Walthamstow
Introduction to branch
Walthamstow is one of the WEA’s youngest branches, formed in 2005 but our roots go back much further. We originated as a WEA ‘affiliated body’ when classes were held at the Walthamstow Adult Education Centre in Greenleaf Road, formerly the Walthamstow Educational Settlement, and our links with the WEA go right back to 1922. WEA courses have been running in Walthamstow for many years.
Our Branch offers two quite different courses; a morning theatre studies class and an evening class which will continue the theme of London in the nineteenth century. These topics have been chosen after consultation with learners. The experienced tutors make the classes enjoyable and fun to learn with lots of participation. The venues are central and close to public transport. As well as classes there are outings and social activities in which all members can participate.
Equality and Diversity
We welcome new learners and are happy to give them information about our classes, locations and to make any arrangements we can to make access easy.The WEA is committed to promoting equality and diversity. We ask that students respect the views of others in the class. Our venues are accessible for people in wheelchairs or with mobiity needs and they are on public transport routes. Sometimes class members can help with transport as well. We can provide a hearing loop or large print handouts if you let you the tutor know your requirements.
If you feel anxious or need help in any way you should speak to the course tutor or class secretary who will be able to discuss your concerns sympathetically and support you in the class.
Courses
Our course programme is devised annually in consultation with learners, tutors and the committee with relevant advice from Region. Towards the end of each course the class discusses and decides which topics they'd like to study in the coming year and there is often a vote to arrive at the most popular. It is publicised in the WEA Brochure and also advertised widely in the borough in libraries, community and faith centres, walthamforest matters newspaper, and social groups.
Theatre Studies
We offer two classes; on Tuesday morning there is a class which examines different aspects of Theatre History. Over the last few years, topics have included ‘The Spanish Golden Age’, ‘The Moscow Arts Theatre,’ ‘Brecht and Beckett’ and ‘The Abbey Theatre from Yeats to Friel’. The group reads plays and discusses them in the context in which they were written and performed and in today’s context. Thomas Crowe, the tutor, is experienced in theatre studies and welcomes participation from the whole group.
Greek Theatre STARTS TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
Born in 465 BC, Sophocles wrote over a hundred plays. The Theban Plays comprise Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone. Each play is a classic model of what Tragedy means. The events play themselves out ruthlessly to their fatal conclusions. These Classical Greek plays have provided the structure for many of the world's greatest dramatists - Shakespeare and Beckett being but two. This course will explore how these plays function and how they each manage to deliver such powerful and emotional imagery to the audience. By exploring the translated scripts of these plays, reading extracts and discussing the plays in terms of dialogue, character and structure in a contemporary context students will gain an understanding of how Sophocles' plays might be staged and performed. No previous experience is necessary only an enthusiasm for studying the techniques and theory of theatre with others.
Classical French Drama STARTS TUESDAY 17 JANUARY
This course will consider plays written in France during the 17th and 18th century. During this period France's most famous playwrights, such as Corneille, Moliere, Racine, Marivaux and Beaumarchais were writing powerful theatrical dramas that built on classical models derived from the plays of Ancient Greece and Rome. We shall explore translated plays by these writers in order to see how they employ and revitalise forms of Tragedy, Comedy and Tragi-comedy. We shall consider what these forms consist of. Similarly we shall consider the verse, language and theatricality employed to great effect by these playwrights. This course will study how classic plays such as 'The Cid', 'Phedra' and 'Tartuffe' function and how they might be staged for a contemporary audience. We shall discuss the plays in terms of dialogue, character and structure, while also workshopping short extracts. No previous experience is necessary only an enthusiasm for studying the techniques and theory of theatre with others.
London History
On Tuesday evenings there is a history class with an emphasis on local and London history in the nineteenth century. History topics have ranged from Archaeology to ‘The history of the Lea Valley ’, from ‘History of immigration into London’ to ‘The English Civil War’ and we have even studied ‘Greek and Roman myths’. More recently we have looked at ‘Crime and Disorder in the nineteenth century’ and ‘The Impact of the First and Second World Wars on East London’. This topic especially gave learners a chance to bring in their own souvenirs of this time and share their experiences with our younger members.
London's Peoples STARTS TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
A Roman fort becomes a town, then a walled city: the impact of Anglo-Saxon, Viking, Norman invasions; rural migration in the medieval age; slavery, trade, industry and religion bring new faces to a London by 1800 both cosmopolitan and imperial.
London's Olympics 1908-2012 STARTS TUESDAY 17 JANUARY
This detailed critical comparison of the 2012 Olympics with the previous London hostings of 1908 and 1948 will also consider their cultural, social and economic impact on Londoners’ lives, using a range of contemporary images, documents,maps, radio and TV. Sometimes individuals carry out their own pieces of work which they can present to the group.
In the summer we run a number of one-off educational activities which are open to members of both classes. Not surprisingly the Theatre History class makes a theatre visit and the History class often makes a Museum visit. We have visited The Globe Theatre, the British Library and had a tour of the National Theatre. We also held a film show about the Lea River and the Thames.
In addition we hold a couple of well-attended socials where everyone gets a chance to continue the conversations we never finish in our class coffee breaks!
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Branch News
We have an active committee which meets regularly to review classes, approve finances, organise social and educational events and liaise with Region. We also attend Branch and Regional meetings. Recently we have met with the Local Authority and hope that our programme will be able support the LEA offer and vice versa.
MEMBERS VISIT TO OLYMPIC SITE
As Waltham Forest is an Olympic borough we are all interested to find out what is going on behind the blue fencing. We therefore were able to make a special visit recently when 30 members and friends were taken on a guided tour. We were able to see the progress made in building the velodrome and aquatics centre as well as the press centre and main stadium. The guide also told us aobut the mammoth undertaking to make the site as environmentally friendly as possible. This has included soil washing of many tonnes of contaminated soil, removal of Japanese knotweed and the planting of several hundred mature trees as well as recycling much of the timber and other materials found in the excavation. We were intrigued to learn about the Victorian cobbled street discovered beneath the present ground level as well as the Roman coins and evidence of Iron Age people. If you get a chance it's well worth taking this trip organised by the council and the Olympic committee.
Meetings No Meetings Listed
Local HistoryNo History Listed
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