SHOOTING STAR ENTERTAINMENTS

Learning should be fun. ➰ ➰ ➰ This is something I've been adamant about for years. And it is something that I have worked towards in the majority of my jobs over the past 13 years. Learning should be fun. It's the best way to keep children engaged. Just like watching a movie - a movie can deliver a message without you even really knowing it. You're just enjoying the story and then BAM. There's a moral to it. Nowadays most people will likely call this "woke" in a derisive way. But it's been happening for as long as stories have existed. That's what we do at SHOOTING STAR ENTERTAINMENTS. We deliver messages bundled in engaging entertainment. The children are learning, and they barely even know it. But we recognise that schools are struggling. There are cuts happening everywhere, and our kid's are suffering as a result. Arts provisions are among the worst. And that's why we've started rolling out something called the Starlight Pass. For schools making multiple bookings with us, we're giving drastic discounts. As far as we are aware, it's a first of its kind as a subscription service for Theatre in Education. Schools can book up to nine full days with us, making the most of 20+ shows, workshops, and a new membership-exclusive website that includes lesson plans, worksheets, and videos to help with bringing the arts back into school in a way that blends it with other subjects. So. If you're a teacher, or even a parent, who wants maximum value in your children's learning? Get in touch, and we'll ensure that they don't miss out on the best entertaining education available.

We are revolutionising Theatre in Education for Primary Schools! Introducing our Starlight Pass! No longer will you need to hunt out a different company each time you want a show or workshop for your children. Instead, you will have access to your own, personal theatre company who will visit you multiple times throughout the year covering a range of topics including EYFS, PSHE, Shakespeare, History, Science, Panto... And all this comes with exclusive access to workshops, lesson plans, classroom resources, masterclasses and glimpses behind the scenes. Nowhere will you get better value for money or better value for your children! Want to know more? Get in touch now! https://lnkd.in/eqr5Ent2

We had a great day auditioning yesterday and we got to see some fantastic people who we cannot wait to introduce you to!!!

A snapshot of our show, 'The Curse of the Mummy'. A great way to learn about Ancient Egypt, suitable for KS1 and KS2. We have had so much fun bringing these characters to life this week and we can't wait to bring them to you.

Today marks the end of the SHOOTING STAR ENTERTAINMENTS panto season with our final team performing their final show. It's been a great couple of months and we have been bowled over by the feedback we have received both from the schools and halls we have visited but also from the performers about how they have found their time with us. But today wasn't just panto as part of our Core Performer Team reunited for a performance of Midsummer Nights Dream, while I enjoyed a day as part of the Cyber Patrol with our NHS Mental Health show. It was great being back on stage today, the children were so wonderful, enthusiastic and an absolute joy to perform for... a great way to start the year!

Many of our creative team spent lots of December watching pantomimes. We watched our teams out on the road making sure their shows were going as planned and helping troubleshoot any issues that had arisen. We also watched static pantos across the Country. Watching static pantomimes is a good way of making sure that we are keeping up with changes within the industry as well as helping us to ensure that we are maintaining a high standard of production. There are many ways that we can't compete with a static production, for example: * Their budget is much much greater than our, allowing them to have spectacular special effects. * Many static productions have celebrity stars. * Static productions can have big pieces of scenery that only need to be rolled on and off stage whereas our scenery needs to be transportable and easy to set up multiple times a day. However, there are definite advantages from a touring panto: * An age appropriate script - how often have you been to a static panto where the double-entendre has been more single-entendre? As 95% of our performances are in Primary Schools, our scripts are written with that audience in mind. * Ease - no coaches to book, no permission slips to chase, and only one form to sign. * SEND Accessible - Need a relaxed intro, or a touch tour, or do you just have a nervous child who would like to meet the cast before the show? This is all easily doable when the only audience is your children. Not to mention that having a touring production come to you is much cheaper than taking your school to the theatre! So while a static production may be able to give your children the 'wow factor' with special effects and celebrities, we pride ourselves on bringing your children all the joy and wonder that they would get from a static, but in the comfort of their own school hall.

The last HOPE for Epilepsy Family Support Session of 2024 was knock out! Seeing the children have so much fun with bauble decorating, face painting, balloon modelling, a fabulous panto performed by the incredible SHOOTING STAR ENTERTAINMENTS team, scrummy food prepared by HOPE's amazing volunteers, and a visit from Father Christmas was truly magical. I feel honoured and humbled to volunteer alongside such a fabulous team of Trustees, advisors, volunteers and Young Ambassadors.

We had a great time at the weekend supporting this wonderful charity.

SHOOTING STAR ENTERTAINMENTS Advent Calendar Day 16 Equity Agreement You may have picked up from some of my previous posts that looking after our performers is incredibly important to me. The touring panto and theatre in education industry has a lot of young performers in their first professional job, which unfortunately means that they aren't aware of what is and isn't acceptable treatment. They are also often so excited about getting their first paid job, that they will accept being mistreated just so they can perform. Having heard many horror stories, and lived through one or two myself, I have always been determined to make Shooting Stars a better place to be. I first approached Equity UK about getting an Equity contract 15 years ago, but at that point they didn't have anything in place for our sector. Before the pandemic, they set up a Theatre in Education panel, which I instantly joined. This panel was going to review the sector and work out what would be required for an Equity agreed contract. Unfortunately, as soon as they realised I was a producer as well as a performer I was asked to leave due to a conflict of interest. (I actually disagree with this, I think my interest in it was totally aligned with theirs, but that's a whole other discussion) Finally, this year, with thanks to Iain Croker, I managed to get hold of a copy of the Equity Agreement, and became THE FIRST Theatre in Education and Touring Panto company to sign the agreement and start offering Equity Contracts for our performers. Because this has been something I have been working towards for so long, we actually changed very little to our existing contracts, but the effect it has had for our performers, knowing that we are a reputable, caring employer, is huge. Below, is a link to the article written by Equity about our agreement. https://lnkd.in/emitxdSy