Fri
Jun
29
For me this project has been one of the best education based projects I’ve been involved in.
The objective of putting together a performance for an audience from outside the school is a useful tool, but the important thing for me - when working on projects with young people and children - is the creative process and the ideas that they develop, not necessarily what it ends up as.
It was also terrific that I was given the support of the school (and encouraged by Creative Partnerships) to work with the staff.
By working with staff I feel that I am leaving a small legacy (even if it is the most humblest of skills or processes) and that my work is more than just delivering a project then leaving. I like to feel that my work has a bigger impact than what happens while I’m there and by working with staff it makes it more likely that what I did with the school can carry on without me being present.
I was particularly encouraged by one member of staff who told me that since she had got involved with the music group she has begun to play music at home in her free time after a lengthy period of not doing so. To be honest I’d be satisfied with having helped to achieve just that outcome let alone being part of an ambitious project like this one.
I’d like to thank the staff and pupils at St Johns as they made me feel very welcome and appreciated. I’d also like to thank Kate at Creative Partnerships for asking me to come on board for this project.
This is my last post as the project is now over and I’m going on holiday to recharge my batteries ready for something different on my return. Thanks for reading. - George
This is the whole backdrop as featured on the CD.
Sydney, the costume and props designer, checks that everything is in order with the “Tricky Sticky Monster/Man/Sweetshop proprietor”
This was the Cabaret Tent at the festival, the venue for our performance. You can see the backdrop that the set design team of pupils, with help from Rhys, created. I’ve also used it for the CD cover.
Despite the floods since last week it didn’t rain for the festival performance, but as soon as the day had finished at around 3pm the heavens opened and Coleford was flooded (again).
Fri
Jun
22
Today was the day of the performance at the Voices festival. I’ll keep this post brief as I’ll do a detailed final post next week with photos, recordings and quotes next week. It was a success, everyone enjoyed themselves, felt they had achieved something rather splendid and entertained those who came to see it. We did two performances and I suspect most people went away with the Clocktower song in their heads.
We woke up early to rain, it stopped as we got to the site early in the morning and by the time the schools all arrived the sun was breaking through the clouds with no real downpours. Almost miraculously, once the last coach left around 3 o’clock, the heavens opened and the heaviest rain I must have seen poured down in sheets. Unfortunately the site was pretty bogged down by the time we left at 4.30pm. I hope it stops raining and dries out in time for the folks at the Voices festival tomorrow.
Anyway there’s a lot more to be written next week.
Have a nice weekend if you’re reading tonight.
“ I keep humming that song
Nic, my wife - just now
Fri
Jun
15
Martin tells the story!
Some of the staff were telling me that they didn’t have an idea of what the story that the pupils have created for the performance involved. So if they happen to read this blog they can click on this link to hear Martin telling the story from a couple of weeks ago.
