Production Information

• Duration: approx 60 minutes total (50 minutes show plus question time)
• Audio and comms: No sound system / audio is necessary. No communications system necessary (but please see below for larger groups of children)

Three Stories About Flying set comprises:

• 1 x projection screen: freestanding, floor mounted 5ft square screen (stretched fire-treated canvas over metal frame)
• 1 x portable overhead projector and small props
• 5 x lit music stands (wired)
• 1 x laser LED projection lamp
• [All items provided by Goldfield Productions]

Please kindly note:

1. As the show involves shadow-play and projections, the performance space needs to be able to shut out daylight. The room does not have to be pitch black, but it must be possible to reduce natural daylight by around 90%. Simple blinds or drawn thick curtains are usually adequate. The darker the room, the better the show will look!
2. We would be grateful if venues could provide: 4 x adult sized chairs, I x long table / low bench (such as the ‘balancing beam’ benches used in school gyms and assemblies), sockets near to the performance space.
3. The production can be seen by up to 180 children / audience members at any one time. The show is acoustic, but if a hand-held or clip-on microphone (for the narrator) is available at the school, we can potentially accommodate up to 280 children / audience members depending on the shape of the hall (‘deep’ seating is preferable to ‘wide’ seating so that children can see the screen)
4. The production is suitable for KS1 and KS2 children. It is ideally suited for years 2-6.
5. Parking: Schools must be able to offer space for an estate car close to the venue and accessible throughout Goldfield’s engagement including set-up and performance.
6. Get-in / set-up time: 30 minutes minimum in the hall / venue (but we prefer 45 minutes or longer!) Get out / strike time: approx. 30 minutes
7. Goldfield Productions will provide:  insurance documents, enhanced DBS certificates

‘Beautiful, thoughtful, mesmeric, funny and what wonderful music…what a terrific and imaginative way to tell stories with music and it appealed to all of our children from year 1 to year 6’   (Great Staughton Primary School, 2018)

Our children’s productions are unique; we never ‘dumb down’ and we aren’t afraid to tackle topical, relevant issues in a child-friendly manner. We mix humour, fact, fiction, empathy and wide-eyed curiosity with wonderful chamber music, drawing children (and adults) into our magical, shadowy worlds.  Our childrens’ productions are developed at the highest level, yet still able to ‘pop-up’ in a venue with just 30 minutes get-in time.

‘Our complex needs students remained absolutely enthralled throughout the show as the sounds and pictures appeared and disappeared…’ (Castle School  2019)

Since 2014, we have told the stories of paper forests, marvellous inventions, marsh sprites & green mists, puppets who play toy pianos, the man who thought birds migrated to the moon, gypsy fortune tellers and refugee children who have adventures in far off lands. Each story is written and narrated by Goldfield Artistic Director Kate Romano (a story writer and presenter for BBC Radio 3) interwoven with extracts of inspiring and memorable chamber music. Over five years, children have discovered toe-tapping repertoire by Stravinksy and Bartok, the mesmerising sonic landscape of John Adams and Philip Glass, string quartets by Ravel, Beethoven, Haydn, Elizabeth Maconchy and the uplifting  folk music from the UK  and far-flung reaches of Afghanistan. Children have sung with us, created percussion ‘machines’ and learned how to make their own music-box compositions with our interactive online Scratch game.

‘Wow- that was quite incredible – we’ve never had anything quite so extraordinary here at Hartford’ (Headteacher, Hartford Primary 2019)

‘A mesmerising performance which the children and adults all enjoyed enormously – the Goldfield Ensemble has once again inspired and amazed us with Bogles, Marsh Sprites & Green Mists – wow!’ (Linton Heights)

‘A magical and wonderful performance…really very special indeed’ (Moorlands Primary 2019)

‘Wow – we absolutely LOVED Bogles!’ (John Grant School 2019)

‘Absolutely magical….. Thank you so much for the opportunity to have live music come to Eynesbury and Brampton this week.  The children loved it and the Goldfield Ensemble pitched their concert really well to the children and kept their attention throughout’ 

(Brampton Primary School, 2018) 

‘My children couldn’t stop talking about it when we went back to our classroom.. all the children were engaged, interested and enthralled by the stories, puppetry and music…. you grabbed their attention, caught their imaginations and held them with great timing, action and of course the amazing music’

(Steeple Morden Primary School, 2018)

And most importantly  – what do the children think of our shows?

‘I loved the stories and the music and the way they all worked together’……’I loved it so much – I want to see it again and again’……’It was a tiny bit scary but good-scary…funny-scary…I want more bogles!’……’I love the way you all play together like a team’…..’That was awesome..the most awesome thing I have seen’….’I loved the music when it went really really fast and then was so quiet..’….’I loved trying to guess how you did the pictures…but I don’t know!’…..’I like the cello best…I loved the show..all of it!’…..’That was the best thing I have ever seen’

‘Beautiful, thoughtful, mesmeric, funny and what wonderful music…what a terrific and imaginative way to tell stories with music and it appealed to all of our children from year 1 to year 6’  

(Great Staughton Primary School, 2018)

Our children’s productions are unique; we never ‘dumb down’ and we aren’t afraid to tackle topical, relevant issues in a child-friendly manner. We mix humour, fact, fiction, empathy and wide-eyed curiosity with wonderful chamber music, drawing children (and adults) into our magical, shadowy worlds.  Our childrens’ productions are developed at the highest level, yet still able to ‘pop-up’ in a school with just 30 minutes get -in time.

