The Glass Boy - a powerful musical
play using puppets to raise awareness of racism and related issues
– has proved so effective that it is touring Suffolk schools again
this spring.
The play will be seen by up to 2400 children and is targeted at
Year 5 because this age-group has consistently recorded the highest
number of reported racist incidents over the ten years in which
Suffolk has collected data from schools.
Commissioned by Suffolk County Council as a joint venture
between the Social Inclusion and Diversity (SCC) and the Children
and Young People Services Directorate (SCC), the play was piloted
in 2005 and toured 30 primary schools last year. The project is
jointly funded by Crime and Disorder Reduction Partners across
Suffolk
Written and directed by theatre educator Gill Brigg, the show
uses puppets to look at racism, bullying, anti-social behaviour,
and other forms of discrimination, aiming to promote community
cohesion through active participation
Five new puppets, including a Polish child and a Traveller Child
have been created for this year’s tour and are operated by
multi-skilled performers
Gill said: “The story is loosely based on the Damilola Taylor
incident. It is about a Muslim boy and a white girl in a
school class who all get along well until their older siblings are
involved in violent fight, which changes everything.
“The play evokes very powerful responses from the children
so we stop the action every so often to discuss the issues as they
arise. All the Year 5 teachers are offered Inset sessions
beforehand and a pack of
resources to use in the classroom afterwards.”
Please
click here to view the 2008 Glass Boy show times.
If you would like to attend a showing, please contact Gill Brigg,
Creative Director for the show.
Telephone: 01473 281530
Email:
Gbrigg.spencer@zen.co.uk
The schedule of performances in January, February and March is
attached:
Performance Schedule (PDF,
22kb)