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News
Staff and performers from RCET & Hopscotch
Engaging!
01 October 2015
‘Forces Kids’ play comes to Scottish schools
Specially commissioned theatre production takes to the road with a grand tour of Scottish schools.
Earlier this month 30 schools across Scotland were treated to a fantastic live theatre performance of ‘Forces Kids’ which follows the story of Kevin, whose Dad is serving in the Armed Forces.
Kevin’s dad is a marine and has been deployed. Kevin misses him terribly and also has to face the challenges of taking on extra responsibilities at home, while still adjusting to life at a new school. The play is about how Kevin learns to cope with fear, loss and bullying in order to find hope, self-confidence, trust and friendship.
The 30 Scottish schools saw the play free of charge thanks to Scottish Armed Forces charity, the Royal Caledonian Education Trust (RCET).
The RCET commissioned the production in celebration of its bicentenary and 200 years of providing education support for children of Scottish serving and veteran families in need.
As well as helping the educational needs of children of Armed Forces families on low incomes or living with disability and ill health, the RCET also has a very active education programme in Scotland. The charity provide vital resources and training to help education professionals and organisations recognise and support children and young people experiencing difficulties in school - particularly in the lead up to and during deployment.
To raise awareness of the issues, the RCET commissioned Glasgow-based Hopscotch Theatre Company who has been producing theatre in education shows for over 25 years. By the end of the tour 4,200 pupils will have had the opportunity to see ‘Forces Kids’ and thanks to an online resource pack for P2-P4, many pupils will be exploring their own journey as a ‘Forces Kids’ by taking part in additional classroom activities, lesson plans and discussions about the issues highlighted in the play.
Explaining more, RCET Education Manager, Moira Leslie says “We know that some children who are separated from their parent during deployment can struggle to come to terms with their feelings and emotions and this can have an impact on how they behave and perform in school. Following the huge success of our DVD ‘Forces Kids –This is My Life’ we decided to help younger ones, mainly P2-4s address these issues through theatre. RCET approached Hopscotch and together we have been working on a brand new performance called ‘Forces Kids’ in conjunction with Hopscotch who are masters of theatre in schools.”
RCET chief executive James MacBain added, “Service personnel can be deployed for as many as 200 nights per year. For their children, this can create anxiety and uncertainty. Adjusting to new communities, new schools, as well as living with the day-to-day reality of deployment, can prove particularly challenging for some children and potentially become a barrier to their learning. The play highlights that, in hard times, we have a responsibility to listen to and support each other, in the name of emotional wellbeing.”
Matthew Middler