Adrian Spendlow - Project Reports

Adrian's Project Reports.

New Projects - Halloween -

Viking Banners Project - Report for Huntington Road day Centre - 11th December 2006
What a lovely visit: A smashing group who listened when it was right to listen, and jumped in and chatted when it was right to do so. Knowing just when to ask a question, when to add an idea, when to lighten the atmosphere and when to make fun of me! The staff joined in as equals and were part of the enjoyable experience, contributing as much imagination as the group who were on free rain to be part of things. This was the first visit as part of the Viking Banner Project that will lead to a display and performance at the Jorvik Viking Festival 2007. Not just the first visit here but the first visit to anywhere and the first time this, year in year out, successful event has had a storyteller involved. So it was my first visit anywhere. All the ideas and approaches, activities
and props were new too. So it could have gone anyway. Perhaps it all went so very well because of the quality of the group! They were certainly very kind to me. They certainly came up with a great story. See Walk for Water
to read their journey. That of course is the theme and what a great start. Interactive models and cards brought improvised Viking myth stories to life for them and helped us look deep within the Viking heart. Hence the story
They are looking forward to meeting up with, not only myself again but our artist. They sorted out when it would be best for us to go along in fact. So look forward to hearing more from this group as the project progresses.

Story 1 - Walk For Water
We the people - come out of the Earth. - Barren lands became more barren, - dry. so very dry. - We had to survive. - We had to travel. - 60 on a journey to find water. Very thirsty, we set off across new land. - All of us; our leader, - cooks, crofters and crofters all. - Each of us different. different skills, different people, but all together. - We all had our part to play in life. - But one of us was leader. - Heading for the fiords - we had our heads hung low. - We began to hope, - he began to tell us, 'Look to your desires,' - "Search the ground for gems' - But we were only hungry. - We saw plants and wanted roots. We dug at the hard dry earth with our bare hands. - Dry, it had had no water. - We dug. - With our bare hurt hands at first, - then with tools we found. - Old bones laid about were our tools. - bead animals gave us the strength to dig the hard ground. - These were remains from long ago when animals still thrived here. - The roots came free from the ground! - We gladly shoved the earthy roots into our mouths. - We chewed, - these roots were, tough (our mouth is full). - spiky (our cheeks are rammed), - furry (we swallow hard). - Unhappy with our dry hard roots we wish for water. - "We will have water.' - We rise. - Great Spirit within rises up to lift us. - Great spirit within shows us, - our strength of character. - We find our courage and step forward. - We stride out bravely to step forward towards, - water. - Water where there flies dragons! - Dragons! - Inland are mighty dragons. - Watching down over water, - to swoop, from high fiord edge, and take the thirsty, - lamb, lion, child or mighty oxen. - and in the sea-path swim the serpents. - Soon to rise, these lizards of the deep take bite and swallow. - With our new courage still we wonder. - Dragons in caves. - Serpents on water. - This water had better be special water, - with all this risk and all that way to go. - The water there had better be magical at the very least. - Or is it worth the risk? - We start to shake. - Inwardly we tremble, - are
becoming fearful. - Leader says, 'I'm right behind you.' - Who is brave? - Send in the bravest. - None of us. - We don't want to risk the dragon. - We step behind him. - 'Well who is daftest?' - Send in the daftest. - None so daft as wouldn't have walked on anyway. - Not so daft as that, we step behind again. - Behind each other back and back. - until we are so very far back we are at the water's source. - Cowardly back perhaps, - but here we are at sparkling spring. - Remembering how very thirsty - we cup our hands. Cup our hands and catch this glistening, wonderfully cold life- saving thing. - And it is magical. - One taste of this water and we know the magic of life. - Living it. - Drink in deep and live. - Use the magic of life in all its refreshing wonder - to wish for simple things. - We wish for health; - For happiness; - For all we need to help us live; - For all we love to be about us. - We wish for nothing more than this. (But deep inside a small voice whispers, "What would it be like to be a G0D!'').

Adrian Spendlow in collaboration with Huntington Road Day Centre.