2023 LIVE performances
Our two RAPA productions this year:
ALICE IN STEAMPUNK LAND
Time to see Alice take a ride down a steampunk rollercoaster into a steampunk land full of our favourite characters.
Fri 15th Dec 7.30PM & Sat 16th 5PM
and
A VAMPIRES GUIDE TO DRIED SUNSHINE by the RAPA Ensemble
with original short pieces written and directed by members of the RAPA Ensemble.
A Vampire's Guide to Dried Sunshine takes the Ensemble into some uncharted territory
as a butoh inspired physical theatre absurdists work.
Sat 16th Dec 8PM & Sun 17th Dec 6PM
At EPAC: Emerald Performing Arts Centre
Get tickets to these shows now
https://www.trybooking.com/CNPPP
RAPA NEWS
FReeZA POP - UP Television studio is back for the Lantern & Light International Children's Film Festival
Broadcast on Yarra Life TV Sunday 3rd September 6PM
RAPA
WINTER NEWSLETTER 2022
CONTENT:
DRAMA
RADIO PLAY – THE LISTENING TREE
THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE
CLUE
FILMMAKERS
SHUT-INS
LLICFF
OTHER
RAPA BOARD
FReeZA
LGBTQI+ committee
THE LISTENING TREE
The production by the RAPA Ensemble of this expansive radio play has had many hurdles to jump, not least covid. We embarked on one recording session and learned a lot about character development within a voice-only production. It’s a ‘great’ and rare opportunity for young actors to engage in this process.
We have now secured the professional help of a local audio engineer with the experience to get exactly what we need to complete the project with our RAPA talent.
THESE ARE THE FINAL DATES FOR RECORDING: Belgrave Library
Saturday 13th August 1pm-5pm
Saturday 27th August 1pm – 5pm
Saturday 10th September 10am - 5pm
STAGE STORMS
Yes…!!! We are excited to return NARNIA to the RAPA stage and for those that remember the first ever RAPA production of The Lion, The Witch and Wardrobe, will remember it with a smile as many of those students are now in the RAPA Ensemble. It’s such a fantastic piece for young performers to take to the stage with - drama and fantasy.
Production Dates:
GEMCO Theatre: Emerald
Friday 2nd December – Sunday 4th December
RAPA ENSEMBLE
It's a dark and stormy night, and you've been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well . . . dead. So whodunnit? Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, Clue is a madcap comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist.
After last years production was cancelled due to covid, the Rapa Ensemble just wanted to get down, get funny and get on stage. We’re going to have a ball with this production:
Production dates:
GEMCO Theatre: Emerald
Friday 2nd December – Sunday 4th December
FILMMAKING
THE SHUT-INS is an 8 part series to be written, directed, and performed by RAPA students in 2023. Students wishing to pitch their ideas for an episode have until JULY 31st to make their written submission.
IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD OF THIS INITIATIVE NOW IS THE TIME TO GET ON BOARD.
2022
LANTERN & LIGHT INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL
The festival is back and we are so delighted to s see so many submissions arriving both regionally and Internationally.
RAPA filmmakers are currently busy in production, some in post production, of their new short films.
Many of RAPA’s drama students have taken the opportunity to appear in some of our filmmakers films, and we will continue to encourage this cross- form experience.
SUBMISSIONS to the LLICFF close on AUGUST 26th 2022.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A RAPA STUDENT to submit a film to the festival so spread the word.
https://llicff.org.au/
https://filmfreeway.com/LanternandLightInternationalChildrensFilmFestival
LAST YEARS ONLINE AWARDS here:
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/727711120
OTHER
The RAPA board met early in July and we are delighted to announce that Poppy Adams has been appointed to the RAPA board. Poppy joined the RAPA board as our FReeZa - LGBTQI+ liaison person. Poppy is a student at Swinburne Film & Television and Poppy's appointment to the RAPA board is a direct outcome of our decision to include more young people on RAPA’s board.
Thankyou to each family for your continued encouragement and support of RAPA. We know we have work to do to achieve a full vision of an Academy of Performing Arts for kids in the Hills, but that work will only finally be realised by your support and the wonderful achievements we are seeing from RAPA students.
RAPA secured a three-year grant from FReeZA to run drama workshops for the 18-25-year-old age group. Establish a young persons event committee for teenagers that identify as belonging to the LGBTQI+ community and establish a young persons travelling film festival out of the LLICFF.
Young people do not have to be enrolled in RAPA to participate in the above initiatives. If you know anybody interested please ask them to contact us.
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2021
The LLICFF awards ceremony will be online for all to watch on Sunday 24th October.
Note: LLICFF sessions as advertised at the Cameo Cinema in Belgrave will go ahead on November 20th.
Here are the links to stream the LLICFF Online Awards Presentation plus the trailer!
https://www.facebook.com/
OR
https://www.facebook.com/
Trailer:
2021
Drama Ensemble, Filmmaking Collective, and DRAMA, DANCE and FILM MAKING classes will go ahead as soon as we are able to - pending restrictions.
We look forward to seeing RAPA students back on the creative boardwalk, and to the excitement of the works they will create.
2020
Dear families:
RAPA will be postponing all classes in response to the COVID-19 situation as follows:
FILMMAKING:
All filmmaking classes at the Belgrave library and Tin Shed are suspended for the rest of this term..
There are currently three very exciting and well developed screenplays by the students ready to go into production. Schedules are in place for those shoots. As the dates for those productions come closer we will consult with parents of the cast and crew of each film to determine together whether the shoots go ahead or are postponed.
Every film that has been conceived by the kids WILL GET MADE. If that means postponing the LLICFF festival itself then we shall do so. We may have to anyway. Please pass-on that information to your young filmmakers.
