Artworks visit to the Pre-Prep Department

The Pre-Prep department had a real treat last week when ‘Artworks’ visited us for a Shadow Puppet Workshop.  The day began when the Reception children joined Forms 1 and 2 to watch a delightful compilation of Traditional Tales.  Characters such as big bad wolves, pigs, sheep and a shepherd boy to name but a few came to life with the skill of Steve Newton’s storytelling and fired the children’s imaginations.

Form 2 then spent the whole day taking an original tale and inventing their own plays by changing the settings and characters, or in one case by creating a new tale of their own based on the principle of good overcoming evil.  The setting included Deep Dark Woods, enchanted bushes, castles and towers.  The children enjoyed the opportunity to allow their imaginations to run wild, creating characters such as a unicorn, phoenix, witch, queen, princess, elves and dragons.  The children all made shadow puppets and scenery before working in groups to stage their play.  As you can imagine, this involved an awful lot of teamwork and co-operation.  Puppeteer, Steve Newton, was very impressed by the standard of work achieved and the children’s ability to listen and work alongside each other.

At the end of the day Reception and Form 1 returned once more for another puppet show, but this time it was the turn of the Form 2 children to take up their own puppets behind the shadow screen to produce their alternative tales, as their audience watched appreciatively.