News

YOUNG SINGER OF MANN 2016 - June 2016

Gale Force Theatre School were delighted to learn that one of their ex-pupils EVAN DARROCH had entered the first round of the 2016 Young Singer of Mann Competition and had reached the Final!The Final was held at the Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin on Sunday 19th June and from 8 other Finalists Evan was awarded Second Place much to the excitement of his Parents and family.Evan and his sister Amelia were dedicated Members of the Theatre Group up to the closing of the school in 2014 after 25 years but they were also Private Pupils of Director Mrs Barbs Gale who, needless to say, is SO proud to hear of this terrific success! She is quoted as saying “whilst sometimes coming second can seem a little disappointing it just means there is still room for even more success and with such a beautiful voice that Evan has, more and more rewards are sure to come his way!!”

GALE FORCE “SWEEP” THE BOARD

Gale Force Theatre School Students have just received their results from their recent exams and all 12 students have received DISTINCTION!!!

English Speaking Board (UK) sent Examiner Mrs Georgina Marland to the Island to put the students through their paces and each exam had three elements, public Speaking, poetry from memory and reading from a favourite book, the passage being chosen by the Examiner! Mrs Marland pronounced herself ‘utterly delighted and charmed’ by the work she saw and felt sure these students would continue to keep this very high standard of work going as they had such an inspirational tutor in Mrs Barbs Gale, of course both Mrs Gale and her students had no idea what results they had achieved till now!

Mrs Gale had been the Founder and inspiration behind GALE FORCE THEATRE SCHOOL which had been born and bred in St Johns and Peel for 25 years, when it closed its doors in 2014, but Mrs Gale was persuaded to still teach privately on a one-to-one basis and prepare students for exams and to participate in the Manx Music Festival. After the sudden death of her husband 15 months ago Mrs Gale felt she was unable to carry on but rallied by such kind help from both Parents and Senior students, we see these efforts have brought their rewards this week.

Aged from as young as 7 years old to 17 years these students, despite in some cases, battling with GCSE exams and ‘AS’ levels as well as ‘mocks’, have studied hard and produced some of the most moving and well-presented work possible.

Celebrations will continue for a few days and then after the Summer break they will begin to prepare for the next set of exams and also for their ‘Guild’ pieces. Barbara said ‘The work is on-going, it moves from one grade to the next, always trying to present the best work we can, luckily this time all their efforts hit the right spot at the right time on the right day! I am SO proud of them all!’

GALE FORCE ESB RESULTS 2016

Junior Introductory:

Fern Corlett PEEL
Aidan Vogelzang BALLASALLA

Junior One:

Jayne Cleator MAROWN
Scarlett McKenna DOUGLAS

Senior One:

Giles Beaumont FOXDALE
Rosie Hind KIRK MICHAEL
John Keig COLBY
Erica Elvezia DOUGLAS
Valentina Elvezia DOUGLAS

ACSE (Advanced Certificate in Spoken English)

Timmy Chan ST.MARKS

ACLA (Advanced Certificate in Language Arts)

erena Bennett PORT ERIN

ALL STUDENTS ACHIEVED DISTINCTION .........90%

MANX MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016

Despite any rumours to the contrary Mrs Barbs Gale is still teaching, although the Gale Force Theatre School itself closed after 25 years, she continues on a ‘one to on’ basis, both in Drama and solo singing and her pupils recently entered for the 2016 “GUILD” with great success.

SATURDAY 23rd APRIL Songs from the Musicals under 18

BETH COLGAN 86 Marks (4th Place out of 30 competitors)

MONDAY 25th APRIL: Girls Solo Years 1-3

FERN CORLETT 83 Marks (first time in the Guild!)
MIKE BONHAM Reading at Sight (Years 10-13) 86 marks
MIKE BONHAM Spoken Word (Years 11-13) 86 marks

TUESDAY 26th APRIL:

JOHN KEIG Spoken Word (Years 7&8) 84 marks
BETH COLGAN Character Study (Years9-11) 86 marks

WEDNESDAY 27th APRIL

AIDAN VOGELZANG Spoken Word (year2) 82 marks (first time!)
JOHN KEIG Public Speaking (Years 7&8) 87 (DISTINCTION&3rd)

THURSDAY 28th APRIL

JAYNE CLEATOR Spoken Word (year 3) 86 marks
FERN CORLETT Spoken Word (year 3) 85 marks
SCARLETT McKENNA Spoken Word (year 4) 85 marks

FRIDAY APRIL 29th

MIKE BONHAM Public Speaking (years 9-13) 86(3rd place)
JOHN KEIG Original Composition (up to year 11) FIRST
MIKE BONHAM Original Composition (up to year 11) SECOND

SATURDAY 30th APRIL

JAYNE CLEATOR Girls Solo in MANX (up to year 10) 82
SCARLETT McKENNA Girls Solo in MANX (up to year 10) 82

(accompanied by RICHARD CORLETT)

Bill Gale - December 2014

Bill Gale We’re very sorry to share that Barbara’s love of many years, husband Bill passed away in December 2014 following a short illness.