DRAMA
All drama classes at Tecoma Uniting Church hall are suspended for the rest of this term. Part of this decision is out of respect for the fact that there are many elderly people that use the same facility.
There are several one-act plays that have been developed within the ensemble group and we shall return to those asap. Some drama students are still writing and we welcome their contact with us via email for feedback on their plays.
The amazing Aardvarks have grown into a very exciting group of young performers and we were nearly ready to announce their 2020 production, that might now have to wait until we can all be together.
Cirque du Soleil
Doubly disappointing is that we were also planning a RAPA excursion for all our drama students to the Kurios show, with an extra special discount on tickets and backstage access. Oh well…we have been told that the company is looking at shows in Melbourne at the end of the year… we shall see.
FILM IN SCHOOLS
The RAPA/LLICFF Film In Schools program has been suspended until next term. The Lantern & Light International Children’s Film Festival will possibly be postponed until late September if the COVID-19 situation cancels the LLICFF going ahead on June 19/20/21. Or if festival director Rainsford Towner decides that our regional filmmakers, both within RAPA and all the 12 local schools need extra time. We thank our major sponsors: Bendigo Bank/Cameo Cinemas/Yarra Ranges Council, JOBY and O'sullivan & Ruffilli for their support.
RAPA
Our attitude to the COVID - 19 situation is that we feel it’s important for the mental welfare of kids to instil a sense of faith and optimism in them with a positive response toward things returning to normal at some time in the future. RAPA’S programs inspire students with creative hope.
Having said that we also believe there should be more determination from our leaders to inhibit the virus spread now rather than waiting for more cases. We would rather side with caution than see what has happened in Italy.
It will be our motivation to ensure that no student is disadvantaged by the inevitable disruptions coming.
With warmest regards,
RAPA board
Rainsford & Mary
LANTERN & LIGHT INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FILM FESTIVAL -
BELGRAVE CAMEO CINEMAS JUNE 19th,20th,21 JUNE 2020
2018 PRODUCTION NEWS:
RAPA'S 2018 STAGE & SCREEN event will be held at Burrinja Cultural Centre, main stage on Sunday November 25th.
It will include two amazing shows:
Drama group 1 : THE LAST DRAGON'S CHAIR a world premier performance of this new work.
Drama group 2 : ALICE IN STEAMPUNK LAND ( a distorted mix of Louis Carol's 'Alice in Wonderland' & Franz Kafka's 'Metamorphosis' )
DRAMA Excursion
Last year it was an amazing excursion to Her Majesties Theatre over the holidays for RAPA drama kids. They were given an exclusive tour of the backstage areas of Her Majesties Theatre where Disney's 'Alladin' was playing. They saw how the magic carpet operated and the massive sets, costumes, dressing rooms and even the technical complexities of the theatre. The drama kids were totally absorbed and amazing. Special thanks to Matthew Peckham, technical manager of Her Majesties for inviting RAPA. We are working on our 2018 excursion, stay tuned.
ACTING FOR STAGE AND SCREEN - on camera & on stage
An exciting 2 DAY workshop 'Acting for stage and screen' for ages 13-18 facilitated by RAPA Executive Director: Rainsford Towner.This workshop series will cover aspects of filmmaking and television production; developing on-camera acting skills as well as on-stage performance.
Email us for enquiries. LIMITED PLACES
RAPA VIMEO Channel for our young filmmakers.
Here are the links to the first films created by RAPA young filmmakers, each film was conceived and created by our youngest filmmakers. We are excited and very proud of their achievement. The films unified their creative voice as well as giving them practical experience and the confidence and trust to realise their vision.
"The Four Dreams"
When RAPA kicked off in Term 3 of 2016 as a not for profit organisation with a particular creative vision for The Hills youth, it was with a question that whilst we might have a specific vision for engaging youth in ways that embrace their authentic creative voice, will parents be interested in sharing that vision?
The answer has been YES. And we are so thankful that so many parents have taken the trouble to encourage and motivate us with their feedback and enthusiasm.
Open letter from Founder: 2016
Welcome, you are reading the first ever posting of a news item on RAPA's developing website.
I say developing because this current website design is a temporary (basic) one whilst we work on gaining the resources to develop a fully functional
contemporary website with Video Channels, download and upload functions, fully exploratory calendar of events, payment gateway etc.
It's an exciting time for kids in The Hills, we have started RAPA out of a pure need to establish a broad spectrum Academy
of the Arts for kids in The Hills and Yarra Valley region of Melbourne.
This year 2016 is really a build up year, preparing RAPA for a full program of activities for 2017.
AS we grow and develop the search for a permanent RAPA home will gain greater momentum, and we are pleased that a lot of
encouragement and support has been forthcoming from parents, schools and the wider community, and in particular I would like
to thank Cr Mike Clarke for his enthusiasm and support of this intiative.
In 2017 look out for DANCE RAPA where students choreograph and perform their own pieces.
Look out for RAPA YOUTH THEATRE, developed to give students everything they need to realise their own work,
from acting to directing and technical development in lighting and sound.
Look out for TED-I SLAM where Slam Poetry meets Spoken Word meets Video-Slam.
Look out for our RAPA FILMMAKERS movies on the big screen.
And of course all our regular weekly classes.
If RAPA is to be successful it will need the on-going warmth and generous patience and support of everyone interested in seeing
our young people accessing all of the above and more. The dream is that the work the current Board of Directors is doing
will create the foundation for an Academy of the Arts for generations of kids to come.
RAPA: Ranges Academy of Performing Arts is here.
Warmest regards,
Rainsford Towner
Executive Director & President
Ranges Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA) Inc.