SUMMER IS FAST FADING

Well! We should not be complaining about the weather this year. The hotest July and probably August in most people's memories. Here at ATTC we were able to perform a number of outdoor shows with good size audiences. We even had the pleasure of the Lady Mayor of Sevenoaks attend on a couple of occaasions to the delight of our Gingerbread Man. Our environmental play "Robin Hood Rescues the Forest" was perfect for peforming outdoors in readily created settings. We will soon be packing away the gazebo as we prepare for a full season of performances in school halls. But, if the warm weather continues, hopefully, some of them will be on school fields and in playgrounds. As another string to our bow, we assist schools with their own Christmas productions, and it is a true delight seeing the excitement and devotion as progress is made towards the real live performances by the children. After the disruption to education over the past couple of years we hope the recognition of the value of Theatre in Education has not been lost. I expect the next crises will be the cost of fuel to heat the schools during the winter months. I am always hearing about stretched budgets from head teachers and the impact that has on learning and in particular the arts. We can only hope the government will do more than pay lip service, and come up with some substantial financial help. Here at Aesop's Theatre we are keeping bright and cheery in anticipation of a full programme of performances during this fothcoming school year. Enough for now, Until next time......Albert.

READY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR

We performed our last play for this school year today and the kids in Bromley loved the Gingerbread Man. Actually, we are not quite finished yet as we are performing it again tomorrow afternoon for an SEN group in Surrey. After that, one or two August bookings before we have our annual break-not that it will be anything special this year, what with the problems travelling. Thankfully, we have nothing booked that can go wrong, and will most probably stick with the UK, fuel prices permitting! I shall keep my mobile close by as, from past experience, we tend to get a flurry of enquiries as the new school year approaches. I sometimes wonder if teachers are taken by surprise when they have to return to school. I certainly was as a school kid. Sadly, and in keeping with everything else, we have been obliged to increase our fees, albeit modestly and, as we have always promised, we will respond to cries for help where funding is tight. Enough about us, let's hear from you out there. Tell us through our contact page what is occuring in your neck of the woods. Or send me an email to info@aesopstheatre.co.uk or a text or call to 07836 731872. You may even access us through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter etc. We would dearly love to hear from you. That's it for now. Be back soon, Albert.....

INTERESTING TIMES!

It is not only about education.We can offer far more. For example, take the last couple of weeks. I Jubilee Celebration booking, a Peter Pan workshop and a Midsummer's Night fun adaptation for the little ones. All these came at once and we were busy writing scripts, devising scenes, creating characters and rehearsing lines. The aim was to ensure we gave our clients performances that would be remembered and acted out by the children many more times. All this and still we were conducting Drama Workshops and performing our Popular Plays. As we approach the end of the school year, we are ready for a surge in bookings now we are learning to live with Covid. I will be manning the phones and checking the emails to ensure nothing passes us by. Despite rising costs, particularly in travelling, we intend to remain competitive and will not be beaten on price or value. I will leave you now with a glimpse of waht we have achieved this month. Until next time, Albert....

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

We had a monor hiccup. Not sure if you are aware, but something called COVID hit us badly. In fact, it can truly be said we earned a rather long holiday while schools were opening and shutting and everyone (apart from one person I need not name) was following ever more complex and misconstrued regulations and rulings. Fair to say, the country was in chaos. This said, however, Aesop's Touring Theatre Company was determined to keep going and that is what we did. Through thick and thin and with little financial help, we managed to keep our heads above water. Well, thankfully that is all now behind us and we are back in full swing. We have created many new Drama Workshops and with the Jubilee celebrations coming up, we are taking many bookings. 20th Century Monarchs is typical of the enquiries we have been receiving and this month has been our busiest since before the pandemic began. With the present emphasis on being "green" and protecting the environment, our ecological play "Robin Hood Rescues the Forest" has come to the fore. I will leave you now with some pictures from that production. Back with you soon, Albert.....

A LONG LONG WAIT

Schools are back but, sadly, live theatre is still being viewed with caution. The enquiries are coming in and so are a few bookings, but we are a long way from normality. There is a real reluctance to commit this term although Summer is looking more hopeful. I have to leave for a little while, but will be back to add more soon: Until shortly, Back now, Couldn't let lunch get cold. Now where was I? Oh yes, complaining as usual. Not all is bad though. We have done some pre-recorded shows online, and some interactive presentations and these have kept the momentum going as well as the wolves from the door. We have also used the lull to add to our Workshops repertoire. Until things get back into full swing, I will leave you with a an image from our production "World War II" as it seems appropriate in Covid times!!!

Albert....

WELL IT NEVER DID HAPPEN!

Can it really have been five months since I last posted a blog? Yes, sadly because I have had nothing cheery to write about. However, I am using a different computer, not new, but certainly more modern than the old steam model I have used hitherto. Of course, that in itself presented numerous problems. I mean, who remembers if it was your first school, pet or mother's maiden name that was your most memorable choice? Anyway, I am now up and running. Unfortunately, we have not seen a school since well before Christmas when one enterprising school took the plunge and booked us for a whole day. The kids and the teachers had a wonderful time forgetting for a brief period all the doom and gloom that has been inflicted on them, and besets us all. We are forever hopeful and, whilst recognising this virus is here to stay and, eventually, we will accept and learn to live with it, we are maintaining our presence with all our plays and workshops. We are also branching into online taaching. With the benefit of a qualified drama and piano teacher, we are able to offer one-to-one or small group lessons using Zoom. If this appeals, please get in touch through the website. This is a picture of our teacher on Zoom (not the furry one!). This is all I have for you at the moment, but I promise to get back soon. Albert.........

IT'S ALL HAPPENING NEXT WEEK!

Well, so we are told.
Of course, I am referring to the kids going back to school, hopefully.
Now the Government in their wisdom, have decided the juniors and upwards must, or possibly should, wear masks:not in the classrooms, but in the corridors and elsewhere where "social distancing" is not possible or practical.
Well, good luck with that!
Anyway, it will not concern us unduly as we will be back entertaining and educating the nursery and infant children - no masks there.
Of course, we will pack them as occasionally we perform for the older ones with our popular theme plays, "World War II", "Henry VIII" and "Search for the Lost Tomb".
We will dedicate the next few days to brushing up on the scripts and double checking all the props and costumes are ready.
We are really looking forward to some face to face performances. Well, perhaps not quite face to face, but you know what I mean.
Now to sift through the bookings and double check with the schools that they are still expecting us.
I shall write again when we are in full flow.
Albert.....