He was undoubtedly her number one supporter, driver, chief cook and bottle washer and he will be greatly missed.

Exciting Exam Results - September 2014

NEW ERA EXAMS: ADJUDICATOR: CLAIRE O’BRIEN

Gale Force pupils under the directorship of Mrs Barbara Gale have just received their latest exam results and the celebrations will now begin!!

Giles Beaumont was awarded the highest marks of the exam weekend by obtaining 90 marks, a Distinction, for his talk on his ‘magic tricks’, which he has learnt and performed all over the Island and which totally enthralled the Examiner Claire O’Brien.

Then closely followed by Michael Bonham who is the first ever student to be entered and then awarded a Bronze Medal, (Grade 6), for his ‘Reading in Public and Sight Reading’ which featured ‘Cider with Rosie’ and other works by Laurie Lee and the poems of John Betjamin. Michael obtained 86 marks and Distinction.

First timer, Aidan Vogelzang, Age 5, took ‘Reading in performance’, and also gained 86 marks, after never having taken an exam before, what a terrific result too!!

FULL RESULTS ARE:

Giles Beaumont           Devised Drama        80/ DISTINCTION

Barton Beaumont        Public Speaking        80/ DISTINCTION
                                 Grade 3

Giles Beaumont Speech and drama 90/ HONOURS

Timmy Chan Duologues 77/ MERIT

Barton Beaumont        Grade one

Michael Bonham          Performance reading 86/ DISTINCTION
                                 Grade 6 Bronze Medal

Timmy Chan               Performance reading 76/ MERIT
                                 Grade 2

Serena Bennett Musical Theatre 72/ MERIT
Grade 3

Beth Colgan Musical Theatre 86/ DISTINCTION
Grade 5

Jasmine Cowan Musical Theatre 77/ MERIT
Grade 3

Michael Bonham Public Speaking 80/ DISTINCTION
Grade 4

Matthew Unsworth Duologues 78/ MERIT

Serena Bennett          Grade 3

John Keig                   Performance reading 78/ MERIT

Aidan Vogelzang        Performance reading
                                Introductory               86/ DISTINCTION

Not all pupils were available to take this set of exams but all are working towards ESB exams in March 2015 and further New Era exams in June 2015.

Mrs Gale is VERY proud of these pupils and all celebrations feature 100’s of ‘Smarties’ and Ice Cream!!

Winner of the Bronze Medal and two Distinctions at the latest exams SEPT 2014...............Michael Bonham.

The very first Duo to enter the Duologue exam for Grade 3, which is for age 12+ ...... Serena Bennett and Matthew Unsworth.

Winners with Merit in first ever Duologue exams - Timmy Chan and Barton Beaumont.

Giles Beaumont who earned two Distinctions in latest exams one with 90%, the highest marks of the whole exam day!

Barbara Gale: in business and in demand

The curtain may have come down on Gale Force theatre school after 25 successful years, but its founder and director Barbara Gale is very much in business and in demand.

She and her team of supporters and volunteers have just completed the 2014 Gale Force summer school: five days of singing, dancing, music making and recitation classes interspersed with educational visits to places of interest around the Island, with the theme throughout the week firmly on Manx history and heritage and, for this year, a special focus on the First World War.

Mrs Gale said: ‘This was our 10th summer school and as always the emphasis was on Island life and culture, all the more so this year as we celebrate Island of Culture 2014. The week went extremely well, thanks in no small part to some of my stalwart former Gale Force members, such as Moira Pain, Katie Colgan and Matthew Unsworth, acting as volunteers and chaperones, and the warmth of welcome we received everywhere we visited. Special thanks must go to the Douglas horse tram team for being so helpful and making our visit so informative, and similarly to Manx Museum and the Manx Aviation and Military Museum at Ronaldsway. The children had a great time – and so did the adults – and we all learned a lot.

‘Every year the school attracts both local and visiting children, which makes for a good mix, and we were blessed with fine weather on our two days out. Everything we do throughout the week is fun, but at the same time the sessions are always run to a strict timetable and discipline remains paramount.’

