I THINK IT’S SUMMER!

A rather tentative start with moderate temperatures, plenty of wind but, thankfully, little rain. Sorry gardeners. I know you need it, but we prefer to A rather tentative start with moderate temperatures, plenty of wind but, perform in the dry outdoors.

Yes, we often forgo the school hall and act out our plays in the playground or, ideally, the playing field.

Workshops, in particular, lend themselves to the great outdoors, especially if they are related to climate change or ecology and the environment.

With an ever-increasing demand for “healthy lifestyles”, we are again looking to create the atmosphere by being outdoors when conducting these related workshops.

We are ever mindful that our summers are short-lived and we must make the most of them whenever we can.

Whether it be a play or a workshop, please be mindful that the great outdoors is there to welcome us, and mention it when booking.

Hopefully, the weather will be on our side.

Until next time with some non-obliging pictures, Albert….

HELPING CREATE A SMOOTH CHANGE

The move from a Junior to a Senior School has long been recognised as an exciting, but often scary time for eleven-year-olds. They will be leaving the comfort of a more homely, perhaps even  "family-orientated" learning zone, and entering the realms of "the unknown"!

We have devised Drama Workshops in which the four main elements are actively involved: the children, the primary school, the senior school and the parents.

Fully participatory, and with the guidance and assistance of professional actors well versed in Theatre in Education, the children will be encouraged to play out scenes focusing on the major issues.

We will concentrate on the areas of most concern to the children - fear of getting lost - afraid of being bullied - losing friends - making new friends - pastoral care - new teachers - adjusting to a different and more intense place of learning. All these and more as the children themselves elucidate and open up throughout the Workshop. 

Through role play and drama the children will gain in confidence and self-esteem.

This is just a brief insight of what we cover. Often the children will tell us more so we are able to allay their concerns.

If you wish to make a booking, please give me some possible dates, and let me know the number of classes involved.

Until next time, Albert…..

Bursting into Summer

By the time you read this, Easter will be behind us, together with the “wonderful” weather that usually accompanies it?

That said, come rain or shine, we are here to entertain the kids with shows that meet the curriculum standard and offer a wide range of entertainment.

The 80^th celebration of V.E. Day was widely successful with many schools enjoying our play and the workshops.

We were fortunate enough to have some true veterans in some of the audiences, and I noticed the odd tear when our actors brought back memories from the past. I would just mention that as a war baby, I recall the incendiary bomb through my bedroom. Thankfully, our family was sheltering at the time, and the fire brigade quickly extinguished the fire.

I guess the memory lingered for several years while my determined mother fought the War Damage Commission to eventually obtain compensation.

I am intrigued that the subject World War II is taught to children who have absolutely no concept of what was happening by teachers who equally had never suffered the experience. I guess that is why our performance is so successful. It really brings it to life, particularly the Anne Frank scene at the end.

Until next time, take a look at some of the pictures.

Albert……..

CRACKING ON

By the time you read this it should be around mid-March with the worst of the weather behind us.

Not that the weather plays any real part in my working day, stuck in an office dreaming up new ideas.

Very different for our band of actors though. As their performances are very physical, they welcome the cold days and, in the Summer, hope for fine weather when they can perform outdoors.

Of course, that can be quite demanding when the wind gets up and our backdrop becomes a sail!

Many is the time I have been behind hanging on to the set, battling the elements with just me, a tripod supporting a “T” bar and back-drop, and a couple of stage weights.

I recall an instance when we were performing on a sea front strapped to the sea wall with our backs to the ocean. Not sure the kids were aware of what we were suffering, nor if they could hear us over the wind and waves. Nevertheless, it was quite an experience, dare I say never to be repeated!

The most fun can be had when putting on a show at a child’s birthday party, particularly when the non-forecast rain arrives. Is it a brief shower soon to pass? Or, has it set in for the duration? These options call for split-second decisions, and you’d better guess right! Of course, we always insist on a fall-back arrangement which usually means a quick up the set and retreat indoors. Now the one- hour performance has become nearer two hours, and will we make it to the next venue in time?

