One of our most requested and popular workshops

Pupils, in costume if possible, meet an Ancient Greek Couple  -  after being introduced to Life in Ancient Greece, they are divided into four groups to prepare Scenes from Everyday Greek Life:

1. Greek Life in the Home of a successful merchant, 
2. Lessons in the Open Air,
3. Visiting the Agora: the Market, and finally
4. The Gymnasium where the children play their own games and practice their athletics.

Our 4 professional actors then prepare three myths with their groups:  Oedipus & the Sphinx,  Odysseus  & the Cyclops, and  Theseus & the Minator.

Finally  voting is held and everyone joins in a Greek dance

{showhide title="Read Comments..." template="h3" changetitle="Click here to close ..." mousetitleistitle=true closeonclick=true titleasspan=true}"Fabulous/Funny/Informative & Entertaining! We were so impressed - keen to book  you again" BROOKFIELD JS

"We felt that our pupils learnt more about Ancient Greeks from your 1 hour performance than our 5 weeks of teaching the topic. You were very well organised and entertaining. Fantastic, funny and full of information, which is cleverly presented with lots of interaction for the children."  HERNE JUNIOR

"Wow! They're so motivated! Really into it! Brilliant!" ST MARY'S BYFLEET

"Excellent—powerful performance which had ALL the children involved. Helped to enliven their experience and imagination" EDWARD BRYANT

"Well prepared: the children were involved and immediately captivated, friendly without being OTT—brought topic to life" KENT COLLEGE

"It never ceases to amaze me that the Rainbow actors have a natural ability to inspire and organise those pupils who participate so effectively and efficiently" MANOR HALL MIDDLE

"Same again next year, please" UCKFIELD PRIMARY

"We thought it was excellent value for money and were particularly impressed by the way the actors engaged the children's commitment to the drama" MILTON MOUNT

"Enjoyable, interesting, captivating, fun, lively" MAIDENBOWER JS

"Children actively involved and realy enjoyed it, liked the joining in and doing the acting - clear instructions" HODDERN JS

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{showhide title="Notes for educational references..." template="h3" changetitle="Click here to close ..." mousetitleistitle=true closeonclick=true titleasspan=true}§ Greek language used – calaspera (good afternoon) and Greek names – Costos.

• Male and female roles – looking after children and earning the money.
• What males, women and slaves did.
• All children involved in the briefing – some are given speaking roles where others are involved in the crowd scenes.
• Key vocabulary – Athens; Crete; Oedipus, King of Thebes; Zeus; Greek Gods; the theatre.
• School scene – looks at Greek alphabet and use of an abacus.
• Olympic Games scene – famous for Greece.
• Greek Myth dramas – first is Oedipus and the Sphinx.
• Second is Odysseus and the Cyclops.
• Third is Theseus and the Minotaur.
• Actors encourage children if they forget their lines – they attempt to encourage and not say the line for the child.
• Humour used as a technique to deliver parts of the knowledge and factual understanding.
• Greek dance performed at the end – all children involved in the dance.

(These points are indicated on the QCA Unit 14 to show how the Rainbow Theatre's production 'A Child in Ancient Greece' encompasses both enjoyment and key educational value for the children)

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{showhide title="National Curriculum Links:..." template="h3" changetitle="Click here to close ..." mousetitleistitle=true closeonclick=true titleasspan=true}Point 12, page 106 – A European History Study

A study of the way of life, beliefs and achievements of the people living in Ancient Greece and the influence of their civilisation on the world today.

Suggested examples from the National Curriculum; page 107

Examples for 11a: a European study of Ancient Greece

Aspects of the way of life: arts and architecture; houses, cities and public buildings; citizens and slaves; education for girls and boys; language; medicine, health and hygiene; games and leisure including the Olympic Games; plays and the theatre; ships and trading; soldiers and warfare.

Beliefs and achievements: the city states of Athens and Sparta; gods and goddesses, myths, legends, beliefs and customs; Pheidippides and the battle of Marathon; Pericles and the building of the Parthenon; the conquests of Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great; great scholars and discoverers.

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