The Accused is sentenced....
A cold, draughty, noisy weaving shed; hard, dangerous and difficult work; hungry, exhausted and downtrodden workers - this was the scene conjured up by our students in a two-part play they devised, requiring lots of imagination, self expression and a bit of historical licence.
Every week, the children work on a different improvisation, to help them understand what it might be like to be in someone else's shoes, to articulate what that person might be thinking, and to learn how to empathise : this particular play, however, was a long way from the children's own experience and they had to draw on huge powers of imagination as they progressd from factory to street, begging for bread, counting their pennies or selling their goods. Although most were appalled when a thief made off with a loaf of bread, some sympathies were also expressed and the children realised that things are not always black and white.
Unusually, the story ran on into a second week, seeing the thief caught and judged. The children learned how to defend their friend, or to accuse him accurately and clearly, and finally to pass judgement. But it was the "magistrate" who had the last word, and the miscreant's future lay in his hands...
It was surprising and revealing how different groups came to quite different conclusions, some not at all popular!
The Improvisation was enhanced with a few costumes, but the atmosphere created was largely due to the children's own involvement and interest.
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