Special Story-Telling Shows
We re-create famous and well-loved stories interactively,
with the children taking part in the stories
“The show was fantastic. All the children were fully engaged throughout. It was pitched at exactly the right level and brought to life the work we had been doing in class.” Susan Jenkins, Normandy Primary School, Bexley

The Dorset

New for 2010 and Ideal for Science Week
Dinosaurs, Fossils, Geology, Geography, History, Natural Sciences and Drama rolled into one

This is the dramatic, real-life story of Mary Anning who as a little girl, found an enormous fossil of a sea creature no one had ever seen before. What was it? Our costumed actress as Mary Anning, will welcome the children to the fashionable Regency seaside resort of Lyme Regis. Using the children as her actors, with set, costume, props and genuine Lyme Regis fossils, they will re-enact her dramatic rags to riches story. The children will help Mary to identify, piece together and name the massive Jurassic sea creature she found in the rocks and suggest a name for the creature, eventually called ‘Ichthyosaurus’.

Mary was one of the greatest fossil hunters ever known. At the age of 11 she shocked the scientific world with an amazing fossil find and went on to discover some of the most significant geological finds of all time.

This Storytelling show can be adapted to suit all age groups from Year 2 to Year 6 and covers curriculum
areas including Dinosaurs, The Seaside, Life Cycles, How Scientists Worked In The Past, Rocks Water Geology, Why Do People Collect Things? and Attitudes Towards Women Scientists in the 19th Century.

“Very informative and entertaining show.” Kate Sibley, Head Teacher, St Peters Primary School, South Croydon

Show lasts one hour and is suitable for several several classes (120 children max) in a hall or other large space. Cost: £190

It’s September 1666. Meet Mrs Wellbake, cook to Mr Samuel Pepys. Hear her first hand account of the Great Fire of London. Her mission is to make sure this tragedy never happens again. With the help of the audience, using artefacts, props & costume, she & the children will re-enact the drama of the fire and help to plan a fire-free future for the city of London. While engaging with this fascinating historical episode the children will have lots of fun and be fired with enthusiasm!

"You were fantastic! The stories were brought to life. Everyone wanted to be chosen to act out the parts. The children, staff and the head, who came to watch, sat riveted."
 Jennifer Charles, Salusbury Primary School, London NW6

Shows last 1 hour and are suitable
for several KS1 classes in a hall or
other large space.

Cost: £190 per show

Teach-it-through-drama presents Two Traditional Tales
re-told interactively with the children taking part in the story

Meet Rosella the storyteller who has just returned from another expedition with a new story to add to her collection. Join her on her journey through a world of wicked stepmothers, jealous stepsisters, and magical old women. And see how it links to traditional tales from other cultures. An interpretation of Cinderella where the story does not focus on marrying a prince!

“An excellent end to our African fortnight. Lovely props and artefacts. Staff and children thoroughly enjoyed the content and the inter-active element was excellent for speaking and listening” Shan Evans, Headteacher, Dorothy Barley Infants, Dagenham

Our costumed storyteller will take the children on a magical journey through snow-bound Russia where they will meet kind Babushka, hear her story and help her in her quest. An experience that will fire their imagination and release their creativity.

"Extremely professional and excellent with the children. Even the youngest reception children were focussed throughout." Kate Rawson, St Michael’s School, Woolmer Green. "Very impressed by the Babushka performance. Thanks very much. And for the scripts and activities.” David Guy, Eliotbank School, Sydenham

These shows last one hour and are suitable for Early Years to Year Three audiences in a hall or other large space. Cost: £190 per show

For 2010 a new environmental storytelling show for Nursery & Early Years to Year 2

Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish
Based on the best-selling book by Michael Foreman (with kind permission from Puffin Books)

Meet Flora the Explorer and help her retell her latest story all the way from Dinosaur Valley. A wonderful way for the very youngest children actively to engage with environmental issues, while taking part in the story of dinosaurs coming back to life to save our planet from destruction.

“Story well chosen and engaging for the children. Professionally and creatively presented, involving the children, with great set and props. We were all absorbed throughout.” Beth Lewis, Deansbrook Infant School, NW7.

Show lasts 45 minutes, suitable for several classes (up to 120 children) from Nursery / Early Years
to Year 2 in a hall or other large space. Cost: £190 per show

"Well done. We will certainly invite you back. Why not some Dickens? Oliver Twist?”
Mrs Humphrey, Ightham Primary School, Sevenoaks

Meet Mrs Merryweather, wife of the struggling Actor-Manager, Arthur Merryweather of the Old Halls Theatre in Clerkenwell. Hear how she wants to be the first to turn Mr Dickens’s popular serialisations into successful melodramas for their theatre. Give your classes a taste of life in Victorian London. With costume and props they will take on the task of helping Mrs Merryweather tell a dramatic story and put Dickens on the stage.

"A superb performance. Children could participate which kept them entertained." Helen Stephens, Ryarsh Primary School, West Malling. "An enthralling performance. The props and costume for the children to use were an added bonus." Amy McHugh, St Thomas of Canterbury School, Guildford

Performances last one hour and are suitable for several classes in a hall or other large space. Cost: £190 per show

Meet Mrs Miggins, the Elizabethan innkeeper of “The Blind Cupid Inn”, Maiden Lane, Southwark. Help her create a play, to rival those of William Shakespeare, for the celebrations at her popular drinking house for the actors of the Globe Theatre. Treat your class to an irreverent look at life in Shakespeare’s London. They will be helpless with laughter and fired with enthusiasm while re-creating the story of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” or "Macbeth" in the company of an Elizabethan Innkeeper.

"Even in such a big group, all the children were involved. It gave them a really good insight into a tricky story and they loved seeing their friends taking part!” Helen Child, Heathfield Junior School, Twickenham on A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  “Macbeth will forever be remembered now, even by the younger children who could have found it difficult.” Nicola Hillman, Canberra Primary School. White City

 Performances last 1 hour and are suitable for a hall or large classroom presentation. Cost: £190 per show

A famous story re-told interactively for the twenty-first Century. Take your class to Ancient Greece with a show that will fire their imaginations, leaving them breathless with excitement and helpless with laughter!!

“It was great that so many children could be involved. Humour was a lovely touch which helped to keep the children focused”
Julia Flynn, Barrington Primary School, Bexleyheath

Performances last approx. 45 minutes and are suitable for hall or large classroom presentation. Cost: £190 per show

Mrs Merryweather is back with a new dramatic re-telling to enthral her audiences at the Old Halls Theatre. Using the children as her actors, with costume, set, props and sound effects, Mrs Merryweather will bring the dramatic poem by Arthur Noyes to life. By engaging with the poem in dramatic form the children will learn about historical context, plot, character, language, rhythm, sound and dramatic tension. For Years 5 to 7

“Fantastic interaction with the children. They were all gripped by the lead character, Mrs Merryweather, who kept the pace of the performance flowing brilliantly. The children gained much from the show and haven’t stopped talking about it. One of, if not the best show we have had in school. Thank you!” Debbie Unsworth, Darenth Community Primary School, Dartford

Show lasts 1 hour and is suitable for
several classes in a hall or other large space. Cost: £190 per show