‘Astonishingly good – you kept 300 children absolutely captivated from start to finish…’

(Foxton Primary School, 2018)

Since 2015, we have told the stories of paper birds and paper trees, marvellous inventions, puppets who play toy pianos, the man who thought birds migrated to the moon, gypsy fortune tellers and refugee children who have adventures in far off lands. Each story is written and narrated by Goldfield Artistic Director Kate Romano (a story writer and presenter for BBC Radio 3) interwoven with extracts of inspiring and memorable chamber music. Over four years, children have discovered toe-tapping repertoire by Stravinksy and Bartok, the mesmerising sonic landscape of John Adams and Philip Glass, string quartets by Ravel, Beethoven, Haydn and the uplifting and poignant folk music from the UK and far-flung reaches of Afghanistan. Children have sung with us, created percussion ‘machines’ and learned how to make their own music-box compositions with our interactive online Scratch game.

‘Absolutely magical….. Thank you so much for the opportunity to have live music come to Eynesbury and Brampton this week.  The children loved it and the Goldfield Ensemble pitched their concert really well to the children and kept their attention throughout’ 

(Brampton Primary School, 2018) 

‘My children couldn’t stop talking about it when we went back to our classroom.. all the children were engaged, interested and enthralled by the stories, puppetry and music…. you grabbed their attention, caught their imaginations and held them with great timing, action and of course the amazing music’

(Steeple Morden Primary School, 2018)

Production details

STAGE REQUIREMENTS AND SHOW DETAILS

1. Stage must be flat – no special flooring requirements.
2. As the show involves shadow-play, the performance space needs to be able to shut out direct light / sunlight. The room does not have to be pitch block, but it must be possible to reduce natural day light by around 75%. Simple blinds 3/4 closed or curtains mostly drawn are adequate.
3. Staging size: space to seat string quartet with 4 music stands. To SR, space for screen (approx 5 ft square) and projector with 2m throw situated behind screen. Please allow space for the narrator to move comfortably in front of the screen. Most school halls are ideal.

The production can be seen by up to 180 children at any one time. Smaller numbers are preferable for a more intimate experience. Please note that the experience will be compromised if children are not able to see the shadow screen from the front. ‘Deep’ seating is therefore preferable to ‘wide’ seating. The production is acoustic and performed without microphones. The production is suitable for KS1 and KS2 children. It is ideally suited for years 1-6.

Duration: approx 50 minutes

Audio and comms: No sound system / audio is necessary. No communications system necessary.

SET DETAILS

We would be grateful if venues could provide:

• 4 x musicians chairs
• I x long table / low bench (such as the ‘balancing beam’ benches used in school gyms and assemblies)
• Sockets near to the performance space

All items below provided by Goldfield Productions.

Three Fenland Stories set comprises:

• 1 x projection screen: freestanding, floor mounted 5ft square screen (stretched fire-treated canvas over metal frame)
• 1 x portable overhead projector and small props
• 5 x lit music stands

Get-in / set-up time: 30 minutes minimum (but we prefer 45!).

PARKING

Venues must be able to offer space for an estate car close to the venue and easily accessible throughout Goldfield’s engagement including set-up and performance.

Goldfield Productions will provide:

• Goldfield Productions insurance documents
• Enhanced DBS certificates if required

26th March  – Linton Heights School (Cambridgeshire)

26th March  – Granta School (Cambridgeshire)

27th March – Hartford Junior School (Cambridgeshire)

27th March  – Castle School (Cambridgeshire)

28th March  – Caister Infants (Norfolk)

28th March  – John Grant school (Norfolk)

28th March – Moorlands School (Norfolk)

29th March  – Peter House School (Norfolk)

29th March – Edward Worlledge School (Norfolk)

29th March  – North Denes School (Norfolk)

10th May – Ashwell Festival, Hertfordshire  (buy tickets here )

12th July – Lichfield Festival (tickets available shortly)

‘What’s your name? Mary Jane

Where do you live? Down the lane

What do you keep? A little shop

What do you sell? Ginger pop.

How many bottles do you sell in a day?

Twenty-four, now go away.’

(Swansea skipping rhyme)

We offer a fun, friendly 60-minute workshop for KS2 children (max 30) that complements the touring show, using singing, speech-rhythms and un-pitched percussion (including simple body percussion). What are the musical patterns and rhythms we create when we speak? What patterns do we find in old playground rhymes, skipping songs, riddles and rituals? Using the ancient playground rhymes as models, children work in small groups to create and perform their own playground rhymes and riddles with singing and percussion. What words (perhaps nonsense words?) might we use today? Can you tap the beat and make an interesting percussion part to the rhyme? For older children; can you perform two rhymes or riddles at once? How do they overlap?

