CARING FOR THE YOUNG ONES

I guess everyone is familiar with the classic W C Fields comment

“never work with children and dogs”.

Well, we do all the time, with children anyway. Yes, they may steel the limelight, but the wonderful expressions on their faces when they are absorbed by what they are witnessing more than compensates.

One incident I will never forget was during our performance of “The Gingerbread Man” to a nursery group. Midway into the play the Gingerbread Man says he is hungry and desperate for something to eat. “Why don’t you eat yourself” a bright four-year-old calls out. I defy any actor not to corpse at that one.

Since I have started with Gingerbread Man or “GINGER” as he is affectionately known, I will stick with him.

Of course, to the echo of his famous rhyme, he is forever running away to find a better home. He meets many interesting characters, not all as friendly as he would wish, and eventually outwits the cunning fox who we all know was intent on eating him but, importantly, he makes it back home safe and sound.

So, there you have it, “BE HAPPY WITH YOUR LOT”. As a Theatre in Education Company, we are delivering a strong message, albeit in a light-hearted, fun-filled way with stacks of humour, music, songs and audience participation.

Before you go, take a look at some pictures from the play,

Albert……

KEEPING THE LITTLE ONES SAFE

A while back I said I would tell you more about what we have for the younger children. I was referring to Nursery, Reception and Key Stage One; those ranging from two to seven.

I seem to recall mentioning in the past that much is made of “ELF & SAFETY”, and that it mainly applied to adults and work places.

I firmly believe more attention is needed to protect the young ones from the dangers inherent in the home, the road and outdoors generally.

To this end, we have written a 55 minutes interactive play “BILLY BEWARE!”.

It is our eponymous hero’s 6^th birthday and he manages to get himself in a right pickle with just about everything he tries to do.

Fortunately, his mother is there to help him, and he emerges unscathed from his various escapades.

Please take a look at the play under PRODUCTIONS where you will find a good deal of information, many pictures and commendations.

As with all our plays for the very young, there is much humour, songs, music and audience participation. But we never lose sight of the important message being conveyed.

Here are some sketches and pictures from the show.

Until next time,

Albert…..

DOING OUR BIT

Here is an easy question.

What is in the news every day?

You got it.

“GLOBAL WARMING”

Since this is not just the flavour of the month, but something rather serious that should concern us all, Aesop’s Touring Theatre Company has produced a play for the primary age range vividly explaining the part we all can play in combating this threat.

“Robin Hood Rescues the Forest”

is a 75 minutes interactive play that tackles the need to protect the environment with strong messages delivered in a light-hearted, fun-filled way. Put simply, Prince John has decided to burn down Sherwood Forest to rid it finally of outlaws. Yes, he is quite mad, as the audience quickly point out, but that will not deter him.

All the legendary Robin Hood characters are portrayed in costume and the audience become part of the action, joining in with the humour, songs and music. Some lucky ones get to display their skills with a spot of Morris Dancing.

Bookings for this new production have exceeded our expectations. I urge you to get on board.

Until next time with more popular shows, some pictures from the production, Albert….

MUCH MORE THAN JUST ENTERTAINMENT

Aesop’s Touring Theatre Company (ATTC) does not just entertain, it would be better described with the words “in education” inserted before Company if it were not too much to inscribe on the logo.

 Yes, of course we do entertain, as there is no better way to hold an audience than to keep them spellbound and alert, particularly the really young ones.

 BUT, the most important part of what we set out to achieve is assisting teachers in the learning process.

 Theatre in Education is a tool to be used skillfully. Every play we produce and every workshop we conduct has that vital element necessary to make the learning process both interesting and enjoyable.

 Our performances for the juniors are linked to the National Curriculum and, as such, fully researched for accuracy of content. For the nursery and infants there is always an important message, albeit delivered in a light-hearted, fun-filled way.

 Over the next few weeks, I will show examples of what we have in store for the Nursery, Infant and Junior age groups some of which may appeal to the young seniors but, until then some more pictures.

 Albert….

LET’S ALL JOIN IN

Whilst 95% of what we do is in schools for nursery, infant, junior and occasionally senior audiences, we do also perform in theatres, village halls, conference centres and at parties in homes and gardens: well, just about anywhere really.

