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A drama project which is touring the country in 2007 is coming to Eccleshill in November, and local primary schools are invited to get involved in it. The "Free for All" presentation is organised by Church Mission Society and funded by a grant from Trust Greenbelt (a Christian Arts Trust), and it visits Bradford during the four days 12th-15th November 2007.
The project looks at the history of the slave trade - what made it happen, why it continued for so long, how the abolitionists (Wilberforce and his companions, and the working classes who united to take a stand) worked to achieve justice, and how slavery still exists in the world today. It covers aspects of the history, drama, RE and citizenship curriculum, and engages pupils in a dynamic and engaging way (using physical theatre) to think about injustice and how we can all stand up and make a difference.
The project is for Year 5 or Year 6 pupils, and takes place over 2 days:i) Mon 12th OR Tues 13th OR Wed 14th (the choice of the schools taking part): a day of workshops taking place in school. Generally workshop days run from 10am till around 2.30/3pm, although the team are very happy to be flexible with the timings to suit the local pattern of lessons, break and lunchtimes. Ideally a school hall should be available, although a large classroom might suffice.
ii) Thursday 15th November - dress rehearsal and performance at St Luke's Church Eccleshill. During the morning (starting at 10am) the workshops will be rehearsed again and the children will work with a larger team of professional actors. There will be a break for lunch (probably around 12.15pm until 1pm), and pupils are asked to bring a packed lunch. At around 1pm work will reconvene and the pupils will be given costumes to wear. The project ends with a performance at 1.30pm which all pupils are involved in, and which lasts for an hour and a quarter. The performance is open to members of the public (free of charge), and visiting family and friends, or even other classes from the schools, are welcome to come and watch. Children should be ready to leave by 3pm to enable them to get back to their own schools in time for the end of the school day.
Because of the funding, this project can be offered to schools free of charge. If you want to know more about the project and see pictures of other venues please go the project's web site at http://www.freeforalltour.info . (This site can also be accessed via the Church Mission Society website: http://www.cms-uk.org by clicking on "youth/free for all".) Places will be available on a first-come-first-served basis.
For more information contact:
Anita Matthews
CMS National Adviser Children and Youth
5 Bamford Avenue
Derby
DE23 8DT
or:
Rev'd John Hartley
