Page 18 - link magazine

18 swindonlink.com • September 2012

The Kirsty Farrow Land girls’ stories brought to life in unique play
Dance Academy Almost seventy students from Lydiard Park Academy took part in a new and unique end of year produc-
tion in July about life as a land girl during World War II.
DANCE CLASSES FOR
Penned by the school’s head of I knew there was a story to be told land army memorabilia which had
CHILDREN AND ADULTS drama Jennifer Taylor, the play about young women in the war been put away for so long.
BALLET – MODERN – TAP was inspired by the story and ex- barely older than the girls I teach.” “The play was real history com-
STREET JAZZ periences of her 89 year old aunt, The play interweaves the stories ing out. I can imagine those girls
MUSICAL THEATRE former land girl Stella Chandler of six fictional land girls from a remembering for their own children
(neé Skinner). variety of backgrounds, and is struc- that they once met a land girl.”
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE Explaining the motivation be- tured through the letters they would Describing her experience of
FOR MONTHLY OFFERS hind ‘My Life as a Land Girl’ Jen- have sent home to their families, as performing in the production stu-
ESPRIT CENTRE, nifer said: “I’ve always had more well as the replies they received. dent Kate Rayment said: “It was a
HEADLANDS GROVE, SN2 7HS girls than boys wanting to take part Jennifer commented: “The char- fascinating play to do because we
in school productions, and I was fed acters range from well-bred girls learnt about the lives of real people.
07817 476241 or 07980 918192 up with getting girls to dress up getting their hands dirty to girls It really opened my eyes that girls
[email protected] for the male roles. I used to teach from broken homes, all facing simi- just a few years older than I am
www.thekirstyfarrowdanceacademy.co.uk history and when talking to Stella lar challenges, with parts for dashed were put to really hard work from
good RAF chaps, brash Americans morning to night.”
and horny farmhands.” Fellow student and actor Ellie

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Stella, holding her Women’s Land Army medals, with Jennifer Taylor, centre
and the land girl performers. Photo: Richard Wintle, www.calyxpix.com
1. 2. 3. Stella travelled from Hemel James added: “The lives of land
Hempstead to see a dress rehearsal, girls were so amazing. I felt a lot
Churchfields Academy and was very impressed. She said: of pressure to do justice to their
“It was a lovely show; Jennifer has fascinating stories; they worked so
Quality Education for All told our story amazingly well and hard but also had fun.”
Expressing her pride in her
the young people were excellent in
their portrayal of our lives. students Jennifer said: “It’s been
“I forgot about my time on the massively hard work; the play is
land for many years when I became quite wordy, but everyone learnt
a teacher, but a neighbour said their lines brilliantly. They really
I should start talking about my discovered and immersed them-
experiences. Then Jennifer came selves in their characters. It brought
Students at Churchfields Academy to see me and I brought out all my tears to my eyes.”
make more progress than Enterprise project boosts epilepsy support

at any other secondary Year 6 pupils Lacy McKee and Remi Wrona from Greenmeadow Primary
School have presented £153 to Swindon Epilepsy Support Group which
school in Swindon. is run by the new Phoenix Rotary Club, after an Economic Awareness
Week which raised money from a range of practical activities.
Children had to research and make presentations about worthy causes.
Find out why... Lacy had particular knowledge of epilepsy as her sister Leona has a
Come along to our severe form of the condition which is now under control.
Lacy and Remi with Paul Parfrey of Phoenix Rotary
Open Day on:
Thurs 13th September
5pm - 8pm

Book a tour call 01793 487286

Visit www.churchfields.org

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