We rarely have two parties booked for the same day. However, you can be sure when we do that will be when it rains. 

I will tell you about more of our fun and games later but, for now, some more pictures.

Albert….

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                     

 

 

A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY

 I hope I am not always painting a picture of doom and gloom. Every so often I receive an amusing request. “Can you do a workshop on The Thames?” I am so tempted to reply “do you have a boat in mind?”

 Not as silly as you may think. When we were asked for a performance on London Zoo, we never realised they actually wanted us to conduct some plays on a stage right by the monkey arena. So, there we were acting with the little blighters upstaging us and stealing the limelight. The late, great W. C. Fields got it right “never work with children or animals”.

 One of our finest challenges was an approach from a successful retired business man wanting a play as part of a celebration on his wife’s 60^th birthday. She loved Shakespeare and, in particular

“A Midsummer Night's Dream” So, we went to work and created a lavish 60 minutes portrayal of “The Lovers”; scenes featuring Hermia – in love with Lysander · Helena – in love with Demetrius · Lysander – in love with etc. etc. I rather enjoyed my cameo controlling the many kids as “ELF and safety”.

 Often, in Summer, we are asked to perform outdoors. Usually at parties and, weather permitting, never a problem in a large garden. However, a completely different matter at festivals, “Latitude” in Lowestoft and “The Big Feastival” (pun intended) in Kingham spring to mind. The first challenge starts on arrival with the get-in; proving you are a performer and not a gate-crasher. After passing security checks, searching for your pitch amongst the hundreds of acts of all descriptions can be demanding. Having located your spot, and adapting it to suit the show, (it may be a barn piled high with bundles of hay for seating) comes the search for power to run the sound system, a generator and a guy who understands it, and then the setting up amidst hundreds of metres of cables. Two or three hours after arrival, and all ready to go, you pray you will have an audience.

Thankfully, it all invariably comes together, and everybody loves it. I won’t bore you with the get-out!

 I will tell you about some more of our exploits sometime. But, for now some pictures from our version of “The Bard”

 

LEST WE FORGET

 I am temporarily interrupting my flow of newsletters as I am reminded of an important date.

On 8^th May 2025 we will be celebrating the 80^th anniversary of the end of World War II.

I wish to take this opportunity to remind my readers of our popular play entitled

 “World War II”

This production is suitable for the whole junior age range and years 7 & 8 in the secondary schools.

The interactive 75 minutes play follows the fortunes of a typical working class London family during the whole period of war-torn Britain.

All the major issues, evacuation, rationing, make do and mend, air-raid shelters, black market, home guard and more are covered. With genuine extracts of speeches, sound effects, props and costumes it brings to life the reality of life at the time.

To make it both educational and enjoyable, we have added a good touch of humour.

In addition to the play, we offer 75 minutes Drama Workshops.

You will find many pictures and commendations on our website, and I will happily tell you more.

As I write, we have availability for the Spring term.

For more information, or to discuss a booking, please give me a call on 07836 731872 or email  info@aesopstheatre.co.uk

 Here are some pictures from our performances. Enjoy Albert....

KEEPING IT GOING

 In my last post I mentioned how times have changed. However, as the French would say

“la plus ca change, la plus c’est la meme chose”

Progress can be a double-edged sword.

We are all familiar with the phrase “one step forward and two steps back”

Okay, enough of the idioms, now to the point.

The average per-pupil funding in schools for 2023-24 was £7,460. For 2024-25 it is expected to rise by a little over 3%.

How does this compare with increased Government spending in other areas?

 Not too well I think you will find.

What it does mean is that with limited budgets, every pound has to be spent wisely.

So, this is where Aesop’s Touring Theatre Company comes in with our moto

“THE KIDS COME FIRST”

When a school says they cannot afford us, we endeavour to meet their budget, no matter how tight that may be.

Theatre in Education is as important today as it was 20 years ago when we were struggling to fit all the bookings in a school year of less than 200 days.

Maybe, just maybe, those halcyon days will return.

But, until then, we are only a call or an email away.

Allow me to whet your appetite with some of these.

 Albert …..