Below is a list of themed projects that are available on request.
Road
to Ragnarok
A day of storytelling, writing and becoming, with Adrinskald the Viking
poet, using the pick n mix menu of stories, drama, writing, and poetry.
Adrinskald the Viking who is the poet in residence for the Jorvik Centre
in York, recently appeared at St Mary's Primary school, Chappletown, Sheffield
and worked with one year 3 class for a full day. The pick n mix menu of
stories, drama, writing, poetry and interaction has more than enough material
on it for a few days worth of activities.
Andvari's
Gold
An exciting show featuring the voice of the festival, Jorvik Festival's
very own poet in residence Adrinskald. Walk with the un-valiant dead, be
turned to evil by the curse of the ring, see the twisted form of once fun
Loki create an unstoppable hatred that destroys the world, but this time
the dark side wins and it is all great fun. Fafnir the dragon and Adrinskald
himself find the mythic being in your heart in this riveting one man story
show. Ideal for theatre audiences from kiddy wids to biggy wigs.
Essence
of Journey
Artist Jo Pullar teams with Adrian to use story and art to turn your adventures
in to banners. As commissioned by York Viking Festival and Arts Action York
Light
on this City
Improvised storytelling with a whole host of prompts and models based around
the cultural history of York: Originally commissioned for the Festival of
Light by York's Literature Officer.
The Dolly and
the Beans
Interactive story journey up the Ouse to York from myth, history and first-hand
reminiscence: Originally commissioned for York River Festival.
Mists
of the Ancients
A show in word, song and melody.
Colleges and secondary schools have been transfixed by this mystical exploration
of our cultural heritage and magical roots.
Water
- Earth's Birth.
Shrinking to Miniature, a mix of poetry adventure and creative writing.
The session starts with a dramatisation 'Shrinking to Miniature' to get
us all into the feel of the project, we then move into an exciting instant
poem on deep sea diving to stir the imagination. This is followed by a group
personification before moving on to a series of individual poems, ie Thank
You For Water, I am A Waterfall etc.
Shrinking To Miniature is designed to be 'actable' so the pupils can easily
go along with the story, yet with hidden depths. This means that the poem
can be followed up with discussion on its contents, ie the class working
out that they were pursued by a Water-boatman or lost inside a bird. It
also stimulates discussion of types of water leading on to the pupils writing
about frozen waterfalls or cloud etc.
All group poems are taken away and returned to you either as a small book
or as posters.
Seasons
Each group choses a season, acting out the relevant poem. They will then
create their own work to share at the end of the session. This has worked
with a wide range of age groups and is also available with percussion. Beverley
Manor Nursery originally commissioned this project.
Whatever
The Weather
A whole series of poems from the Beaufort Scale to signing up as a member
of the WARM Front. The moon gets in a sulk, the children get dizzy spinning
round the world and HAND demonstrates a hurricane. Get to know your rain
cycle with this exciting performance from Adrian Spendlow.
Originally commissioned by Burlington Infants School, Bridlington.
The
30’s In Poetry
Randomly selected poem cards - each of which features 30’s objects
and is modelled on a poem of the time - are performed and then discussed.
The poems draw on reminiscences of older people to create characters in
many situations. the pupils decide on the characteristics and likely behaviour
of each person and then look at how they would inter-react. We then form
an instant mini-drama from their work. Pupils are drawn into this outgoing
behaviour surprisingly well and develop acting / public speaking skills
with enthusiasm. The poems can then be used as models for groups to write
and this is aided by the take away guide-packs.
(This project can and has been teamed successfully with
Night in an Anderson Shelter)
The 30’s In Poetry was originally commissioned for The Castle Museum in York.
The 40's - Night
In An Anderson Shelter
Sound effects and ‘lights out’ set the scene for this riveting
drama that engages the children in the experience of a night in a shelter,
with plenty of home grown entertainment to take our minds off the bombing.
Two sessions and a writing follow up can easily be set into your day.
Britain - The Way
We Live
Originally commissioned for National Poetry day for work in Harrogate every
aspect of ordinary life is acted out in quirky original plays.
Circus
- Circus
a good project from my days of poetry dramas where everyone joins in.
Three sessions can be completed in one day. Ideal for an arts week and adaptable
for different age groups.
An exciting whodunnit drama where the children run away to the circus and
end up saving the day.
At a recent performance when the characters were supposed to wave goodbye
one child called out in all seriousness 'No we don’t want to go home'.
Egypt
- The Death Of Tutankhamun
Essentially a poem that takes half a day to read. Yet children love it,
becoming totally immersed in the genre. Great for crystallising your current
learning. Incorporates storytelling based on myth which leads to writing
opportunities.
This exciting half day of acting which can either be repeated or followed
by creative writing is based on research which tells the story of Tutankhamun’s
murder, with the pupils being magically transported to the time in question
to act as his friends and supporters. Playing slaves, grave robbers and
rich traders along the way to the finale where they escort their king to
the land of the dead.
This project was recently adapted successfully for shorter sessions at Teeside
University. This was as part of a residency for the Meteor Project.
