Our
Story
From Harlington Drama Club to Gestalt
Harlington Drama Club was started in April 1988 by Andra Bishop, and has seen thousands of children take to the stage and grow in confidence from her direction and teaching. Andra had many of the award winning plays she wrote for young people published. Following her untimely passing in 2017, Harlington Drama Club was inherited by her daughter Natalie, who has rebranded the group to Gestalt - meaning, a oneness from many. Gestalt continues to offer the students in our community the opportunity to create, play and perform in a safe and structured environment.
About Gestalt
Who We Are
Gestalt's Artistic Director, Natalie Jeffs, has been teaching drama from the age of 16 alongside her mother who has been her greatest inspiration. Gestalt was created with a focus on the creative processes of devising and movement seeing the group receiving awards at multiple festivals for their work. Natalie herself has been awarded for her directorial vision and the creation of movement pieces within her productions, so Gestalt really does embody her passion, strengths and creativity in its practice and vision.
Natalie is Head of Drama at a local Bedfordshire school and has been a qualified teacher since 2006.
Choreographer
Emily Thornton-Greet
Emily has been dancing since the age of 3; choreographing dances for the village pantomime from 11. Whilst at dance college, she had the opportunity to perform on MOVE IT main stage, Hip Hop Unite UK and filmed as a stand in for All Stars dance off. Emily teaches a range of dance styles from hip hop and commercial to jazz and lyrical. She works with both young people and adults encouraging creativity, movement and a love of dance throughout.
What we do...
Gestalt Theatre offers opportunities for children, teenagers and adults through both Drama and Dance
Children's Theatre
We offer weekly sessions on Tuesdays, one for Lower School children and one for Middle School children. These sessions focus on improvisation, play and building confidence. We produce a summer Showcase for friends and family, and our students are offered the opportunity to perform in our annual village Pantomime. Groups have also performed within the local community at Fayres and celebratory days.
Youth Theatre
The Youth group meet on Sundays 6.30-8.00pm from January to July and then on Thursdays from September to December whilst we rehearse for our pantomime. The Youth group devises original work for performance within the local community and for Drama Festivals within the County. These devised performances have won awards from independent adjudicators over the years.
Gestalt Dance
Gestalt Dance offers classes for children of all ages, as well as a separate class for adults. These classes explore a variety of dance styles with the children's group taking a longer period to perfect complex routines for performances within our Showcase and local community. The adult group focus on weekly changing routines and styles to support busy lifestyles affecting weekly commitment. Dance classes are on Wednesday evenings, 5-7pm for children in the Village Hall and 7.30-8.30pm for adults in the Methodist Hall.
Gallery
"Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun."
Mary Lou Cook
Gestalt Theatre News
Media Buzz
Emily joins the team
Emily Thornton - Greet has been choreographing the dances in our annual pantomimes for years and is now working with the drama sessions to widen her skill base and to offer dance sessions on occasions we want to challenge our students further.
Harlington Pantomime rehearsals begin in September
Each year the children who are a part of Gestalt Children's and Youth Theatre take part in the annual village Pantomime with members of Harlington Performs. This year's production is OZ with our children playing the roles of Fairies, Munchkins, School Friends and Jitterbugs. You can see them acting, singing and dancing their way into the Christmas season.
Harlington Drama is 35 years old!
Previously Harlington Drama Club, Gestalt Theatre is now leading drama in the village for another year with us now reaching our 35th birthday! Thank you to all who continue to support and send their children to work with us.
Gestalt Youth Theatre is Back!
Running on Sunday evenings from 6.30-8pm January to July and then Thursdays 5.30 - 7pm September to December. Our youth group devise and create their own theatre for performances within the local community, Gestalt Showcases and local Drama Festivals. This group is open to 13-18 year olds.
