temperature

NPG

the lodge

The Blanket Play by Tom, Martha, Craig, William and Daniel, 2011 

"Crow Lodge of 25 Buffalo Skins" by George Catlin, 1830

in the beginning...

The Book of Kingdoms was a high-concept theatre-in-education project initially aimed at 9-11 year olds. It ended up also appealing to 8 year olds and 80 year olds.

There were 28 performances with 1700 attendances over the seven and a half week tour with accompanying workshops at the schools’ performances.

Five adult performers were employed (including a musician and a dance artist) and three young actors aged 9-10 years sharing/alternating a role.

There was also a guest appearance at each performance by either a States Member (a politician) or a year 5 or year 6 teacher. [In the few absences of this guest the Director took their place.]

The original aim with the project was three-fold:

• to create a wholly engaging and inspiring 70-minute theatre piece for 9-11 year olds

• to generate a curiosity about: the history being explored; the world in which we live; and the land, the sea and the people of the island of Jersey

• to challenge conventions and concepts of theatre, history and the way we learn

The project was high-concept because a number of these ideas made for extraordinary, challenging and pioneering realisations:

• the bringing together of twelve differently skilled and experienced artists
• an unconventional theatre-design process
• the fantastical world of the piece created by the child
• the contemporary world - of today - of [the] play 
• the creation of unique characters: the King, the Farmer, the Dancer, the Cleaner, the Boy, the Musician, the Politician
• the casting of children in key creative roles
• the structure of the 30 books: from books to milk to bikes to friends
• the necessity for a wider historical context beyond King Charles II's two visits to Jersey in 1646 and 1649
• the commissioning of two original songs
• the live music accompaniament not originally conceived
• the invitation to States Members to participate as politicians as an integral part of the debate
• the gifting of 1700 Jersey Diary ice-creams as an integral part of the action
• the freezer-machinations of said ice-creams
• the freezer conditions of rehearsal
• the development of a multi-layered performance text
• the improvisational skills of the performers
• the development of workshops to complement and enhance the theatre experience
• and probably much more besides… 

The Book of Kingdoms will be assessed on its ability to:

• communicate history through theatre-making
• to concentrate and liberate the imaginations and creativity of its participants
• commit to the essence of original story-telling and play
• fulfil the three original aims above

Just a few thoughts to debrief myself: now done...

[research] northern exposure: series one

1. what's a bagel?

2. think like a fish

3. alaska is the world: a drop in the bucket

4. what are we gonna do with all the rice?

5. i know and you don't wanna know

6. big responsibility waiting for a distaster to happen

7. entertainment tonight calls it...

8. marilyn: there is only one line

holy motors / holy cow

beasts of the southern wild

shame

lost horizon '37