The
Search For The Bluebell Pixie
A half day drama that explores the world of faery using myths, fables and
legends. Be trapped by the elves, rescued by the dwarves and seek the wisdom
of strange creatures both frightening and beautiful.
Normandby Hall Park Gardens, near Scunthorpe, originally commissioned me
for this magical adventure. Although
originally written for a park this could be adapted for use in a school’s
grounds etc.
Poemspotters
Listening
To think you have to learn and to learn you have to listen and to listen
you have to share and to share you have to talk and to talk you have to
think and to think you have to learn and to learn you have to listen and
to listen you have to share and to share you have to talk and to talk you
have to think.
The Wizz Bang Hat
- Sounds in our environment.
The power of the ‘Wizz Bang Hat’ draws children back in time to
several scenarios of their choice. Experience the past - as it happened
on this very spot - whilst exploring the sounds of our environment.
We explore cave-people times, dinosaurs, canals, railways and more. What's
more, it all happened right here.
Time for three sessions of these adventures in a day, or mix and match with
other projects.
Sailors
A poem series that flows along as a play with all taking part. Called away
by Drake's drum to experience the thrill of life at sea.
Poetry
Pirates
Adrian becomes the pirate to the extent that they really believe him. There
is a whole scenario on display of a pirate ship and a dessert island which
leads the children on a guessing game from poem to poem. Each poem is in
a different style or form and they are acted out as an ongoing adventure.
Works with different groups all day and finishes with them all performing.
A full CD of follow up activities is also included and the whole school
can be involved.
Seaside
Adventures
Also known as The Bridlington Poems seaside is a string of my very best
drama poems for younger children or the child within us all.
Poetry
Adventures - Children’s Poetry Drama
Interactive drama poetry is a speciality of Adrian’s. Each line suggests
an action or involvement and groups of children take turns to be part of
the play as it develops before your eyes. Great fun.
How it works: I have a wide selection of poems designed to be dramatised
and can choose a selection to suit your needs. Ability and session lengths
can be adapted easily. Many of the poems are taken from the themed dramas
to add to the range available. Lively and all action where children become
wrapped up in the experience as every line (or word) leads to involvement.
A whole school in three days.
I recently worked out a timetable with a local school where every pupil
had a poetry drama experience and was given the opportunity to write. Session
lengths were tailored to needs and ability and instant group poems were
offered, either as part of the session or as a take away. We even fitted
in a ‘best actor’ performance for each year group at the end of
each session and for the whole school on the last day.
Poetry Adventures have worked well in settings from Ripon Festival’s Town Square event to a Galtres Special Needs School. I have even ran a session with an all adult audience. Many Schools and festivals (And Superstores!) ask Adrian to bring along a relevant selection of poetry adventures.
Africa
Recently commissioned for younger children and has been successfully adapted
for use at festivals and with a wider range of ages. Modelled on the story
of the honey bird we start our adventure around a campfire glowing in the
night and through our attempts to help our grandfather find honey we become
‘lost’ in the world of Africa. Meet poachers, tribal dancers,
rainforest and nomadic tribes. Be rescued from crocodiles by Nyami Nyami
the river god and fly with him back through time to an ancient peoples.
You will walk with a huge bundle on your head, run in fear, sing and dance
and of course you will adopt a baby elephant. (We do find our way home in
the end) Now a full length drama
Toys
and puppets
Recently commissioned for a school in Leeds I worked with three classes,
each spending time working on a poetry play connected with their current
project. Hence: Toys Through Time, Toys of the World and George and the
Dragon for puppets
The children developed their acting skills and helped write parts of the
poetry drama and the three plays were presented to the school at the end
of the day. As well as being available as is, this is a highly adaptable
model for use within your themed project.
Saint
and Bard
Every year for a few years now I have been asked to go along to the Saint
and Bard day at Halifax Peace Hall to run the ‘Dragon Tent’. Children
come along to this exciting day, that has a whole host of events for all
ages, to join me in writing group poems and acting out exciting adventures.
We then perform on the main stage for all to see. (I also do a solo set
of poetry for grown ups) Each year I am requested to write specially for
the day. And as the day commemorates the birthday of Shakespeare and St.
Georges Day I have written around these themes.
(Death of Hamlet and George and the Dragon are two of
the results)
Death
of Hamlet
Ten minute drama poem (More shakespeare based projects are being planned
planned).
Please come and check this section again soon, we are continuing to add and update.
The
Shops - Going Shopping (Sorry, but this is
no longer available.)
The creation of mini-plays inspired by poem-cards chosen at random.
An exciting walk into town leads to meeting many different characters in
the shops.
Using poem cards where each one represents a different situation in shops
and a different character we draw the cards two at a time in random order
and then chat about what we think of the characters and situations in the
poems. We then put them together to discover how they would inter-react
and from this create a mini-drama.
Roald
Razzmatazz (Sorry, but this is no longer available.)
Roald and Mathilda Majeka and their travelling read-show take you on a whistle-stop
tour of the world of books. (Originally commissioned for
York Libraries for their Reading Razzmatazz Festival for National Year of
Reading.)
