Ancient Greeks

Victorians

Tudors

Egyptians

Invaders

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Ancient Greeks - The Adventures of Theseus

Join Theseus over 2500 years ago as he travels through Ancient Greece discovering a life rich in sport, religion and art. The gods watch over Theseus in his quest to find his father. Through the people he meets and the places he visits, we learn of Ancient Greece and the legacies passed down to the present day; Olympics, Music, Theatre and Art.

This exciting piece of physical theatre uses Mime, Music, Storytelling and audience role-play to arrive at the climax as Theseus enters the Labyrinth and comes face to face with the Minotaur, a creature half man, half bull.

QCA scheme of work Unit 14: Who were the ancient Greeks? is covered in the show.

Learning outcomes from the following sections are included:

Section 1: Where and when was ancient Greece ?

Section 5: Who did the ancient Greeks worship and why?

Section 6: What happened at the theatre?

Section 7: What do the sources tell us about the importance of the Olympic games to the ancient Greeks?

Teacher notes accompany all productions, giving follow up work suggestions

Summary of the play:

The play begins with two American tourists on their travels.  They take the audience on a journey from London, through major European Countries/cities in order to arrive in modern Greece.  In Athens, they visit the Acropolis and are fascinated by the old looking vases with figures on them.  The figures on the imaginary vases come alive and the audience travel back in time to the year 500BC.

The audience become the Greek citizens, women and slaves of ancient Athens sitting on hard rock seating cut out of the hillside.  They meet Zeus and Athene who introduce the role of the theatre in Ancient Greek society.  Zeus explores the difference between comedy and tragedy in plays and the role of the chorus is explained.  As part of the celebration of the festival of plays in honour of Dionysus, the children enjoy the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, while still experiencing everyday Ancient Greek life and other Ancient Greek mythological characters.  The Minotaur is slayed and the story ends.  The audience return to Zeus and Athene, everyone participates in one last final song.

Also available are History/Drama workshops lasting 2 hours and for up to 90 children. These will expand on the theatre techniques seen in the performance with an insight into life in the period. For more details click on Workshop button

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Victorians - The Top Hat Tale

This Victorian Top Hat Tale is an entertaining and educational look at life in Victorian Britain.

Two comic Victorian Historians and various period characters take the audience back in time to experience domestic life, inventions, education and the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Legend Theatre's characters will use mime, song and storytelling to dispute forever the saying "we are not amused!"

QCA scheme of work Unit 11: What was it like for children living in Victorian Britain? is covered in the show.

Learning outcomes from the following sections are included:

Section 1: Who were the Victorians and when did they live?

Section 2: What was life like for a poor child in 1840's?

Section 4: What was it like going to school at the end of 19th century?

Section 6: How did life change for children living in Victorian Britain?

Teacher notes accompany all productions, giving follow up work suggestions

Outline of the Show:

The children are met by two modern day professors who need to collect Victorian information in order to write their book. The professors introduce MAVIS (My Audio Visual Information Selector)

The Machine chugs and whirs as the artefacts are pulled out.  The children look at the evidence and explore clues to the past before travelling back to Queen Victoria's Coronation in 1837.

Several years later, the young Queen Victoria meets with her cousin Albert where she proposes marriage to him.  In an age where women took on the passive role of Angel in the House, we see the exception to the rule.  Prince Albert loses his hat where it accidentally falls into the hands of the innocent children Smithy and Thomas.  Thomas is arrested by the Peelers, on suspicion of theft.  He is thrown into prison and threatened with transportation.  Smithy's quest is to get Thomas out of trouble!

In true Victorian tradition, our story ends happily with a music hall melodrama.  The children are then returned back to the modern day professors where they gather the final clues and recap informtion for the Victorian book.

Also available are History/Drama workshops lasting 2 hours and for up to 90 children. These will expand on the theatre techniques seen in the performance with an insight into life in the period. For more details click on Workshop button

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------------------------LEGEND THEATRE COMPANY----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tudors - Tudor Times "Read all about it"

The Tudor period overflows with great stories, events and characters. Legend Theatre create a Tudor age influenced by King Henry VIII and his queens, the pursuit of knowledge, travel and adventure.

Drawing on skills in mime, music, storytelling and puppetry, the audience become involved as an exciting tale unfolds. "Welcome to the Tudor Art Gallery ...", the scene is set but these paintings reveal more than the eye first sees. With the Spanish Armada in the English Channel and William Shakespeare waiting in the wings, the stage is set for an absorbing Tudor tale.

QCA scheme of work Unit 7: Why did Henry VIII marry six times? is covered in the show.

Learning outcomes from the following sections are included:

Section 1: How many times did Henry VIII marry?

