Project type: Take Part

Children laying on floor in a circle with heads together, faces covered with yellow clothes, covered in dappled sunlight.

Exodus (KS2) Project brought together groups of migrant and non-migrant communities to explore and aid communication between communities, improve understanding and challenge negative perceptions around refugee arrivals.

Exodus KS2

Using images, objects and physical theatre games as a starting point we were able to tell the stories of these communities.

Pupils participating in the project developed a variety of physical and creative skills through the application of yoga, aerial harness and cocoon and physical theatre.

Exodus was made possible with the support from Awards for All, Swan Mountain Trust, John Lyons Charity and Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

For more information on the Exodus project please see Secondary School Projects.

Images by Mark Morreau and Chloë Plumb, video by Chloë Plumb.

“It was really nice listening to other people’s stories.”

Participant

Young person on Chinese pole being supported and held in place by tutor below.

Exodus (KS3) Project brought together groups of migrant and non-migrant communities to explore and aid communication between communities, improve understanding and challenge negative perceptions around refugee arrivals.

Exodus KS3

Using images, objects and physical theatre games as a starting point we were able to tell the stories of these communities.

Pupils participating in the project developed a variety of physical and creative skills through the application of yoga, aerial harness and cocoon and physical theatre.

Exodus was made possible with the support from Awards for All, Swan Mountain Trust, John Lyons Charity and Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Images and video by Mark Morreau.

Whos Afraid of the Dark poster drawn by students from the project

A collaborative performance project between Scarabeus Aerial Theatre, Writer Nicky Singer and Grafton Primary School, performed in Queens Wood. 

Who’s Afraid of the Dark

Magnes and Mabel are twins. Their Mother is dangerously ill. Only one thing can save her – five flowers from the Golden Glade. But the Golden Glade is on the far side of the forest. Past a giant spider, past hungry wolves, past the screaming BabaYaga. Will the twins have the courage for the task? 

62 pupils participated in aerial dance, drama, creative writing and physical explorations of the woods to unlock a world of magic and mystery.

Video by Chloë Plumb.

Two young students in brightly coloured clothes raise a closed fist and arm into the air in solidarity.

A dynamic project exploring the history of the women’s suffrage movement, working with 40 Year 9 students from Parliament Hill School Camden.

The Fight for Women’s Equality; then and now

Pupils explored the Women’s Library Archive; visited the Museum of London Suffragette Collection and took part in a suffrage tour and live debate at the Houses of Parliament. In addition, they attended masterclasses led by specialist historians including Dr Mari Takayangai, Dr Diane Atkinson, Dr Kate Connelly and Sarah Jacksons.

The pupils participated in hands-on theatrical design, exhibition curation workshops, visual arts and physical theatre workshops. The project culminated in a visual exhibition and two free site-specific performances celebrating the history of the Women’s Movement and present-day women’s activism.

See images from the project on our Flickr page.

Project consultants:
Sarah Jackson (East End Women’s Museum)
Dr Katherine Connelly
Dr Diane Atkinson
Dr Mari Takayanagi
Diane Hedditch

Creative Collaborators:
Exhibition curator: Sharna Jackson
Designer: Belinda Ackermann
Filmmaker: Chloë Plumb

Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. With thanks to the Women’s Library LSE, the Houses of Parliament outreach team and the Museum of London.

Images and video by Chloë Plumb.

Girl with ponytail suspended with a harness from the rafters, arms open wide.

Summerversity, an Islington Council initiative, offering outdoor and indoor activities for young people aged 13+ during the Summer Holidays.

Summerversity 2015-18

Our free Summerversity courses, 2015 to 2018, introduced young people to aerial skills, physical theatre and choreography; these sessions helped them conquer fears and learn exciting aerial skills on elastic cocoons, aerial platforms, and climbing harnesses.

 

View Summerversity of Flickr and Vimeo:

Summerversity 2015 on Flickr

Summerversity 2016 on Flickr

Summerversity 2017 on Flickr

Summerversity 2017 on Vimeo

Summerversity 2018 on Vimeo

 

Supported by Islington Council and Caxton House Community Centre, Part of Summerversity.

