Here are some suggestions for using The Tell Woman as stimulus for creative play with children.

Children at the heart of the project

With children at its core, The Tell Woman theatre show has developed from extensive work and more importantly play, with children. In 2007, the show's creator, Nikky Smedley, undertook a 3 month period of Arts Council funded Research and Development, workshopping initial ideas with over 230 children in Warwickshire, Swindon and London. Thereafter, a series of The Tell Woman storyteller events and associated workshops during 2008, funded by Heart of England Community Foundation, provided Nikky with children's input, ideas and responses to all aspects of the story and it was these ideas that shaped the theatre show.

During rehearsals for the The Tell Woman theatre show, the Company worked one day a week with local children in Solihull, Coventry, Birmingham and Warwickshire to keep the connection and ensure the piece developed with meaning for the intended age group through sharing of material and creative play.

Philosophy

Children express themselves and interpret the world in a very physical way, and there is something wonderful about the direct communication of body to body which occurs when watching movement. Through this medium one can engage the audience without having to verbally explain, thereby leaving space for the viewing child to employ his or her own imagination and feel a deeper involvement with the material presented.

Beneath the obvious visual spectacle, humour and narrative, there are subtle intentions in addition to the more obvious purposes of inspiration and entertainment. Despite being a physical piece, The Tell Woman is a celebration of our Storytelling heritage and a love of literacy. The thought of losing something is a clear route to appreciation of its value.

There are undercurrents dealing with the voice of the child, the ability to make choices, good and bad and how to manage the results of those choices. Ultimately, Sam's journey is from disempowerment to empowerment. She has dealt with many aspects of herself which finally come together as she actually becomes The Tell Woman, with a power of communication so comprehensive it can tell all of the stories in the world.

We hope that children will take the source material of The Tell Woman and use it as inspiration for further creative play, whether physical role play, story invention, drawing or making, and would greatly appreciate any anecdotal evidence of this. You can email us here.