Primary school

by Peter Griffith

Prince Ivan and Princess Zarevna have been imprisoned by a wicked magician. Their only hope is a magic feather, given to Prince Ivan by a beautiful and mysterious bird.
Can the firebird destroy the glass walls that surround the young couple... without awakening the magician?

This delightful dramatisation of a Russian folk-tale is suitable for pupils in their third and fourth years of learning English - an exciting story, involving music, dance, and audience participation.

Photos of 'The Firebird'

Extract from the script 'The Firebird'

Ivan: This is amazing. I've got a bird that can fly, and sing, and talk!
Firebird: Ivan, please let me out.
Ivan: What?
Firebird: Please let me out. It is horrible being in a cage.
Ivan: But if I let you out, I won't have my wonderful bird any more.
Firebird: Ivan, I am a magic bird.
Ivan: You are a magic bird?
Firebird: Yes, If you let me go free, I can help you.
Ivan: How can you help me?
Firebird: I can help you... in lots of ways. Look – if you let me go free, I can give you one of my feathers.
Ivan: You can give me one of your feathers? What good is that?
Firebird: If you are in danger... and you wave one of my feathers... I will come to help you.
Ivan: You mean, I help you, and you help me.
Firebird: Yes. But first you must let me out of this cage.
Ivan: Well... All right.

by Peter Griffith

Horace, the son of a rich merchant, loses all his money. But then he finds a magic trunk that can fly! It takes him to a far away country, where he lands on a castle and  meets the beautiful princess Doris. They plan to get married.
Everything in Horace's life is perfect - or is it?
If only Horace wasn't so silly!

Photos of 'The Flying Trunk'

Extract from the script 'The Flying Trunk'

Mrs W: This is my dog, Joris
Horace: Hello Joris
Dog: Grrrr. Woof!
Horace: Tell me about Princess Doris. - is she very beautiful? 
Mrs W: Well yes, she is a princess. She is very beautiful. But you can’t see her.
Horace: I can’t see her? Why not?
Mrs W: Because she is in the castle. And she never comes out.
Horace: The princess is in the castle and she never comes out. Why?
Mrs W: You said this was the last question.
Horace: Oh - yes, all right. Sorry.
Mrs W: Oh, all right, one more question. Joris… why doesn’t the princess ever come out of the castle?
Dog: Lerff!
Mrs W: You understand?
Horace: Er... not quite.
Mrs W: Oh dear. Joris, the silly man wants to know, why doesn’t the princess ever come out of the castle?
Dog: Lerff!
Mrs W: That’s right - love. Well done, Joris, who’s a good little doggie?
Horace: Love?
Mrs W: Yes, love. A prophet said that the princess will be very unhappy because of love. So she never comes out of the castle.
Horace: Poor princess...

by Peter Griffith

 

Emily Allbright works in a computer-shop. She is in love with the local doctor, Jasper Doublejoy. But all her plans go wrong when a valuable golden computer-mouse is stolen from the shop. The story takes us from the police-station to the airport, and from a British café to a Mallorcan beach. In the end, all are happy – apart from the villainous thief who caused all the trouble. And all have learnt that there are two sorts of mouse: the sort that squeaks and eats cheese, and the sort that you need to play computer-games.

 

This exciting and entertaining comedy-thriller is written in language suitable for pupils in the 3rd and 4th school-years, and presented very visually so that even those who cannot understand the words are able to follow the story. During the play, while looking for the thief, the children have the chance to practise words that they will have been learning in their lessons – the colours, the numbers, clothing, animals, drinks, opposite adjectives, words for simple actions, etc.

 

 

Photos of 'The Golden Mouse'

 

 

Extract from the script 'The Golden Mouse'

Truncher: What does the thief look like?
Emily: He is a horrible man. He is wearing a brown jacket and blue trousers and a grey cap and a yellow scarf.
Truncher: (writing) Horrible man. Brown jacket, blue trousers, grey cap, yellow scarf.
Emily: That's right.
Truncher: Right. Let's have a look. Horrible man. Brown jacket, blue trousers, grey cap, yellow scarf. (speaks to the children) Can you see a person with a brown jacket and blue trousers and a grey cap and a yellow scarf? Look, here's someone with blue trousers. (speaks to one of the children) You, stand up! Is this the thief?
Emily: No. This boy has blue trousers. But his jacket is red.
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