Primary Tall Tales

The government is increasingly realising the importance of ‘starting early’ in education, for example by 2010 children will be taught a new foreign language at aged 7. Primary school age (4-11yrs) is an important period in a child’s development as they build up a set of fundamental skills and habits.

Amelix can deliver incredibly effective results with this age group as they have a pronounced
receptivity not only to educational but also to behavioral influences at this age. Therefore the Youth Engagement Team at Amelix have worked alongside teachers, psychologists and child learning experts to create a project that targets this wide and varied age range using our unique blend of interactive performance and absorbing storytelling.

We have commissioned our own theatre company of facilitators, performers, storytellers and
workshop leaders who are trained to the highest standards and bring passion, energy and
commitment to each and every project. We have utilised the newest in theatrical technology using extraordinary props, costume and set to create colourful, playful characters that engage with the children, grab their attention and hold onto it.

• Amelix’s team will devise a unique performance based solely around a client brief or keymessage, creating a short play that iswritten for them and revolves exclusively around their campaign.
• The only thing that is consistent in each unique production is that a central character mustencounter an obstacle which they are unable to overcome.
• The show is performed to the children, and the obstacle is discussed with them using a mixture of games, pictures music and dance. This is mediated by the narrator of the story who encourages the children to give their opinion on what has happened in the performance.
• The children are then roughly split into the same number of groups as there are characters. The actors talk to their respective groups, listening to the opinions and advice of the children.
• Then the play is restarted, and it runs as before, but this time whenever an actor feels as though the advice they have been given from their group could be implemented, they improvise a new scenario.
• The other characters in the piece will react as they feel their characters would react and the play continues down the new route. At any time the teams of children can call out to the narrator – and give their charactersmoreadvice
• The performance is dictated by the children and controlled by the narrator, and together they find the happy ending and focus of themessage.

By giving the children control of the show, they find themselves becoming entirely absorbed and revel in being involved in this situation and having control over the performance they are viewing – becoming active participants instead of passive spectators.

As the children change so much within this age range this technique is slightly adapted for children between 4-7years. Many of the methods already mentioned will be used but the team will also use Inclusive Storytelling skills. These practices still allow the children to be involved in the building and creation of the story but the stories are more fictional and are more accessible to a younger age group. The actors will utilise sensory and simple voice and gesture techniques and create exciting and colourful characters that will enable the children to approach an important issue in a fun and inspiring manner.

Exciting and Engaging: The children are not sitting at desks, they are on their feet playing games, drawing ideas and controlling their character and the outcome of a performance. These performances are something new, exciting and absorbing.

Educational & Empowering: Because of the format of the project, the children don’t realise they are learning. By asking them to put themselves into the shoes of a character, think about how they are feeling and what they should do they truly grasp themessage and hold onto it.

Key phrases are repeated throughout the performances, displayed and read on big screens, written on huge pieces of paper, talked about within their group and most importantly responded to by the children.

They are listened to; their views are discussed and then tried and tested in performance right before their eyes. This project not only communicates your message, it encourages openness and inquisitiveness about it resulting in a true grasp and lastingmemory.

Primary Tall Tales can be adapted to any messa ge from literally any client. We have created performances that promote recycling as well as the internet, road and firework safety. Because all our performances are unique and devised by our team around your needs, we can create bespoke performances based on anything as well as seasonal activities that are specific to the age range and the message.By going into schools and communicating with this age group, it gives them a lasting confidence, knowledge and experience about how to deal with the subject matter in the future.

Promotionalworkshops which take advantage of the power ofmulti-styled learning andmulti-sensory learning give the children a richer experience immersing them in an exciting captivating world.