The group took a trip on a Douglas horse tram, visited the tramway stables, saw the memorial to the Summerland disaster in the Kaye Memorial Garden and learned of its significance, spent time at the Manx Museum and the Manx Aviation Museum and enjoyed a journey on the steam railway, while day two saw them in Mooragh Park in Ramsey.

Prizewinners from the last afternoon session:-

Matthew Unsworth - the Lady New 25th Anniversary Trophy
Beth Colgan - the Bowring Trophy
Amelia and Evan Darroch - the Matthews Plate

Outside of the summer school Mrs Gale continues to tutor four to 16-year-olds, as well as adults, in performance, public-speaking, reading and confidence-building skills. ‘With an unrivalled success rate born out of 27 years of teaching experience, not one student, adult or child, has ever failed an examination for which I have tutored them,’ said Mrs Gale, who added that she is regularly in demand as an after dinner/lunch speaker and for adjudicating speech competitions.

‘And in between all that I’m busy writing my memoirs…I’ve worked with so many wonderful people, enjoyed performing on stage, won trophies galore and my treasured four Cleveland medals and had 25 fabulous years leading Gale Force, so there’s many a tale to be told.’

To contact Barbara Gale call 496556 or email galeb@manx.net

SENIORS ENTERTAIN AT IOMTWG: 23/07/2014

Gale Force Seniors came from all parts of the Island to entertain at the invitation of the Towns Woman’s Guild at St Andrews Church on Wednesday July 23rd, in fact some have come from all ports of the UK too, with Richard Corlett home from Plymouth University where he is studying to become a teacher, and Moira Pain home from Dundee University where she is studying medicine.

Pupils had chosen WW1 as their theme and had researched songs, readings and poems, with as diverse personalities as Rudyard kipling to ‘Woodbine Willy’ and from Emily Pankhurst to Ivor Novello.

Their Tutor Barbs Gale put the concert together but unfortunately Barbs was ill on the day having contracted conjunctivitis but was confident that all her Seniors would ‘carry on regardless’ and they certainly did! Jo Colgan was able to make Mrs Gales apologies and take photos of the students in action to show Barbs just how good they all were!!

A lovely supper was arranged for all, after Richard had lead everyone in the famous WW1 songs ‘ Tipperary’ and ‘Pack up your Troubles’ very ably accompanied by Clive Davenport.

Mrs Gale was heartbroken not to have been there especially as her students always make her SO proud but hopefully Christmas will see them all re-united again in Peel for Concerts and a few celebrations.

Those taking part were Richard Corlett, Moira Pain, Matthew Unsworth, Beth Colgan, Katie Colgan, Maebh Worthing, Erica Elvezia, Lauren Whitfield and Jasmine Cowan who studies her music with John Elliot and Drama with Mrs Gale.

NEWSLETTER - MAY/JUNE 2014

Since the wonderful results of the Manx Music Festival 2014 it’s been a very busy few weeks for our students.

GCSE exams, ‘A’ level exams and ‘mock’ exams have dominated the time of the Senior Students, Maebh Worthing, Matthew Unswworth, Katie Colgan, Jasmine Conway and Nikil John with Michael Bonham, Serena Bennett and Erica Elvezia all coping with school exams to determine their GCSE ‘options’.

Young Singer of Man, round One saw Maebh Worthing and Katie Colgan battling for a final place. The completion began on May 10th 2014 at the Erin Arts Centre with 30 young singers competing for just 8 final places, sadly Katie didn’t make it this year after a beautiful performance but better news for Maebh who was chosen and had to prepare a 10 minute programme for June 15th for the Final. The 8 singers enthralled the five Adjudicators with their programme with the final winner being Christian Cooper, giving an amazing and emotional performance to take the title ‘Young Singer of Mann 2014’ but as Chairman of the Adjudicators, John Bethell MBE said “ It was one of the very best finals we have enjoyed and the decision was a very difficult one, with all 8 singers giving a very high standard of performance indeed”.

Elsewhere on the island young Gale Force members have been preparing for their moves to Secondary School in September by preparing and performing in end of term plays and musicals, Rosie Hind at Kirk Michael School, John Keig at Arbory School and Amelia Darroch at the Buchan School John was busy at the traditional ‘Laa Collumb Killey’ with poems and country dancing, Rosie is appearing in ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ as Truly Scrumptious and Amelia Darroch has just given two superb performances as ‘Nancy’ in a modern version of ‘Oliver’ entitled ‘TWIST’ at the Buchan outdoor Theatre (see photo).

