Box Clever’s new performance for primary school children has been widely praised by teachers on its recent tour to Tower Hamlets primary schools.
Mark and the Marked uses vibrant physical and visual performance techniques to draw the children in the audience into the heart of a typical bullying scenario. A carefully structured workshop discussion allows the audience to work out what went wrong and why and, ultimately, to make their own happy ending to the play.
Following the performance and workshops, teachers were asked to feedback on the experience. 96% of teachers strongly agreed that it encouraged the children to think about bullying, and 100% said the company encouraged students to engage in the performance.
When asked if the performance made an effective contribution to anti-bullying programmes in school, a teacher from Canon Barnett Primary School said:
“I am the biggest advocate of the arts and the ways they encourage students to learn and experience in ways they may not on paper. I would recommend this 100%! The simplicity was incredible for all students to relate to: use of colour, mixed gender, technology and engaging methods are so professional, beneficial and understood by all!”
The tour, which was funded by Allgate and Allhallows Foundation, visited 14 primary schools in the London Borough, performing to 800 children from Years 2-6.