CONTINUING WITH KS1 & KS2

I now wish to tell you about our most ambitious project to date.

This is an 85 minutes extravaganza performed entirely by one actor with a myriad of props and costumes, depicting history through the ages from Stone Age Man to the Present Day.

 “TIMELINE”

“HISTORY THROUGH THE AGES”

From Stone Age to Modern Technology

 A play performed by one actor and many of your children.

 This is a particularly interactive production with many props, costumes, music and sound effects; in which the children work with the actor in portraying the growth of civilization and embracing major moments, characters and events in history.

 The play has been fully researched for accuracy of content, and contains a good deal of humour to ensure it is both educational and enjoyable.

Read the reviews on our website and take a look at some of these pictures.

 

 

SOMETHING FOR KS1 & KS2

 

This is the first play written way back in 1999

“THE STORY OF AESOP’S FABLES”

From a very early age Karen Brooks L.L.A.M. (Hons.) Dipl. was determined to become an actor and, as a first step, decided to write a play in which she could act.

From her apartment in Ealing, West London, she circulated over 200 London schools and, in her first year, received 63 bookings; the first from a S.E.N. School in Ealing on the Ides of March 1999.

Amazed, but delighted at her success, over the next few years she added nine more plays and numerous drama workshops to her portfolio.

With the aid of a picturesque set, half masks, costumes and props, two actors portray eight of the most loved and best-known fables, ensuring the associated morals are delivered in a fun-filled, light-hearted and interactive manner without ever losing sight of their importance.

To quote Karen

  “Aesop’s Fables”

  “A fun filled story packed with surprises and lots of audience participation, encouraging children to question their own morals through entertainment”

As always, some pictures from the show, Albert…..

 

MORE FOR THE JUNIORS

                            I have mentioned my favourite history play “Henry VIII”

I have also told you about “Search for the Lost Tomb”.

Still on the subject of history, I now wish to turn to something quite different. We have taken a very dark subject and, with much poetic licence, but without ever losing sight of the facts, turned it into a light-hearted, fun-filled production.

I refer to our play

“WORLD WAR II”

Two actors, with the aid of many props and costumes, and a delightful set adorned with original war-time artefacts, depict a typical working class London family during the whole period of the war.

 More than that, we have an Air Raid Warden, a member of the Home Guard, a School Teacher, a Policeman, a Wireless Quiz Interviewer with his glamorous assistant Doris, and, of course a Black-Market Spiv.

 Oh, and be wary of the black-market spiv. He may try to sell you some chocolate and sweets and you know you have already used up your meagre supply of coupons.

There are extracts of speeches by the Prime Ministers, Neville Chamberlain and Winston Churchill, and many authentic sound effects. Listen out for the doodle bugs and be very afraid when the sounds stop.

 All the major issues like evacuation, rationing, make do and mend, and many more are covered during war-torn Britain.

In particular, be moved by the last scene that I will not spoil by telling you more.

 Until I next write, take a look at some pictures.

Albert....

CONTINUING WITH THE JUNIORS

                The last time I wrote I told you about my favourite play “Henry VIII”.

 Following close on its heels comes

“SEARCH FOR THE LOST TOMB”

or

 “WHEN DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR MUMMY!”

This is an absolute must for those classes studying Ancient Egypt.

Brim full of facts, this historical portrayal of life around three thousand years BC, is packed with major events, characters and drama as our professor and her loyal guide and companion explore the River Nile, Desert, Cities and Pyramids.

Discover how little you know about the simple date palm.

Experience a dust storm

Go into battle with the great Pharoah Ramesses II and his Pet Lion.

Meet a young boy studying hieroglyphics and hieratics.

Enter the catacombs in search of the lost mummy.

Track the path of latter-day tomb robbers.

And more.

BUT

 BE ON YOUR GUARD LEST YOU BECOME MUMMIFIED!

Take a look at these until I next write, Albert

....

TIME FOR THE JUNIORS

Many of my recent posts have concentrated on Nursery and Infant children, and I have given you some insight into the plays we have for the 2 to 7 years age range.

I now intend spending some time with Key Stage Two, that is the 7 to 11 age range, and some of what I cover will be appropriate for young seniors as well.

I shall start with my all-time favourite:

“HENRY VIII”

If your studies include The Tudors, this is an absolute must and, if you don’t, have it for the pure entertainment and enjoyment.

With two actors and a myriad of props and costumes, we portray no less than fifteen different characters; Henry, of course, and his Six Wives, Grave Diggers, Executioners, The Pope, Cardinal Wolsey, a Court Jester. (I hope I haven’t forgotten any.)

Historically accurate, but with much licence, Henry is portrayed throughout his tumultuous life from the death of Henry Tudor to his own demise.

Songs, music and humour abound in this 70 minute production with more than a little audience participation, particularly when one of the less fortunate wives is led to her execution. (We ensure the axe is well sharpened so not too much blood splatter, and the head falls neatly into the basket.)

I urge you to look at some of the pictures and reviews. You will then understand why so many schools book it year after year.

A few pictures to savour until I write again, Albert…..

HAPPY 25TH ANNIVERSARY AESOP’S

Who would have thought when we launched our first play on the Ides of March,1999 I would be here today writing this!

YES, on the 15^th March 1999 Karen and Glenn performed “The Story of Aesop’s Fables” at Springhallow School in Ealing.

Having always loved Aesop’s Fables at school, Karen Brooks, the proprietor of Aesop’s Touring Theatre Company (ATTC) and principal actor decided to write a play. At the time it was nothing more than an idea.

Karen produced leaflets and circulated them to schools in London. She was truly amazed at the response; 70 bookings before Christmas that year!

So, truly amazed but delighted, she formed the company we now have and proceeded to write more plays.

Today we have ten SCRIPTED PLAYS and literally dozens of DRAMA WORKSHOPS that are ever growing.

We have created productions to celebrate occasions whether they be for children or adults, and still do.

We have and will perform nationally and abroad. There is no limit to the challenges we meet. Just ask and we will rise to the occasion.

When they say “The World is your Oyster”. That has certainly been true of us.

Some shots from our productions:

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

DRAMA WORKSHOPS

 Our colourful brochure depicts our scripted productions, and is there for all to see. However, we offer much more than that.

 Very often we are requested to follow up a play with one or more workshops with the aim of enforcing the lesson learned, and affording the opportunity to engage in some action from the performance.

 Here is a brief summary of how it works:

 Initially, we gather the children in a large circle and introduce ourselves. The children have the opportunity to do likewise preferably with a loud voice and interesting movement.

By means of a brief period of theatre games in the style of the play they have seen, they are warmed up, body, mind and voice, and then randomly divided into mixed groups of 3, 4 or 5.

Each group is provided with a storyboard sheet depicting characters, time, place, event, etc. so that from the options provided, or from their own ideas, they may choose an episode from the play that they will enact.

Our actors encourage and assist and give help in rehearsing the chosen 2/3 minutes performances.

Each group then performs its piece to the rest of the class, and are given praise/advice by the actors.

We believe our Drama Workshops do much to add impact to the performance they have seen and, most importantly, contribute in developing and encouraging social intercourse.

Apart from the workshops associated with our plays, we have created a large portfolio on numerous subjects which is constantly growing. Ideas on these are shown in our SPECIAL OFFERS.

 Next time I will tell you about our popular scripted plays for the juniors.

 PS Invariably the kids love the death scenes but, fortunately, not all end up dead.

 

Best wishes, and stay bright,

Albert…..