Did somebody mention Summer?

Another dull day, but a great new idea!
Most of the time our actors hunt for the switch to turn down the heating. School halls are notoriously over heated. But not this Summer. It is more a case of trying to keep warm before the performance starts.
Enough of the complaining. Let me tell you about something new.
Teachers like the children to be involved as much as possible in performances. Schools are very keen on WORKSHOPS, and we deliver many.
Now we are expanding our DRAMA WORKSHOPS to embrace even more of the HISTORY SYLLABUS.
Our new production "TIMELINE" covers the whole period from stone age man to modern times.
As a 75 minute play it is particularly interactive with the children. But, we are also able to use excerpts from it as a basis for DRAMA WORKSHOPS. Simply choose a study period, Saxon, Viking, Tudor, Elizabethan, Georgian, Victorian etc. and we will conduct a DRAMA WORKSHOP based on any one or any combination.
An actor in costume will introduce the period, portraying and highlighting important events.This will be  followed by encouraging and assisting the children in creating and performing their own short pieces based on what they have seen and learnt.
Yet another string to our bow, and one that is proving very popular.
Talk to you again soon,

Albert

Ruth's Review

Last Friday we had the pleasure of the company of Ruth Stanger, a third year student at St. Mary's University College, Twickenham. Ruth is studying Drama and Applied Theatre and for her dissertation is researching Theatre in Education.

After helping with the get in and setting up she was keen to introduce us to our young audience. And what an introduction it was! Had the kids not been on the floor, she would have had them out of their seats before we even started; they were that excited.

This is what Ruth had to say about the performance:-

"On Friday 9th March I was lucky enough to visit Grove Road Primary School in Hounslow, to view a fantastic performance by Aesop's Touring Theatre Company.

As part of my dissertation research I am visiting schools to watch Theatre in Education shows, and it has to be said that "The Adventures of the Gingerbread Man" was one of the best T.i.E. performances I have seen. The show follows the Gingerbread Man who has run away from his parents, and their lovely house and garden, to find somewhere nicer to live. Along his journey he meets many different animals, and learns all about their homes and how they live. What does the Gingerbread Man do in the end? Well you'll have to wait and see!

The show was fun and lively, with songs and dances that the children could join in with. The kids were so involved and loved every minute of the show. With songs such as "Polly put the Kettle on" and, of course, "You can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man" the children are involved with the play from the start.

T.i.E. work is always very participatory, and this show was no different, with children becoming flowers, hedgehogs and trees, to giving advice to the characters about what they should do.

Theatre in Education is so important in educating children about important issues or subjects in a way that captures their interest and imagination, which is exactly what Aesop's Gingerbread Man did. The children were excited and interested, and it was great to see such a lively audience who enjoyed the performance so much.

I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, and it was a pleasure to join Aesop's Touring Theatre Company.

If you're thinking of asking Aesop's to come and visit you, do not hesitate, you won't be disappointed, I promise!"

Thank you Ruth. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I hope we will meet again, perhaps when you are "treading the boards".

Bye readers until next time,

Albert

Well, it had to happen!

Guess what. It's winter and it's snowing. "quelle surprise", as the French might say. Well we are not B.A.A. and we don't close airports.

We are not a local authority and we don't close schools.
Also, we are not overly impressed by the old newsreels and pictures that are run out every winter.

What we do is perform plays and conduct drama workshops whatever the weather.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I just have to dig out the company vehicle and get moving for a 9.30 a.m. performance 80 miles away on the coast.

Some may call it madness.
We call it dedication.
Talk to you again soon......now where did I put that shovel!

Albert

Christmas came and went

While I was "sunning" myself on the beach in Australia the boss, pictured to my left, was left at home to entertain a couple of the grandchildren with her new play "TIMELINE".

I figured I had earned the break after the busiest run up to the year end ever.

Whatever happened to the wallabies, kangaroos and koalas? From Sydney to just below Rockhampton we never saw any. But we did manage to feed a couple of dolphins in Tin Can Bay.

Now it is back to the grindstone in earnest. Spring is our busiest school term so we are hoping the local authorities make an effort to keep the schools open during the snow and icy weather; no more unnecessary closures please. If we can drive from Woking to Birmingham for a 9.15 morning performance we don't want to find the school closed because the path was slippery!. You may think I am joking, or being cynical. Trust me it has happened.

I mentioned our latest production, "TIMELINE". An ambitious new project in which our leader, Karen, enlists the help of the audience on an amazing journey from the stone age to the present day. Still in the "costume and propping" stage this extravaganza will be ready to launch in the Summer term and, judging by the interest already shown, it looks like a winner.

I will keep you informed of its progress, but now back to work on yesterday's bookings, and getting ready for the telephone onslaught as the schools open.

Bye for now,

Yours Albert.

A fillip for when one is feeling down

Every once in a while I wonder if it is all worthwhile. I know the kids love what we do, and that gives me a real buzz. Also, we get great feedback from teachers.
So now you are wondering what this is all about.
Well the clue is in the title "Theatre in Education". This is what we do. We aid in the education process by making the learning enjoyable.
Okay, so what is the problem? You ask.
Put simply, I have to wonder if the education system to which we contribute is really working.
On average I receive sixty emails a year from students studying the many aspects of theatre. I reply to them all with a standard document I have written that covers just about everything they are likely to need to know.
Whilst they are invariably polite enquiries, I am so often appalled by the poor spelling, punctuation, lack of correct English grammar, and the inability to construct sentences.
So what a breath of fresh air it was to hear from Rosie, and receive the following "thank you" for my response.

"Hello Albert,
Thank you so much for taking the time out to read and reply to my email. It is much appreciated - I understand that you have plenty of work to do!
I did read up on your fantastic company before writing to you, and I noted that you only perform for children up to 12. However, I decided to include you in my mailing list, because although our piece has been aimed at years 10 and 11, at some schools our audience has been as young as year 7. Thus, the follow up workshops we do next year are occasionally going to be for 11/12 year olds. I apologise that I did not explain this in my previous email; it was only because it was sent out to various companies at once. I am so pleased that you have got back to me, as I am going to have to be even more adaptable in my workshops now due to the unplanned varying age range - as I'm sure you know, 11 year olds and 16 year olds are worlds apart! Your guidance will be very helpful in this respect.
Many thanks also for your offer to attend one of your performances - I would love to take you up on it. Although, currently I am working with secondary schools, when I graduate from university I hope I am fortunate enough to have a career working with younger students in primary schools. They are where my real passion lies so it would be wonderful to gain some first hand experience. In the third term this year, I complete a 6 week placement and again I am looking to work with a younger audience!
Once again, thank you for your time and advice.
Kind regards,
Rosie"

Students, I hope I have made my point.

Until next time have a wonderful festive season.

Albert....

ONE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Ah! This is the life; sitting on a horse contemplating the next scene of my new play.
'Timeline', a study of history through the ages, is to be launched in Spring 2012. The calm before the storm!
Not an easy task ahead of me writing a play with only one actor portraying so many interesting and relevant characters from Stone Age to Modern day. Tommy Cooper and the hats comes to mind! Now there was a talent. It does mean I get a chance to do my Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy impersonations though: not easy to practice those on a horse mind!
What's next...ah! The music and sound effects. This is the fun part and, of course, looking for props. Yes, the body parts for the Tudor section in the play are the bits I'm looking forward to finding. But, if I fall off this horse I may not need to go looking for quite so many!
So far I have written 23 pages, and this is supposed to be an hour long!
Page 24 beckons, so must go.
Karen