Images by Alice Delva, video by Chloë Plumb.

Young girl with straight plank body suspended in the air by a harness, other students reflected in the mirror behind.

Dark side of the Moon, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, examined the history of female astronauts with students at Parliament Hill School. 

Dark side of the Moon

The project included investigations into historical materials and present-day accounts from living female astronauts, master classes on aspects of space travel, engineering and materials, and aerial workshops leading to a performance inspired by the history of women in space. 

 This was a collaborative project between Scarabeus  working with The Science Museum, Kingston University, Women’s Library lSE and staff at Parliament Hill School. 

“I learnt many things that were really interesting. I really enjoyed the interactive work and finding the facts for ourselves from the research documents. It was overall a really brilliant project.”

Zeehvar, aged 12, Parliament Hill School Pupil

Images and video by Chloë Plumb.

Group of women in different poses suspended on blue aerial silk.

A collaboration between Archway Children’s Centre and Hargrave Park Primary School, exploring flying with a group of mothers, looking at journeys and motherhood.

Flying Mothers of Archway

The project culminated in a public performance and installation, exploring the stories, journeys and internal landscapes of motherhood; landing and being able to fly in Archway.

Flying Mothers of Archway was part of A Million Minutes, an Islington Council project supported by Arts Council England.

Produced by AIR at Central Saint Martins College of Arts & Design.

Images by Roberto Battista and Belinda Ackermann, video by Roberto Battista.

“The best thing was this whole experience! Even in the first week we worked with the cocoons, which was just so empowering and fabulous.

At the end of one session we had a chance to just sit in the cocoon and chill out. It was so incredibly and deeply calming that I could see many therapeutic uses for it.”

Clare, participant

Performer suspended mid-air in front of red brick building

Inflight was a professional development opportunity for 20 emerging artists already involved in physical sports or arts forms, who wanted to expand their skill base and employability by training in aerial work.

Inflight

The programme was created and delivered in partnership with WAC Arts in Camden and Upswing Aerial. 

The aims were to remove barriers to access aerial training, increase the diversity of performers in the industry and offer free-high quality training to emerging artists. Emerging artists participated in intensive training in trapeze, cocoon, silks, rope and harness techniques – abseiling and bungee. 

The programme culminated in a site-specific promenade performance co-created with theatre maker Leo Kay, In Flight from Home. 

Supported by public funds Arts Council England.

Image by Daniela Essart, video by WAC Arts.

 

“I am extremely grateful for Inflight, it has changed my career path for the better”

 

Rachel Bhraonain, Emerging Artist. 

A project with Samuel Rhodes Primary SEN pupils and their parents, bringing the school community together to celebrate how different cultures contribute to everyday life in school.

To the love of food

 As part of the project pupils & parents participated in yoga, dance, storytelling, physical theatre and cooking workshops. The project culminated in a multi-cultural banquet and celebration of arts activities connected with food. 

‘To the love of food’ was supported by an Award for ALL through the Big Lottery Fund. 

“My daughter made enormous progress through this project. I was able to share with other families our favourite recipes – in my culture sharing food is a way of socialising.”

Young child climbing on ropes that are set up between the trees.

Flying Wild! was an aerial and outdoors project created in collaboration with Samuel Rhodes Primary School (SEN).

Flying Wild!

Throughout the project pupils participated in aerial routines and skills sessions, as well as climbing giant spider webs. The workshop sessions enabled young people to build trust and openness in their ability, forming a solid base for their capacity and joy of continued learning.

Supported by Awards For All through the Big Lottery Fund.

Image by E de Bonneval.

“Aerial work is particularly beneficial for autistic children. They absolutely love it – they love hanging up in the air, being enclosed in small spaces and covered in material.

They open up and speak to us about their experience.”

Teacher

“Harness and suspension work allows a sense of freedom similar to swimming for young people with special needs.

It also develops concentration skills and manual dexterity which is very effective for engaging young people with learning difficulties.”

Teacher