Evan Darroch (photo below - left), winner of the boys solo at the Guild, won the Vocal prize at the Buchan Founders Day together with the Ambassador Prize for Form One and Amelia Darroch (below - right) won a very big and impressive trophy for the Science Prize.

All students from age 4 to our seniors age 19+ are now preparing for two Summer Concerts, namely, July 6th a ‘Summer Concert of Music and Verse’ at Peel Methodist Chapel at 3pm and a WWOne ‘themed’ Concert for the IOM TWG on July 23rd at St Andrews Church.

Our usual SUMMER SCHOOL will be held 11-15 AUGUST when students will study for 5 days all aspects of ‘Theatre’ as well as having lots of fun and presenting a Concert on the final afternoon written and devised by themselves.

As always any news/pictures/results from any of our students can be sent to Director Barbs Gale for inclusion on the next Newsletter.

Manx Music and Drama Festival 2014

FRIDAY 25TH APRIL

Barton Beaumont Instrumental Brass Solo:   94 marks
Erica Elvezia:       Popular Standard Song:   80 marks
Jasmin Cowin       Popular Standard Song:   81 marks
Lauren Whitfield   Popular Standard Song:   84 marks

SATURDAY 26TH APRIL

Maebh Worthing       Folk Song Years 9 to 13 87 (2nd Prize)
Erica Elvezia             Folk Song Years 9 to 13       84 marks
Erica Elvezia             Songs from the Musicals       83 marks
Jasmin Cowin       Songs from the Musicals        84 marks

SUNDAY 27TH APRIL

Lauren Whitfield       Solo Year 11 to under 26   85 (3rd Prize)

MONDAY 28th APRIL

Evan Darroch       Boys Solo years 1-4             88 (1ST Prize)
                          (HUDSON COWIN CUP)
Katie Colgan           Girls Sol years 11-13             87 (2nd Prize)
                              (NOAH MOORE SCHOLARSHIP)
Jasmin Cowin           Girls Solo years 11-13          86 marks

Matthew Unsworth   Bible Reading years 9-13   ??(1st Prize)
                               (Evelyn Barwell Memorial Cup)
Serena Bennett       Bible Reading years 9-13 ?? marks
Maebh Worthing       Bible Reading years 9-13 ?? marks

Matthew Unsworth   Spoken Word years 9-10    ?? (1st Prize)
                               (The Sara May Cup)
Michael Bonham       Spoken Word years 9-10 ?? marks

Serena Bennett       Reading at Sight years 7-9 ?? marks
Michael Bonham       Reading at Sight years 7-9 ?? marks

Maebh Worthing       Shakespeare years 10-13   85 marks
Matthew Unsworth   Shakespeare years 10-13   84 marks

Maebh Worthing       Reading at Sight years 10-13   ??marks
Matthew Unsworth   Reading at Sight years 10-13   ?? marks

Serena Bennett&
Matthew Unsworh   Duologue years 9-13          83 marks

TUESDAY 29TH APRIL

Beth Colgan       Character Study years 7-8      87 marks
Beth Colgan       Spoken Word years 7-8          87 marks
Maebh Worthing   Character Study years 9-11   88 (2nd Prize)
Serena Bennett    Character Study years 9-11   86 (4th Prize)

WEDNESDAY 30TH APRIL

James Gale           Spoken Word year 2           87 marks
Rosie Hinds           Reading from the Bible       87 (3rd Prize)
Rosie Hinds&
Amelia Darroch       Duologue up to year 6        86 marks
Rosie Hinds           Public Speaking up to 6       88 (1ST Prize)
   (The Courage Trophy)/First recipient of this award)
Barton Beaumont    Public Speaking years 7-8   84 marks

THURSDAY 1ST MAY

Maebh Worthing      Girls Solo years 9-10       85 (2ND Prize)
Evan Darroch          Spoken Word year 3       88 (2ND Prize)
Rosie Hinds           Spoken Word year 6       87 (2ND Prize)
Amelia Darroch       Spoken Word year 6       86 (3RD Prize)
John Keig                Spoken Word year 6       84

FRIDAY 2ND MAY

Timmy Chan       Boys Solo year 7+              87 marks
Amelia Darroch    Character Study Year 6       86 marks
John Keig           Character Study Year 6       83 marks
Michael Bonham   Public Speaking years 9-13 ?? marks

Erica Elvezia and her father Gianni who made a fab duo at the guild in the Folk Song Class for school year 9+ where Erica sang accompanied by her father on the guitar: 86 marks

Evan Darroch winning the boy's solo years 1-3 and he was 2nd in the poem for year 3 with 88 marks.