Section 2: What was Henry VIII like as a person?

Section 3: What did Henry VIII do all day?

Section 4: Why did Henry divorce Catherine of Aragon

Teacher notes accompany all productions, giving follow up work suggestions

Summary of the play:

Two investigative journalists from the Tudor Times are on the trail of the Tudors.  On their journey they meet Shakespeare who is writing a play about Henry VIII.  Henry is discovered preparing for a joust.  He informs his leading churchman Thomas Wolsey that he wants a divorce.  The Pope refuses and Henry dissolves the monasteries forming the church of England. At the court of this leading Tudor king, the children help to prepare a magnificent feast.  Jugglers, musicians, painters, stilt walkers and of course the Royal Jester help to make this a banquet to be remembered. Time moves to the court of Elizabeth I and the battle of the Armada.  Sir Francis Drake leads the British fleet to victory against Spain. The Journalists return from their fact finding mission with plenty of information,  They examine the evidence they found and set off to write their report.

Also available are History/Drama workshops lasting 2 hours and for up to 90 children. These will expand on the theatre techniques seen in the performance with an insight into life in the period. For more details click on Workshop button

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Egyptians - Mozi on the Nile

An archeologist has arrived in Egypt. As she carefully brushes away the dirt she notices the faded carvings of hieroglyphics. She finds more stone pieces and fits them together like a jigsaw puzzle. What does the writing reveal? She finds a golden necklace with the eye of Ra hanging from it. What does it mean? Magically, Ra answers her questions and takes the audience back in time to meet Mosi, a young Egyptian boy. Mosi travels with his father to find the secret of the stones and the building of the pyramids.

Through participatory storytelling, puppetry, mime, masks and music, the audience find out about life in Ancient Egypt such as trade, farming, home life, religion and embalming a mummy.

QCA scheme of work Unit 10: What can we find out about ancient Egypt from what has survived? is covered in the show.

Learning outcomes from the following sections are included:

Section 1: What do we already know about ancient Egypt?

Section 2: What can we learn about ancient Egypt from one object?

Section 3: What does the landscape tell us abot what life might have been like in ancient Egypt?

Section 6: What did the ancient Egyptians believe about life after death?

Teacher notes accompany all productions, giving follow up work suggestions

Summary of the play:

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------------------------LEGEND THEATRE COMPANY----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invaders - The Golden Belt

Zorg the time travelling Alien invades your school, taking the children back in time to meet the Romans, Vikings and Anglo Saxon Britain. Join in an adventurous hunt for Thor's mighty belt.

This stimulating performance combines participatory storytelling, puppetry, mime and music as audiences become involved in an exciting Viking tale of Gods, kings, feasts and longboats.

QCA scheme of work Unit 6C: Why have people invaded and settled in Britain in the past? Viking case study is covered in the show.

Learning outcomes from the following sections are included:

Section 1: Why do people move away from where they were born?

Section 2: Who invaded and settled in Britain a long time ago?

Section 3: Why did the Vikings travel from their homelands and where did they go?

Section 4: How did the Vikings travel so far from their homelands?

Teacher notes accompany all productions, giving follow up work suggestions

Summary of the play:

Zorg, an alien and his spacedog Milo have returned to earth in search of a golden belt they lost on a previous visit during the Viking era.  They arrive by space ship and by mistake invade your school. After talking to a Roman road builder, Zorg and Milo realise that they are in the right place but the wrong time.  They then travel back in time to 870 AD.  Just as they find the belt in a chest, a Viking raid begins and they hide.

From out of the battle staggers Olaf, a Viking warrior. He finds a wooden chest.  Unbeknown to Olaf, a map showing the location of Thor's golden belt lies inside.  Sailing home on his longship, Olaf intends to present the unopened box to his father.  With the help of audience participation, the longship sails on, rowing and navigating by the stars.  Olaf returns to his Viking settlement and begins to build a new boat.  

King Guthrum returns and shows the new slaves (the audience) their duties around the settlement, farming, woodcutters, smiths etc. He then prepares for the festival of Vetroblot in the longhouse. King Guthram opens the chest and finds a map of England and Denmark he tells Olaf to return to England and find the belt that is buried in King Alfred’s throne room.

King Alfred is worried and puts two children to guard his throne room. Olaf and the others arrive and outwit the guards.  Inside they dig up the belt but when seen by King Alfred are chased back to the ship.  They return to Denmark.   Olaf secretly tries on the belt.  He hears music and fears an angry Thor is returning. He runs off.  The Aliens return to claim the belt and conclude the story with a song.

Also available are History/Drama workshops lasting 2 hours and for up to 90 children. These will expand on the theatre techniques seen in the performance with an insight into life in the period. For more details click on Workshop button

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