Category Archives: Health and Wellbeing

Out to Play CPD Sessions – October 2019

“I hadn’t realised the power of imagination within outdoor learning”

Eco Drama is delivering 3 Out to Play CPD sessions for primary school teachers and education practitioners at venues in Glasgow and Paisley this October on the following dates/times:

  1. Monday 21st October, 3.30-5.30pm – Jordanhill School, Glasgow
  2. Tuesday 22nd October, 3.30-5.30pm – Kibble Education Centre, Paisley
  3. Thursday 24th October, 10-12noon – Glenburn Resource Centre, Paisley

The session will introduce the Out to Play project, supporting primary school teachers and education practitioners to engage further with outdoor learning and make imaginative use of school playgrounds using drama and storytelling. This 2 hour practical session costs £45 pp which includes a hard copy of Eco Drama’s latest resource ‘Let’s Go…Out to Play!‘.

There are a limited number of places left on each of the dates. To find out more information and book a place, please email christine@ecodrama.co.uk

“Best CPD event I have been to in ages.” Catriona Brown, Battlefield Primary

“Fantastic workshop. Ben is inspirational.” Jane Johnston-Smith, Eaglesham Primary

Eco Drama Resource Pack ‘Let’s Go…Out to Play!’

Eco Drama have copies available of our brand new Resource Pack ‘Let’s Go…Out to Play!’, an invaluable 82 page document bursting with ideas, activities, stories and inspiration to develop a school’s ‘Out to Play’ journey.

Building on the first pack written by Eco Drama in 2015, this second edition draws on the experiences of the Drama Artists that delivered Out to Play residencies in school playgrounds across Glasgow during 2015-18. It contains an abundance of new ideas to support teachers to deliver imaginative outdoor learning sessions in school playgrounds, including inspiring environmental stories, nature connection exercises, session plans, drama activities and games, and is packed full of handy tips and insights for facilitating creative outdoor learning sessions.

The pack is suitable for teachers, early years practitioners or any practitioner working in an education setting, looking to explore more creative ways of delivering outdoor learning and sustainable development education.

“Teachers who have used this resource have found it well planned out, easy to follow and have found the activities to be very motivating for the children.” Andrea Gurd, Aultmore Park

Packs are available to purchase for £20 as a quality, ring-bound hard copy booklet. To order a copy pleased email nina@ecodrama.co.uk. View a sample copy or visit the Eco Drama website for more information: http://www.ecodrama.co.uk/resources/

Theatre In Schools Programme – January to May 2019

Theatre in Schools Scotland is a project managed by National Theatre of Scotland and Imaginate to develop the provision of in-school theatre and dance performances available across Scotland.

Our programme for January –  May 2019 contains three shows, available for in-school touring, from two of our partner organisations covering N-P2 and P4-7.

All are suitable for clear, flat school hall and can be presented twice in one day.

As usual, fees are subsidised to keep costs within reach and one-show days are available for smaller schools.

Click here to see the programme: Theatre in Schools Scotland programme Jan-May 2019

 

Pondlife by Catherine Wheels Theatre Company
Suitable for P5-7
23rd January – 29th March 2019 / School hall / 55 mins
Moving school is never easy. When class bully Sharon takes an instant dislike to Martin it feels like he has an especially tough ride ahead of him. That is until he befriends Simon McGurk and his fortunes seem to change. The fickle world of playground politics soon puts pressure on their friendship, however, and Martin finds himself making a choice that will impact them both for the rest of their school days.
£365 / £500 + VAT for one or two show days.
Maximum capacity 120 per performance.
Performed in a clear school hall (min size 8m x 12m)


Emma & Gill by Catherine Wheels Theatre Company and Lung Ha Theatre Company
Suitable for P4-7
18th February – 8th March 2019  / School Hall (LOTHIANS ONLY) / 50 mins

This new show explores the lives of two young girls and their different experiences of school and family life. It questions what is ‘normal’ and why being different is to be celebrated.

The show features Emma McCaffrey, a member of the Lung Ha ensemble, who was diagnosed with autism when she was 11, and Gill Robertson, artistic director of Catherine Wheels.

£365 / £500 + VAT for one or two show days.
Maximum capacity 120 per performance.
Performed in a clear school hall (min size 8m x 12m)


A Ladder to the Stars by Visible Fictions
Suitable for N-P2
April 2019 / School Hall / 40 mins
Way up in the deep blue night sky, a twinkling star hears a little girl’s birthday wish . . . she wishes she could dance with the stars. Wanting to make this wish come true, the star tells the moon, the moon tells the sun, the sun tells the wind and the rain, and together they dream up a wonderful plan. Told through a magical mix of music, light and imagination, this is a heartfelt and humorous story of what can happen when the universe hears your dreams.
£300 / £400 + VAT for one or two show days.
Maximum capacity 100 per performance.
Performed in a clear school hall (min size 5m x 12m)

www.theatreinschoolsscotland.co.uk  / E: tiss@imaginate.org.uk / T: 0131 225 8050

REACH OUT – to all young people – Creative Conversation in Edinburgh

REACH OUT – to all young people

With the new session brings the good news of continued funding from Education Scotland for Creative Conversations. This year we are also working with Fife and Borders Councils in addition to Midlothian and East Lothian.

