Goldfield Productions weave their trademark magic of storytelling, simple shadow-play images and the finest chamber music to bring you Three Stories About Home.
Inspired by our 2018 Hansel & Gretel project, this pop-up sister production draws on themes of homelessness, shadow puppetry and spoken word storytelling woven together with live chamber music. It tells the stories of travelling families, of children who discover adventures in unknown places, of young people who start their lives again with new friends in foreign lands. Told with the greatest empathy, sensitivity and respect, Three Stories About Home opens up a world of wonder and curiosity about the different type of places that children might call home today.
Stories and design by Kate Romano
The music
The music is a wonderful vibrant mixture of folk music from England, Romania and Afghanistan
Billy’s Story: Bartok – Romanian Folk Dances
Sophie’s Story: Frank Bridge – Sally in our Alley & Cherry Ripe
Ali’s Story: Traditional Afghan music arranged by Kevin Bishop
- Ay Shakhe Gul
- Pesta Farosh (‘Pistachio seller’)
- Arghawan (‘Lavender’)
(The language of all three titles is Dari. All are still popular in Kabul today.)
The stories
The three interlinking stories and characters are fictitious, but are all based on real-life events, biographies and newspaper articles.
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.
Penny Kite, Foxton Primary School
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.
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.
An evocative short story (or poem) will be 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.
About the Goldfield Ensemble
The Goldfield Ensemble formed in 2011 and rapidly established a reputation as a high-calibre, proactive chamber group with a passion for distinctive programming and collaborations with other art forms. They have played at over 30 UK venues including St Johns Smith Square, Cheltenham Festival, Kings Place and Milton Court Theatre (Barbican) and their children’s productions have been seen by over 7000 young people. Writer and narrator Kate Romano is a familiar voice on BBC Radio 3 where she writes and presents the Time Traveller stories for the Essential Classics breakfast show.
Production information: Three Stories About Home
- 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. ‘Deep’ seating is therefore preferable to ‘wide’ seating. The production is acoustic and performed without microphones.
