Let Us Tell You a Tale

In Drama this term, BSB students have been exploring the art of Storytelling through Juilliard’s Creative Classroom. Over the past few weeks we have experienced how masterful storytellers Alston, Gonzalez and Koram merge tradition, heritage, and artistry in their tellings of Anansi’s Children, Orpheus and Eurydice, and The Grandmother and the Eagle. This unique grouping of tales offers a diversity of content, origin, and style, while finding unity in the common elements that permeate cultures, traditions, and the craft of storytelling. Explored together, these three storytellers exemplify a range of storytelling from theatrical performance to fireside gatherings.

Over the past few weeks we have explored how Storytellers:

• use their voices, physicality and expressions to embody and switch between characters in a tale.
• use the repetition of characters or a particular place to help recall the details of a journey.
• use hyperbole to create emphasis and interest.

This week, our block of learning culminated for Year 6 in their own Storytelling group performances. Students created and embodied their own characters, discovered their motivation and designed their own narrative structures. Their performances today were exceptional! Well done, Eagles!

By Lisa Allan

Performing Arts Teacher