Your invitation to the first Creative Conversation of 2018/19 is attached. Many of you will remember Jaz Ampaw Farr and Amjad Ali from last October. We are delighted to welcome Amjad back to Edinburgh, this time with Allana Gay. Together they will engage us in a conversation, titled Reach Out, where the focus will be on diversity and inclusion, particularly of BAME children, young people and their families. Please share this invitation with your colleagues and partners as we are updating our mailing lists and may have missed inadvertently missed some people.

As ever David Cameron will facilitate the conversation:

          On Wednesday 24th October

          At the Edinburgh Conference and Training Centre, St Mary’s Street, Edinburgh (close to Waverley Station)

          From 4 – 4.30 with registration, coffee and meeting colleagues

          5.30 – around 6.30/6.45 in creative conversation with Amjad and Allana

          And continuing the conversation till around 7.30 with refreshments

 

Looking forward to seeing you there

Linda

Reach Out

We all wrestle with the challenge of making sure that we reach every pupil and that though our work we ensure every child and young person can achieve and succeed and be fulfilled. We also know that there can be all sorts of barriers to engagement – the young person’s background and experiences, their attitudes, interests, and increasingly, culture and ethnicity. For all those reasons we are delighted to have our first Creative Conversation of the session with Amjad Ali and Allana Gay.

Amjad was involved in a powerful and moving Creative Conversation on ACEs last session with Jaz Ampaw Farr – and he held his own!!! Not many people could manage that….. So we are delighted that Amjad is returning, bringing a wealth of experience as a teacher, school leader, fantastic speaker and as an outstanding supporter of staff development through his website https://www.trythisteaching.com  

With Amjad for this Conversation is Allana Gay, the Interim Headteacher in a North London primary school. Her 15 years in education have focused on turning around schools in challenging circumstances, especially those in deprived areas. She has extensive experience in both primary and secondary schools and shares this with colleagues throughout education. 

Both Allana and Amjad are closely involved with the BAMEed: Black, Asian Minority Ethnic Educators and support diversity and equity across education. Their experience and insights will be of interest to anyone working with children and young people in or out of school.

Linda Lees | Lifelong Learning Strategic Manager (Creativity, Health and Wellbeing) | Schools and Lifelong Learning | Communities and Families | The City of Edinburgh Council, Waverley Court, Business Centre 1/2, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG | Tel 0131 469 3956 | Mobile 07917 825007 | mailto:linda.lees@edinburgh.gov.ukwww.edinburgh.gov.uk

 

‘Supported by the Creative Learning Network Fund, a partnership between Creative Scotland and Education Scotland under Scotland’s Creative Learning Plan’.

MY FRIEND SELMA – A play for schools about migration, friendship and hope P5-P7

 

Touring to schools as part of Theatre in Schools Scotland

TOUR EXTENDED: Performances in schools for P5 – P7 available to book now for Oct & Nov 2018. Scottish schools.

 

Curriculum areas: Health and Well Being, Religious and Moral Education, Social Studies

 

My Friend Selma presented by Terra Incognita Theatre Company is the remarkable real-life story of one girl’s journey from war in Bosnia to safety in the UK.  It is the tale of an incredible journey, a world turned upside down, loss, friendship, courage and conkers. The play deals with complex issues of war, refuge and integration in a way that is accessible to young audiences.

 

The story is told by one performer, who plays her own character aged eight. The story is her story. All of the characters are real people and what happened to them is also true.

 

My Friend Selma tells the real-life story of Selma Redzepagic, who fled war in Bosnia with her family when she was eight years old. The family went on a remarkable journey to get to safety in the UK, where they lived in a disused boarding school with fifty other refugees and one British family. The story follows each challenge of their journey, as well as the experience of settling into a new country and new way of life. It also shows the day-to-day joy of friendship and playfulness, through Selma’s experience of being welcomed to the UK, and her eventually finding a new best friend.

“I would give this show 280,000 out of 5.” Erin, aged 9

Resources are available to support this production and pupils will have the opportunity to talk to the performer at the end. There is a small exhibition accompanying the performance including photographs, newspaper articles, verbatim accounts from some of the refugees who lived in the disused boarding school, and artefacts from when these refugees first arrived in the UK.

 

Full details including costs, trailer and teachers resources at www.theatreinschoolsscotland.co.uk
or contact tiss@imaginate.org.uk

“a captivating alternative to full-blown pantos” – accessible theatre available online from Birds of Paradise Theatre

BOP Theatre’s new work The Tin Soldier, at The Studio, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh 7th-23rd December is a new adaptation of an old tale by award-winning children’s writer Mike Kenny.

It is an accessible show, integrating captions, BSL and audio description, designed mainly with 5-9 year olds in mind (and the older people and siblings that come with them).  The show has been designed by a Russian designer Victor Nikonenko and includes puppets and new live music from Scottish duo Novasound.

