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You may be interested in booking David for performance work only.
The entire school can be entertained and inspired in one morning.
Not only do children learn an enormous amount from the live experience
but the even may be used as a springboard for a creative out-pouring
following the morning’s fun.
Price is £100-£150 depending on size and location of
school.
Below is a report from Fakenham High School where David performed
in October 2003 for three hundred Year 8 students.
A Very Peculiar Poetry Performance
On Monday 6 October, Year 8 had their timetable disrupted. Their
faces said it all – 'Any lesson must be better than poetry!’
David Mason, poet and author, accepted the challenge to inspire
Year 8 to write poetry and . . . to possibly even get them to enjoy
it.
The day began with a poetry performance in the hall. Suspicious
eyes began to show a glimmer of interest as the poet walked into
the hall wearing a colourful jacket and rather interesting waistcoat.
English teachers, senior management and the headteacher crept into
the hall – something big was obviously going to happen. Concepts
of poetry as 'stuffy and boring’ were blown out of the hall
as David launched into a fast, loud and hilarious 'poetry song’
about a West African boarding an alien spaceship and travelling
to their planet. It was noted that giggles, even laughter, were
heard in the assembly hall.
Plied with water and applause, David did not let up for the whole
hour as poems were sung, read and rapped in a variety of accents.
A number of pupils had to be restrained before they burst into spontaneous
dance. There was definitely the 'sound of poetry’ in the corridors
(between lessons!) as pupils went to their next lesson.
A series of workshops took place in the library on Monday and Tuesday
(many thanks to Mrs West, who is now a poetry expert!). Even the
most resistant Year 8 poets had by now succumbed to the enthusiasm
of David. Every single pupil wrote original poetry on a number of
themes – please note that the English teachers who could not
compete with pupils’ efforts 'pretended’ to be helping.
A selection of this poetry will be displayed in the English corridor
and will be put together in and Anthology.
Poetry will never be the same again at Fakenham High School. Is
it possible to rap Wordsworth in a Scouse accent?
The English Department
Fakenham High School
Christ Church Performance
10th March 2008
I am writing to say how much we all enjoyed your visit to Christ Church Primary last week and what a wonderful start it was to our book week. The children talked about your poems, and the drama they undertook with you, all week and could be heard singing “Chocolaté” all down the corridor as they left assembly on Friday!
Your energy and passion inspired the children to go on to write some very high quality poems and books and to really enjoy the process of writing. So, thank you for all that you gave the children with your obvious love and passion for writing.
Ros Sutton
Deputy Headteacher
Christ Church New Malden C of E Primary School
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