Where did January and most of February go?

Hi guys. I'm back in case you thought I was dead!
Sorry again for the long absence, but we have been so busy creating new Drama Workshops to meet the National Curriculum changes.
We can now boast Workshops to meet all the new criteria for both KS1, KS2 and the years 7 & 8 for the seniors.
Fancy a spot of the Plague, or the Great Fire of London?
How about joining us in the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages?
You may even wish to travel with a few Ancient Greeks or Romans or that rough bunch of Vikings.
Or why not sample the trenches in World War I?
You name it. We have it. In fact, challenge us with something new and we will oblige.
Yes, Interactive Drama Workshops where the children get to be very creative and active, and with our able assistance produce their very own pieces and act them out to the rest of the class, are very much in vogue.
It is all about keeping in touch, and that is what we have been doing for sixteen years.
Now I really must get bck to designing a newsletter so my fans will know he treats that are in store for them.
See you next time,
Albert xx

Christmas is just around the corner

I really must get my head round this blogging business!
Nothing since August and still no pictures of our two new wonderful actresses.
It is not that they haven't sent me them, but rather because I seem to have lost the knack of loading them onto the blog.
Let me have just one more try. PRESTO!
I seem to have cracked it.
Now Emily is in colour. I just wanted you to see her red hair, and Jade in mono looking every bit as good.
They both joined us in the Summer and have been hard at it with the new curriculum recommendations.
As well as our 10 scripted plays they are facing the challenges of Drama Workshops on a multitude of subjects: World War I, Middle Ages and Medieval Times, Stone, Bronze and Iron Age, Elizabethans, Victorians, to name just a few.
And all this with virtually a full book on the run up to the year end.
Well I must go now and send out confirmations of bookings that are already piling up for next year.
So, until the next time (not too long I promise) farewell.
Albert.

Summer nearly over

Having returned from a successful tour in Spain to the rain and cold of the typical English Summer, we are now heavily into rehearsals with our two new wonderful actresses.
Jade and Emily have joined us for the forthcoming school year.
Both are extremely talented and are picking up rapidly on the exacting task of learning NINE plays.
Whilst Karen is a real task master and demands perfection, she has a heart of gold and the girls are having plenty of fun picking up on the myriad of characters, plots, costumes and props. I hear it all sat at the computer coordinating the bookings for the coming months.
In keeping with the changes to the National Curriculum, we are expanding our portfolio and offering a wide range of Drama Workshops. In fact, we can now accomodate any subject the wider ranging and more recent history studies demand.
Just mention a subject and, if we do not already carry it, we will do the research and come up with a tailor made presentation.
I will sign off now, but will remember to ask Jade and Emily for photos I can add later.
Until next time....
Albert

Never enough time

I cannot believe my last posting was back in February.
Where has all the time gone, and what have I been doing?
Well, apart from arranging auditions for the next school year, studying the changes proposed to the National Curriculum, and ensuring we are still very much "on the ball" with our productions, we have been busy promoting our "Health and Safety" book for the young - Billy Beware! - as there has been a surge in demand for this play. About time too! There is so much about "Elf 'n Safety", but so little of it relates to the very young.
Also, we are promoting "Transition Workshops" for year six children. I remember the daunting prospect of a new school where, from being the biggest, I was to become the smallest. And that was the least of the problems I encountered. Add getting lost, being bullied and not knowing many of the other kids, and none of the teachers.
So now you can book us to come along and alleviate most of the worries and fears.
Drama Workshops are very much in vogue, and we are able to tailor make them on just about any subject. We even have an ongoing enquiry on the best way to treat pets.
Well, I have given you a taster of what we have in store, and have inserted some pictures from our "Billy Beware!" book.
Until the next time,
Albert

Will it ever stop raining!

You must all be wondering where I have been, or if I am dead, or maybe drowned!
Well the truth is I have been so busy thinking about this website and the need to upgrade it, I have just not had the time to write anything.
Now the good news is we will soon have a brand new site; all singing and dancing but, more importantly, offering the opportunity to display special offers and weekly or monthly deals.
For example, if you are a small primary school, you will have the chance to book a play for one key stage and have any one of our other productions for the other key stage for FREE.
Or, perhaps the chance to book us for the current term and get us for HALF PRICE next term.
Or, we may even throw in a Drama Workshop at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.
You may ask why are we offering such bargains. Well, it is because we know from your feedback you want us, but cannot always afford us.
I seem to recall some mention of school budgets being "ring fenced" when the chancellor was making cuts, and telling us all to tighten our belts.
Unfortunately, as all you head teachers know, that was a promise that was never kept.
With less to spend it has to be done wisely. We can visit you often for less than the cost of coaches to take the children to the theatre. And they will be in your safe and secure environment.
Okay, enough of the sales pitch.
I have to get back to work so, until the next time (not so long I promise) au revoir,
Albert.
p.s. Remind me to tell you about our book. Here is a visual preview.

Rehearsing Full Time

Heather and Ellis are enjoying the current wave of sunshine as they throw themselves eagerly into the somewhat intensive rehearsal schedule. One play already under their belts after the wonderful performances of "The Gingerbread Man" at the Southsea Festival. Only eight more plays to learn and they will be true veterans!

Performed to a lively bunch of kids at a birthday party in Bicester over the weekend - good practice for the new school term in a couple of weeks time.

Bookings are coming in already as teachers prepare for the new year. (Schools have different calendars from us mere mortals and start their years in September!)

Our mailing will go out to some 10,800 schools early next month and then the phone will "melt", and emails will pour in. The Autumn term (schools do not acknowledge Winter!) is our busiest period and we are already filling for December, so hurry and make your Christmas bookings.

Karen and I did manage a couple of weeks in France and Northern Spain: a well spent time doing nothing too much, unless you count eating, drinking and plenty of wine tasting. Sadly, that is now just history and it is back to business.

Until I next write, here are our new actors.

Albert...

James makes our day

Nothing pleases us more than fan mail.
We were truly delighted to receive the following earlier this week:-

St. Mary's Catholic Primary School
Webbs Wood Road
Bradley Stoke
South Glos.
BS32 8EJ

2nd July 2013

Dear Aesop's Theatre Company,

My name is James and I attend St. Mary's Catholic Primary School. Last week I watched an excellent performance of Robin Hood. Your show taught me a lot of science knowledge in an enjoyable way.

I now understand why chucking things in rivers is so bad. It pollutes the water and kills God's creatures. Until the show I did not know the importance of trees. I will try and use less paper to help the environment. I have told my dad we should buy a compost bin to recycle our fruit and vegetable waste.

Thank you for coming to St. Mary's. I would be honoured to be able to see another of your educational shows.

Yours faithfully,

James

Age 10

Thanks for that James. We hope to see you again soon.

Albert.....