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The Character Chefs

Two comic drama-based literacy programmes for Primary School groups.

Availability:

Currently available for short tours/ delivery periods in school. Please contact info@womenandtheatre.co.uk for more information.

Introduction

The Character Chefs are a trio of larger than life characters who deliver a day’s worth of classroom-based activity – designed to stimulate the imaginations and creative writing skills of primary age pupils.

There are 2 programmes available:

  • Level 1 focuses on the development of character, and
  • Level 2 focuses on storytelling with reference to setting and structure.

Both programmes begin and end with a comic, slapstick performance element, and also involve activities including storyboarding, drama-based and writing tasks and exercises which use the ‘Cooking Pot’. This is a pot full of adjectives which the children pick out and explore through drama and within writing activity.

The overall concept of The Character Chefs provides a strong brand as ‘cookery’ very effectively works to describe the ways that characters and stories can be constructed from different ‘ingredients’.

The programmes require a full-day of activity although it is possible to split this over 2 half days. The programmes are suitable for class-sized groups and can be delivered to year groups from year 2 to year 6 as can be differentiated accordingly.

After each programme, pupils receive a certificate from the National Institute of Character Cookery rewarding their achievements.

History

The Character Chefs programme was developed through Creative Partnerships. From 2002 – 2007, Women & Theatre were a long term creative partner to a cluster of Birmingham Schools – including 3 primaries: Chad Vale, Canterbury Cross and St George’s CE Primary School. In 2004/5 all 3 schools identified the need to improve literacy levels and explore drama based methods for doing this.

They were particularly interested in nurturing pupils’ imaginations and their skills in creative writing – particularly with regards to character formation.

Following a successful delivery phase, the schools were keen to utilise the programme in 2005/6. As some students had already experienced it, there was also a desire to develop a Level 2 programme which would examine story structure and setting in more detail.

Notes

The piece is a great mixture of slap stick, story telling, writing and using the imagination .

Children respond immediately to the three different chefs and tremble with fear (And sometimes laughter ) at the Head Chef.
Janice Connolly, W&T Artistic Director

Outcome

‘The Chefs were able to establish rapport with the class very quickly and kept them motivated and enthusiastic. They put across learning points in a fun way that made it memorable and understandable.’
Mrs Hollyoak, Canterbury Cross

‘They used adjectives in openings, build ups, problems, events, climaxes, resolutions and endings. Their use of language was quite impressive.’
Jasmine Browne St George’s

‘One shy pupil really excelled during the drama – he has a hidden talent that I wasn’t aware of’
Jennie Greatrex, Canterbury Cross

‘The children got a lot out of it in terms of dramatic participation, vocabulary development and how to build up a storyline.’
Neema Gupta (supply) St George’s

‘I don’t know what you did with my daughter yesterday but when I came home from work there were pots, pans and spoons all over the floor!’
Parent

Production Credits

Level 1 Programme devised by: Janice Connolly, Michael Aduwali & Jill Norman
Level 2 Programme devised by: Jill Norman, Susie Mayes & Craig Painting

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