The theatre company bringing children’s ideas to life

On a sunny morning at Victoria Park Primary School, the sounds of year three pupils practising their lines, playing instruments and curating interpretive dance moves echoes through the hallway of the Bedminster school.

The lively activities are part of ‘Play in a Week’ where, once a year, pupils pitch, rehearse and perform a play all in the space of five days.

The inspiring programme is the work of Travelling Light, a theatre company which works with schools across Bristol to help young people develop their confidence and skills as actors, musicians, dancers and designers.

The company began working with Victoria Park school in 2013, and is now celebrating its 10th anniversary there.

Initially, pupils pitch their ideas to a scriptwriter, who then writes up a script that attempts to cram in as many of the pupil’s ideas as possible.

Pupils at Victoria Park primary school create and practice their dance for Friday’s showing – photo: Mia Vines Booth

Pupils then choose whether they want to be actors, musicians, dancers, designers, and more, developing the play over a week before performing to a live audience on the Friday.

This year’s play features an unlikely pairing, the stone age and the modern skateboard.

“Storytellers tell stone age people about modern day children who come into the stone age and introduce the wheels of a skateboard to them,” said Willow Vidal-Hall, Play in a Week’s theatre director, excitedly.

Willow highlighted how important the programme is for young people: “The ethos of Travelling Light is that it is led by young people,” she told Bristol24/7.

“The children are so responsive, but they also have to encourage and understand people’s opinions. It’s a really special thing for young people of this age and there’s an amazing sense of achievement after they perform on Friday.

“There’s an amazing sense of achievement after they perform” – photo: Travelling Light

“A lot of these young people have been through a pandemic, and you really see the effect of this on young people’s confidence. It really is about self confidence and team building and encouraging young people’s creativity.

Celeste Datta, who teaches year three at Victoria Park, emphasised the impact Play in a Week had on her pupils.

“What it gives these children is an idea that there are things out there that they can do, and when it comes to them having that opportunity again, when they are teenagers, they have that confidence already built in.”

The pupils certainly enjoy it. Dara and Hasfa, in year three, were overjoyed to be taking part when Bristol24/7 was given an exclusive preview. Hasfa said she loved how confident her character was, while Dara loved being able to work with instruments to make the performance come alive.

Nic Bailey, headteacher at the school, said Play in a Week was a highlight of the year for parents, staff and children.

“This is more than just enrichment; the opportunity to write, collaborate, rehearse and perform builds determination and confidence,” he said.

“It’s a wonderful week and we can’t wait to do it again.”

This year’s programme coincides with World Performance Week and the Drama and Theatre Education Alliance’s Seize the Day Campaign, a national initiative which promotes and celebrates the cultural, artistic and educational value of drama in schools, and of theatre for children and young audiences.

Main photo: Travelling Light

Read next:

• Children’s wellbeing disproportionately disadvanteged by pandemic, research finds
• It’s so important for our city to have accessible arts spaces for young people
• Grassroots programme boosting opportunities for young people in Bristol

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