What’s interesting is it’s not just the kids that are entertained: parents, teachers and adults in general enjoy the shows. When booking a repeat performance for the following term, it is heartening to hear a teacher say “I cannot wait to see it again. I was enthralled just as much as the children, and at times could not stop laughing”.

Well, we do put a good deal of humour into our productions, particularly if we are dealing with a dark subject like “World War II”, or “Plagues and Pestilence”, or “Great Fire of London”. It is important to hold the audience and this is very much our forte.

However, we never lose sight of the fact we are a “Theatre in Education” company and, as such, we always ensure our plays and workshops are fully researched for accuracy of content. Of course, as in any professional production there is room for some poetic licence.

Next time I will tell you about other areas we cover but, until then, I will endeavour to find some amusing scenes from past performances.

Albert…..

ACADEMIES - TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

That is one helluva question!

Thankfully, I am not qualified to pass judgement. But, then again, I would not need to be qualified to teach in one. How crazy is that!

I have spoken to many teachers and learnt that before Covid struck, the emphasis was on reducing the teaching age. With salaries on an incremental scale determined by age, I guess that made sense if you were looking to cut costs and who wouldn't be!

Of course, Covid knocked that on the head with so many teachers being taken ill and schools having to close as a result. So now there is a real shortage of "proper" teachers and, thankfully if only temporarily, the age bar has been lifted.

So, what has all this to do with Aesop's Touring Theatre Company you ask.

Well, accepting the initial concept that an academy was a euphemism for a failed school, since extended to include any that wish to adapt, the real area of concern is the ability to choose what to teach and what is of no importance or too expensive to continue.

Now I believe you can see where I am heading.

With pastoral care on the increase, dare I suggest partly through parents obviating their duties, but largely because of the increase in mental health problems brought about by the pandemic, the cost of such provision is astronomical when compared to basic teaching. To this must be added the provision for "special needs".

Since academies have the legal right to stray from the National Curriculum, guess what is the first thing to suffer.

Of course, the arts, because they are not recognized as being more than a luxury.   

How wrong can that be? What about social intercourse? What better way to bring together a bunch of kids than to develop their creative skills, to assist them in working as a team during a drama workshop. 

Our experience spans the past 25 years and, if there is one thing we have learnt, it is that every child should have the opportunity for self expression, to develop self esteem and portray their often hidden abilities.    

This is what THEATRE IN EDUCATION offers, a platform for the future. Please do not deny our future generations that opportunity.

Okay, I will now get off my platform and find some more pictures for you.

Once more, Albert.....

MANY STRINGS TO OUR BOW!

 On many occasions I have told you about our Plays and Drama Workshops, but are you aware of what more we can offer?

We all know there is a dearth of opportunity to study drama in schools. How many can afford a full time Drama Teacher?

Invariably, it falls upon one or more teachers to fill in when it is time for the end of year or Christmas production.

Since they all have more than enough on their plates, we are at the ready to step in and ensure whatever you have in mind will be a huge success,

and remembered for a long time after the event.

Our actors are not only skilled performers, they also have vast experience in producing and directing plays. We compose music, choreograph movements, create sets, costumes and props and deal with the myriad of requirements to achieve a polished performance.

If you are thinking of the next school play, give me a call and discover what we can offer.

As usual, I will leave you now with a picture or two.

Until next time, Albert.....  

LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR

Whilst we are all set for some hard earned holiday time, we are also busy planning for the next school year.

The experience we have gained over the past 24 years has taught us that it is not enough to just get up and perform for, as much as the children and teachers enjoy it, there is the need for some active hands on to ensure our messages get across.

The children love the excitement of live performances and never more so than when they feel part of it.

The emphasis today is for participation and interaction. Whenever possible, we will conduct one or more Drama Workshops as adjuncts to our plays. By watching the children enact their own pieces from what we have shown them we are assured a lesson has been learnt. Moreover, the feedback from the teachers clearly shows our visit has been worthwhile.

Not all our Drama Workshops are allied to our portfolio of plays. We have very many we conduct to emphasize a specific subject being taught. For example, we recently conducted a number on "The Black Death and Great Fire of London". Prior to those, we covered some Shakespeare works and excited the children with our "World War I" study. These are just a few of the many we have researched and produced. And, we are still adding more. In fact, just suggest a subject and we will rise to the occasion.  

As tea time is fast approaching, I will leave you now as ever with some more pictures.

Until next time, Albert........