Rosie Hinds with Drama Adjudicator Tish Nicol winning the Public Speaking Year 6 with a brand new Trophy the 'Courage Shield' donated anonomously!!

ISLAND YEAR OF CULTURE 2014.

The Gale Force accepted an invitation to join the IOM Wind Orchestra for a Concert at the QE2 School on Friday April 1st and everyone present had a great time!

(Photo above) Gale Force members with Barbs Gale who attended the Concert with IOM Wind Orchestra 01/04/14 at QE2 school, absent from the picture are young members James Gale and Jayne Cleator who had left after the first half.

Many of the Orchestra Members had not seen or heard Gale Force before and seemed delighted, as did the audience by their singing in Manx, their Manx poetry and stories and some beautiful flute playing by Rosie Hind who accompanied the ‘Force’.

Two young members were making their debut for the first time, James Gale and Jayne Cleator with debut for Gale Force but well known performer John Keig, age 11, telling everyone in Peel to be careful about the ‘Morddey Dhoo’!

Joining the Seniors, home from University, were Richard Corlett and Moira Cain, who very bravely sang solo with the Orchestra and joined Members of the Orchestra for the Community Songs all under the baton of Conductor Paul Dunderdale.

(Photo above) Moira Pain and Richard Corlett performing for Gale Force on 01/04/14 with IOM Wind Orchestra.

Gale Force wish to express their sincere thanks to the Orchestra for their invitation and for a lovely evening, with grateful thanks to their Chairman Michael Morrison for all the arrangements and publicity.

MAEBH WORTHING GETS TO ‘TRING’ !!!!!!!!!

Maebh Worthing from Surby, near Port Erin has been awarded a place at the well known, well-established, ‘Tring Park’, one of the UK’s leading performing Arts Schools……………..and she worked her socks off to get it!!

Maebh spent weeks with tutors Barbs Gale, Wendy Sutcliffe, Pippa Salter, Marie-Louise Britz, and Kim Ismay to perfect her acting, singing and dance, had all the pieces recorded, videoed and all this whilst preparing for her GCSE’s at KWC and all filmed during the Half Term break………………..we then had 8 weeks long, stressful wait for a reply, not an easy time for anyone……………..when the reply came in early January……………….she was in!!!

Maebh packs her bags and sets off for Tring in September but not before sittings her GCSE’s, taking part in the Guild, and entering ‘Young Singer of Mann’………………does this girl ever have a free weekend…………….NO! She is totally dedicated to a life in Performing Arts and is following in the footsteps of Julie Andrews, Jane Seymour and Sarah Brightman to name but 3 famous ‘Tring’ successful students!!

Maebh has studied with Gale Force Director Mrs Barbs Gale since she was 5 and both Barbs and all members of the ‘force’ are SO excited for this wonderful opportunity so well deserved and shows, hard work and dedication really does pay dividends.

E.S.B. Exam results/ Spring Term/ 2014.

Barton Beaumont  Senior One  DISTINCTION
Giles Beaumont  Senior Intro MERIT PLUS
Serena Bennett  Senior Proficiency DISTINCTION
Kirsten Bennett  Speaking and Listening Skills DISTINCTION
Timmy Chan  Senior Two    DISTINCTION
Beth Colgan  Senior Two    DISTINCTION
Evan Darroch  Junior One    DISTINCTION
Amelia Darroch  Junior Medallion   DISTINCTION
Rosie Hind  Junior Medallion   DISTINCTION
Nikil Joseph John Senior Proficiency MERIT PLUS
Adam Morton  Senior Intro   DISTINCTION
Emily Unsworth  Senior Intro   DISTINCTION
Matthew Unsworth Senior Proficiency DISTINCTION

New Era Exam results /Spring Term/2014.

John Keig  Reading Prelimiary MERIT
Evan Darroch  Reading Transition DISTINCTION
Amelia Darroch  Reading Grade 1  DISTINCTION
Timmy Chan  Reading Grade 1  MERIT
Emily Unsworth  Reading Grade 1  MERIT
Matthew Unsworth Reading Grade 5  DISTINCTION
Rosie Hind  Reading Grade 1  DISTINCTION
Valentina Elvezia Reading Grade 1  MERIT
Erica Elvezia  Musical Theatre Grade 5 PASS
Beth Colgan  Musical Theatre Grade 3 MERIT
Michael Bonham  Reading Grade 5  MERIT
Serena Bennett  Reading Grade 5  DISTINCTION
Nikil Joseph John Reading Grade 5  DISTINCTION

It should be noted that ALL grades of Reading Exams involved sight-Reading of Prose and Poetry and the Musical Theatre exams involved movement/acting/interviews.