Page 47 - link magazine

See us on the net @ www.swindonlink.com The Link Magazine • November 1999 47
Balloon launched for Shakespeare Festival 2000
A large balloon globe, presented by the Shakespeare Centre at Stratford, was released at Greendown School on 30 September to launch
one of the most ambitious educational projects in the country to celebrate Radio 4s Man of the Millennium.
The West Swindon Shakespeare of ways and it's really exciting to
Festival 2000 is aiming to involve see so many schools applying dif-
up to 1,200 children and teachers ferent approaches. I imagine we
at primary schools in West and will see dance, rap, breakdance as
North Swindon, three secondary well as traditional presentations."
schools and students from Swin- Abbey Meads primary school
don College. Also involved are headteacher Marilyn Brown said
two community drama groups and she was very keen to take part. "I
teachers from Greendown are know we've got a lot on with open-
planning a production. ing a new school, but I did not
In April2000 every one of Shake- want to miss the opportunity to
speare's plays will be performed. expose children to quality text and
The National Lottery Millen- to be involved in the challenge."
nium Fund has donated £5,000 and Teresa O'Connor of the Shake-
the festival has been selected as speare Centre Millennium Project
one of ten flagship projects in Brit- said the work in Swindon is 'won-
ain by the Shakespeare Centre Mil- derfully exciting.' "It's tremendous
lennium Link Project and has re- to see so many children and teach-
ceived a grant of £3,300. ers involved. And there will be
Swindon Council education de- workshops for parents which is
partment has donated £3,000, but Teresa O'Connor of the Shakespeare Centre Millennium Project, Tim Noble great.
Swindon business has spent £350. "We have schools, colleges and
and Sarah Gordon of the Young Shakespeare Company, with Greendown
Project coordinator Greendown Shakespeare players, from left, John Heavens, Katie Thomas, Naomi Clemo, groups registered from all over the
teacher Tim Noble says £12,000 is Jazlyn Pinkney, Clare Barker, Natalie Hughes. Front, Anil Baines world who will be performing
needed to realise the full aims. He Shakespeare next April. We have
said, "last year's event involved not get backing from Swindon term working with Sarah Gordon been contacted by people in Rus-
about 700 children and we know business. We need a big sponsor and Chris Geelan of the Young sia, India, Singapore and all over
our millennium festival is going to to come on board." Shakespeare Company. They have Europe."
be a winner. We've shown that He added that BBC TV is inter- been commissioned to research To offer financial backing Tim
quite young children can grasp ested in making a programme and and prepare education packs to Noble can be contacted on 874224.
Shakespeare's idea and his prose. the project already has an inde- help teachers explore Shakespeare
It's difficult enough for adults, but pendent documentary in the mak- with their children. People worldwide are already see-
youngsters take up the challenge ing. Sarah Gordon said she hopes to ing the work of the West Swindon
with such great enthusiasm. It Teachers from the schools in- see a variety of interpretations. Shakespeare Festival @
really is disappointing that we can- volved are spending the autumn "Shakespeare can be played in lots www.swind niink.com

Y2000'What's the Millennium really all about?

We are K as Lan 60 days away fron i e Millennium,

but have you ever stopped to =.sk what it is all about?
As a local church we invite you to a week of events where you can find out the answers to
some of your questions concerning the Millennium and what the future holds.

21 :. i November

Our main speaker for the week will be ^van ge Mosey - a man who lost his daughter
Roger Carswell. in the Lockerbie Disaster. Bhaskar Rao
!11
Roger is a travelling evangelist who will be speaking on why he turned from
is based in Leeds. He is married and Hinduism to Christianity and Katrina
they have four children. As an Douglas - a Christian in the world of
evangelist, Roger travels all over the sport will be speaking about her faith.
UK and comes to us from a four week
C)
preaching tour of the USA. Tuesday 23rd John Mosey
He is an excellent communicator Wednesday 24th Bhaskar Rao
buifd'ing u zth people
with a message worth listening to. Both events commence at 8.00pm.
He has written several books and
Freshbrook Evangelical Church
broadcasts regularly on radio. Sunday 28th
Worsley Road, Freshbrook.
10.00am Roger Carswell
For more information telephone: 873050
As part of the week's activities and 6.30pm Roger Carswell interviewing
events we will be hearing from John EVERYONE IS VERY WELCOME Katrina Douglas