The first of our 2019-20 productions is now on tour

Fred Theatre’s popular production of A Christmas Carol is now out on tour. Directed by Tracey Street, our team of six actors report that the production is receiving an amazing response from staff and students at all the schools where they are performing.

Although the diary is very busy already, there are a couple of opportunities to book a performance before Christmas if you’re quick.

As ever, to discuss any aspect of a visit from Fred Theatre to your school, please feel free to contact me or Helen Warrilow, our tour administrator. You can call us on 01789 777612 or email:

Helen: helen@fred-theatre.co.uk

We look forward to speaking with you soon, and bringing amazing live performance to your school this year.

Full details of all of our productions can be found on our web site, along with further information on the additional pedagogical material we’ve added in for this year:

www.fred-theatre.co.uk/schools

Robert Ball
Artistic Director
Fred Theatre

PS: Also on our website we have a great report on the value of booking a visiting theatre company, well worth a read.

Science School Trips Abroad

It is with great pleasure that I can share with you details of our bespoke science school trips. We hope that this provides ideas and inspiration for your future trips and we would be delighted to assist with any enquiries that you have for future programs at the school.

We are passionate about travel and really believe that the life changing experience and skills gained on an educational expedition are invaluable to students personal and academic development. Popular destinations for science-based learning include Borneo, Costa Rica & The Galapagos and we draw on 30 years of experience to tailor-make itineraries that meet the school’s individual requirements and learning objectives.

Our Expedition leaders are highly qualified and enjoy making your trip an amazing experience. They are what makes us unique and are central to what we do. Not only do they ensure your schedule is carried out to the letter as booked, but they add immeasurable value to every trip with their enthusiasm energy and knowledge. Your safety is our main concern at all times and we conform to strict UK safety standards and carry out regular risk assessments and checks on all our expeditions.

We would be delighted to hear from you, whether you are planning a trip in the near future or just curious to see some sample itineraries, please do feel free to contact me directly on nicola@gapforce.org or make a request via the contact form on our website

Yours faithfully,

Nicola Cousins • General Manager

The Old Town Hall, 4 Queens Road, Wimbledon, SW19 8YB United Kingdom
Mainline: +44 (0)207 384 3028 | Email: nicola@gapforce.org | Website: www.gapforce.org

The imaginative use of words within a story goes back to the earliest days of humanity.

And it still serves a purpose today.

Humankind has always told stories.  Everything from cave pictures to monuments like Stonehenge, from tales told around the flickering fire to the greatest cathedrals tell us about events, locations, and people that we cannot see.

Indeed it appears to be fundamental to our human psyches to want to hear stories, and as a result there is every reason for all of us to want to tell them too.

For the ability to appreciate and explore this basic human instinct comes from our own experiences of making up stories of our own.   Indeed such invention allows us to share our experiences and entertain others as we seek to make sense of the mysterious world around us.

But, of course, storytelling does not come naturally to us all, and many children – especially those with special needs – require additional support if the skill is to be nurtured and developed.

For the storyteller needs to consider key issues such as where the story takes place, who or what is in this place, are there animals here that have human characteristics.  Or could it be an object that has feelings?

And in worlds where everything is possible, how can we express ourselves?  What new words and expressions do we need?  How does the story evolve?  What is happening around our central event or person?  What happens next?

Most children – irrespective of their needs and abilities – only come to understand the exploration of such issues through being prompted via their own story writing, which is why the “Boost Creative Writing” series exists.

The activities here provide the support and help that children of differing abilities need, and you can see how we achieve this through the examples from the series on our website where you will also find details of how to order.

You can place an order:

  • over the phone on 01449 766629
  • by fax on 01449 767122
  • or by post to Brilliant Publications, Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND