Hello Again! How are you coping in these turbulent, anxious and, frankly, terrifying times? It’s been just over 2 months since I was last in touch with you all and so much has changed! We all thought that coping with Covid was bad enough (it was) but now we’ve been hit by something possibly even more debilitating – The Cost Of Living Crisis. So whether you are a teacher, TA, parent, carer or child – how are you coping?
“The Queen, my lord, is dead.”
How many times have we asked children to say those words over the years? Following the demise of Lady Macbeth, a servant has the grim task of passing on the tragic news to her husband, Lord Macbeth. Now however, those very words have a slightly different resonance because ‘The Queen’ and ‘Our Queen’ (as President Macron said) IS dead. And suddenly we are all part of a new Shakespearean tragedy with a new King, two new Prime Ministers, betrayal, fear, anger, anxiety, jealousy, war, and unrequited love. How are YOU coping with all of this?
Coping in the Autumn Term
I’ll be honest, it’s been a slow start to the academic year for us. In fact I would go so far as to say it’s one of the slowest starts to the year that we’ve ever had (with the exception of the 2020 Covid Year). However, I’m glad to report we do have some repeat bookings – including one usual Autumn Term booking which has moved to the Spring Term – and lots of enquiries. It’s clear though that Shakespeare is having to take his place in the priority queue. How are we coping? By being sanguine! Trying to remain as calm as possible and keeping the faith that, like Covid, one day this will all be over!
We’re looking forward to heading back to Hornchurch next week to work on Macbeth with Year 6 at St Mary’s Catholic Primary. Last year they served up kebabs, haggis, sushi and wasabi at King Duncan’s banquet, so we’re eager to see what’s on the menu this year!
Coping in the Spring Term
The Spring term is always a busy one for FINDING THE WILL and, thankfully, that still seems to be the case next year. We are kicking off 2023 with a return visit to lovely Great Leighs Primary in Essex. This will be our 4th visit to this cracking school and we are returning with A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. It’s the perfect way to start a new year!
We’re back in Bristol with The Tempest at Whitehall Primary in February and heading to a new school to us in Birmingham in March – St Catherine of Siena in Lee Bank – with A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth. With our old friends at Castleview Primary in Slough slotting us in at the beginning of March, The Spring Term is looking promising. And then there’s something very exciting happening………….
Merthyr Tydfil Children’s Literature Festival
We have been invited to be part of what, by all accounts, is the biggest children’s literature festival in the UK. Prior to the Festival we will be working with a local primary school on Macbeth, running an interactive workshop and then rehearsing two scenes with them to be performed at the Launch of the Festival. On the day itself (20 April 2023) we will be running two Macbeth Interactive Workshops in Welsh. As if all this wasn’t exciting enough, also at the Festival will be our patron, the children’s legend that is Michael Rosen! We can’t wait!
So as grim as the times may seem right now, keep smiling everyone. Check in now and again with your loved ones to see how they are coping and stay strong! We WILL get through this as we always do.
