Workshops
Fair Play Works Educational Entertainment and Workshops
Interactive workshops using movement and drama to teach curriculum subjects on the environment, social justice and dance.
Disarming Disability
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DISARMING DISABILITY:
Based on over 36 years helping support and care for John, my brother, who was quadriplegic and mute with cerebral palsy. “The difference between a blessing and a curse is love.”
Jean F. Walker, our mother, was a courageous visionary and pathfinder in keeping her son at home during a time when professionals pushed for institutionalization. John responded to this care and love by becoming a published children’s author and poet.
In the current fragmented, driven, superficial consciousness of media and society today the story of John Walker’s triumphs and struggles provide a clearer lens through which we can view what is really important in life.
Fosters positive awareness about disability issues and features the writings of John C. Walker. Geared to any age group 8 year olds to adult. Available as an inspirational talk or interactive workshop.
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Peace Workshops
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THE PEACE WORKSHOP:
This participatory workshop is designed as a journey to discover the importance of peace from a personal level to the global level. The tools of the workshop include storytelling, guided imagery, percussion, role play, vocabulary and a large puzzle.
The program was awarded the YMCA Peace Medallion in 1999. Lesley has presented ‘The Peace Workshop’ to thousands of students from grade two to grade five.
THE FIRST WORLD WAR 1914-1918: CANADA’S JOURNEY:
Created in conjunction with Peggy Coffey
A participatory drama workshop designed for participants to discover Canada’s journey through WW1 in a direct experiential way as they witness what life was like in this era from a dramatic perspective. The program utilizes storytelling, dramatic readings, role play, costume pieces, artifacts and a four part ‘War Album’ to bring this important period of Canada’s history to life not only from an historical and political perspective but on a very personal and human level.
THE FABRIC OF THEIR LIVES: Women in World War I:
This is an original performance piece based on words of women who lived through this era. The lives of women were torn apart by WW1, by the suffering of their men, by grieving and loss. The fabric of their lives became threadbare from lack of simple amenities as all industry turned to creating death.
World War One sat, a dark brooding shadow over all their lives.
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Dance and Drama
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DANCE!:
“To glide, step or move through a series of body movements usually to music” is Webster’s definition of dance. The thesaurus classifies dance as an amusement.
To be aware of, to encourage and enjoy the flow of energy through the body, to welcome it, respond and bind emotion and intelligence in a creation of movement. Perhaps this is a more accurate definition.
SHAKESPEARE ALIVE!:
Experiential drama workshops that develop an appreciation and deeper understanding of Shakespeare through movement and character exploration.
BUILDING CHARACTER:
Build character. Become a character to learn about character. Through roleplay and interactive activities develop a greater understanding of attributes that contribute to moral judgement and good decision making.
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Social and Environmental Workshops
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WATERWORKS:
Created in conjunction with Wendy O’Brien
WaterWorks is a participatory workshop that utilizes the arts to teach about the science of water. Using masks, movement, myth and poetry the workshop focuses on current water issues.
A TIMELESS TALE: Robin Hood and the Corporate Barons:
This dramatic participatory workshop is based on popular theatre methods and involves the whole group in exploring causes of world hunger and other food issues.
The main goal of the workshop is to dispel some of the most common myths about hunger. The reality is we have devastating hunger in the midst of bountiful plenty and the danger of the unregulated biofuel industry and unlabeled genetically altered food.
NOTE: deep appreciation to The Foundation for Enriching Education Perth-Huron Artitudes Program for funding and supporting many of these workshops.
