupils with a friendly and entertaining opportunity to inter-react with the actors and so be able to acquire and deepen their knowledge of English. In Italy, there are already theatre companies that perform only in English but most target middle or senior school students. This new production of "The Camerino Players" uses a new approach language teaching, based on the belief that language acquisition is much more effectively achieved if undertaken at a young age, when the learning process should be fun and entertaining. The play focuses specifically uses vocabulary and grammatical structures that can ensure a sound base for language learning that will help pupils when they are older to address more complex English language issues.
The story revolves around three characters: two clowns who speak only English and a circus ring-master who speaks only Italian and, in addition to his involvement on stage, acts as an intermediary between the public and the two clowns who work in his circus. The dialogue between the two Clowns imaginatively uses words and phrases based on a structured vocabulary and grammatical structure especially designed for the age and the linguistic knowledge of the young audience in the theatre.
Lamberto Lugli graduated in piano and conducting and is now a professor of composition at the Conservatoire of Music “G. Rossini” in Pesaro. He has composed numerous pieces for the theatre and soundtracks for films, as well as participating in important musical events in Italy and abroad. For many years, he has collaborated with Sydney Higgins and they are both close friends.
Sydney Higgins, the writer and theatre director from England, has for many years been resident in Camerino. He is at present the Professor of English at the University of Camerino. He is the founder and artistic director of the Camerino Players and organised an annual European Medieval Drama conference and festival that was a great success and attracted much public and international interest.
THE CLOWN is presented by the 'Camerino Players', with the sponsorship of the University of Camerino, the Municipality of Camerino and the Macerata Province of the Marche.
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