The Torch Opens at Macaulay Primary School, Clapham
On Monday 23rd January Scene Change Theatre Company piloted their new Olympic ‘play in a day’ The Torch. Year 5 from Macaulay C E Primary School in Clapham learnt about how the ancient games were born out of a context of war. The warm up trains the children for their first battle re-enactment between the Spartans and Athenians. The warring states of Greece eventually saw athletic competition as a way to settle their differences and so a truce was established to encourage participation. Children play the parts of 4 Olympian Gods who have been charged with the job of assessing whether the spirit of the games has been lost or not. Prometheus, the mediator between mankind and the Gods, is sent to steal back the flame but he has seen glimpses of ‘human spirit’ which he cannot ignore. The children worked very hard together on the scenes and performed their pieces with great skill. In one scene the children re-enacted a Marathon race in Kentucky, USA where everybody cheats to get to the finish line. The children’s physical movement and mime was excellent as they performed the piece as if on a Hollywood silent movie film set. We were all very pleased with our first outing and we look forward to our next performance at Chichester Cathedral in February. Commenst and photos will follow…