What is on offer?

If you are in Edinburgh we would love you to come see it but we understand this is not accessible to everyone! For those that cannot come in person we are making a broadcast version of it available to all schools in Scotland in the week commencing the 18th December.

How does it work?

We will provide you with a link to a as live film of the show that you can show to a class or larger group.  The film will have captions on it and BSL is integrated into the performance.

Is there a charge?

No, but we would appreciate a donation of £25 in line with our campaign of fundrasign for our 25th Anniversary year which is next year.

What other resources to you have?

  1. An info sheet attached
  2. An easy read script synopsis
  3. Links to listen to the music
  4. Disability focused short films aimed at children https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R9Yc2AlqLQ&t=6s

What do I do next?

Get in touch with all@boptheatre.co.uk to register interest and we will provide you with a link and answer any questions you have.

About BOP

Birds of Paradise Theatre are a Glasgow based company that have traditionally made work for adult audiences that embeds access and creates opportunities for disabled writers, directors and performers.  Over the last five years the company has been disability led and has made varied work that has taken place in Scotland, UK, Spain, Hing Kong and Russia.

 

The Tin Soldier -‘live’ accessible theatre performance from Birds of Paradise – primary schools

BOP Theatre’s new work The Tin Soldier, at The Studio, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh 7th-23rd December is a new adaptation of an old tale by award-winning children’s writer Mike Kenny.

It is an accessible show, integrating captions, BSL and audio description, designed mainly with 5-9 year olds in mind (and the older people and siblings that come with them).  The show has been designed by a Russian designer Victor Nikonenko and includes puppets and new live music from Scottish duo Novasound.

What is on offer?

If you are in Edinburgh we would love you to come see it but we understand this is not accessible to everyone! For those that cannot come in person we are making a broadcast version of it available to all schools in Scotland in the week commencing the 18th December.

How does it work?

We will provide you with a link to a as live film of the show that you can show to a class or larger group.  The film will have captions on it and BSL is integrated into the performance.

Is there a charge?

No, but we would appreciate a donation of £25 in line with our campaign of fundrasign for our 25th Anniversary year which is next year.

What other resources to you have?

  1. An info sheet attached
  2. An easy read script synopsis
  3. Links to listen to the music
  4. Disability focused short films aimed at children https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R9Yc2AlqLQ&t=6s

What do I do next?

Get in touch with all@boptheatre.co.uk to register interest and we will provide you with a link and answer any questions you have.

About BOP

Birds of Paradise Theatre are a Glasgow based company that have traditionally made work for adult audiences that embeds access and creates opportunities for disabled writers, directors and performers.  Over the last five years the company has been disability led and has made varied work that has taken place in Scotland, UK, Spain, Hing Kong and Russia.

 

Creative Conversation – You Make Me Feel – Edinburgh

The latest Creative Conversation’s Creative Catalysts are Jaz Ampaw-Farr and Amjad Ali. The focus of this Creative Conversation is on you and the things you can do to help change lives. Jaz will tell her profoundly moving story about her early life and the people who made a difference. Amjad will contribute with practical ideas from his experience as a teacher, school leader and from his work in prisons.

The details are:

  • Friday 27th October
  • Edinburgh Training and Conference Venue on St. Marys’ Street
  • buffet lunch from 1.30
  • Creative Conversation starts at 2.30
  • refreshments, nibbles and continue the conversation from 3.45/4pm on

Creative Conversation prog and info – Jaz and Amjad

Creative Conversation Invitation – Jaz and Amjad

This is another rare opportunity to talk to 2 people who are not often in Scotland and who have great insights and moving stories to tell. It could not be a more current Creative Conversation in terms of how we need to work together to change outcomes for all young people.

Andy Jeffries, Acting Head of Children’s Services will give the welcome and David Cameron will facilitate the conversation.

Please to RSVP no later than 2pm on the 26th October. You can bring a colleague and we look forward to another Creative Conversation and your participation in it.

linda.lees@edinburgh.gov.uk

 

P5-7 – New Theatre Show for Schools from Catherine Wheels

Announcing a brand new show by award-winning Catherine Wheels Theatre Company

who brought you Lost at Sea, Lifeboat, The Story of the Little Gentleman, Martha, The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk.

Spring term 2018 for school hall performances only.

Suitable for P5-7

Inspired by a Japanese folk tale, ‘How to Fix a Broken Wing’ is a new show for schools which makes us think about our responsibility to guests in our country. In a world where many people are forced to leave their homes and seek shelter elsewhere, what is our response? How can we best help those who have lost their sense of home?

Full information is on the attached PDF.

How to Fix a Broken Wing – Info for Schools

Booking is now open.

Costs are held at £365 / £500 + VAT for 1/2 performances on the same day.

Performed in your school hall

Please note Catherine Wheels Theatre Company are part of the Theatre in Schools Scotland project. A small number of dates are available for autumn term 2017 productions, more at www.theatreinschoolsscotland.com