What will children learn and achieve?

At the end of an hour, each class will have devised their own riddles or rituals combining physical skills, pattern making and rhythm and can perform to each other. Working directly alongside professional musicians, the workshop is designed to:

• encourage creative composition and develop their sense of rhythm
• enhance their listening skills (ability to hear a beat, to recognise patterns and cross-rhythms)
• encourage collaborative skills and group working by making music with others and ability to hear a beat.

Who is it suitable for?

Everyone. The emphasis on practical, hands-on experimentation and non-standardised methods of communicating sounds and ideas make this workshop suitable for all children including those with special educational needs. This fully inclusive workshop is designed to ignite imaginations and develop creativity within a friendly and safe framework, enabling children to communicate and express ideas with confidence. It leaves a ‘can-do’ legacy; children can continue to make riddles and rhymes with their teachers after the event. Like the show, it demonstrates that imagination and resourcefulness are the most important ingredients for making creative work.

What does the school need to provide?

• A classroom and ideally 2 or 3 additional break-out spaces
• Access to school percussion instruments is helpful (Goldfield will also bring a small selection)
• Something to write on (eg a white board / flip chart etc)

We very much hope to see you in 2019!

Acclaim for Three Stories About Home

‘An absolute gem; just shows that the art of storytelling is not dead’ (audience, Hereford)

‘Very moving and unforgettable – I had a tear in my eye’ (audience, Hereford)

‘Simply magical and refreshingly low tech which makes it all the more inspirational for young children’ (audience Hereford)

‘I loved this – wonderful to see so many children gathering to take a closer look and ask questions after the show’ (CEO Three Choirs Festival)

‘I just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the performance that you and the wonderful Goldfield Ensemble provided for the staff and children of Foxton School this term. Many staff and children have been in touch with me to say how much they enjoyed your visit, and how you have both amazed (Did they really play it all by themselves, Mrs. Kite?) and inspired by both the performance and the workshop. The puppets were wonderful and the whole performance was beautifully thought through and put together.
I was particularly struck by the very high standard of music. It seems to me that many pupils do not hear live performances very often, and most do not have the opportunity to be so near to musicians. The way that you told the stories totally captured their interest and the way that they were woven together was magical. There were some heart-stopping moments and some tough situations. I was moved by the situations that you described, and conscious that for some of our pupils who were listening, life is not straight-forward.
The professional standards of both music and literature meant that the listeners of all ages engaged and to empathised; there was no option simply to spectate. Thank you for engaging all of our pupils and for giving them a memorable experience that will help to open their own creativity and imagination to new possibilities and dreams.’
Penny Kite, Foxton Primary School

• Running time appox. 45 minutes
• Get-in / set-up time: 30 minutes minimum
• Minimum parking; space for one estate car close to entrance / school hall (available parking close by for up to 4 more cars)

Staging: space to seat 4 musicians and 4 music stands. To one side, space for screen (approx 2m square) and projector with 2m throw situated behind screen. Please allow space for the narrator to move comfortably in front of the screen. Most school halls are ideal.

Equipment: the Goldfield Ensemble will bring all equipment needed except:

4 adult sized chairs
1 large table (school desk height to seat 2 -3)
Please note that we also need a socket near to the performance space.

Lighting: as the show involves shadow-play, the room needs to shut out bright direct sunlight. Simple blinds half closed or curtains partially drawn are more than adequate.

The production is suitable for both KS1 and KS2 children. It is ideally suited for years 2-5

The production can be seen by up to 180 children at any one time. Please note that the experience will be compromised if children are not able to see the screen from the front. ‘Deep’ seating is therefore preferable to ‘wide’ seating. The production is acoustic and performed without microphones.

Three Stories at Linton School

Workshop: Musical Storytelling

We are delighted to offer a workshop in conjunction with Three Stories About Home. Lasting 60 minutes, this fully-inclusive, hands-on workshop is designed for up to 30 KS2 children. It aims to ignite imaginations, cultivate resourcefulness and a can-do, creative approach to leaning within a friendly and lively framework.

During the worship, an evocative short fairystory is set to music by KS2 children, mentored and assisted by the workshop leader Kate Romano and the 4 members of the Goldfield Ensemble. How might sound illustrate words? What sounds might move us, surprise us, make us happy or sad? Using conventional instruments, body percussion and self-made instruments the groups form an ‘orchestra’ and will work to perform their piece at the end of the session. The emphasis on practical music making and non-standardised ways of communicating sounds and ideas make this suitable for all children, including those with special educational needs.

The workshop can take place in a large classroom; ideally there should be 3 additional breakout spaces in which to experiment with musical ideas.

With members of the Vine Quartet and Llynin Quartet …(photos Michael Whitefoot, Three Choirs Festival)