A One Off - Spin Off Productions

Flower Power

This is a story about compromise, understanding and acceptance, performed at Ganton School for special needs children.

The story itself revolves around two main characters, Mr Kingston and the Queen of the Earth;they battle over what should grow in Mr Kingston’s garden. The Queen of the Earth wants to see his garden beautiful and full of flowers and doesn’t understand why Mr Kingston is so against this.

Mr Kingston though, is a lonely and unhappy man, with a completely barren garden. He once loved a girl called Rosie and took her a bunch of flowers in an attempt to win her heart, but she told him she was in love with someone else. From then on, he felt that all flowers are stupid and useless and has refused to have any growing in his garden at all. He now lives alone with no friends or family.

Why are they so keen on flowers, why do flowers keep turning up in his garden? Whenever they grow, he tells us, he destroys them as quickly as he can, using various inventive methods.

The Queen and Mr Kingston do eventually arrive at an understanding.

Mr Kingston does, in the end, approve of the bees and finally realises they need the flowers to live. The Queen also gradually understands that the garden can be a useful place as well as having the beauty of flowers in it. And although the ideas of the two of them differ, it is still possible for them to work together and find common ground.

Based on his black and white thinking, and feeling different and isolated from other people, the children felt Mr Kingston may be a person with additional needs; perhaps he was autistic and had anger management issues. This was a spontaneous idea from the children which uses the garden to show Mr Kingston’s journey to his place in the world.

So, Mr Kingston and the Queen learned to accept each other’s differences and work together. The result being Mr Kingston was welcomed into the wider world.

For the older students in particular this was an important theme as, with some preparing for apprenticeships and the work place they were thinking about how they would find their way in the world, one that is not always very accommodating to people who are different.

Artists

Frances Allison

David Barton

Peter Snelling

Oliver Strong

Natalie Young

Liz Dees

Ian Mitchell

Cassandra Parkin

Andy Ross

Matilda Harper

Teachers Comments

Sarah Caley – Assistant Head

It was great for the children to work with professionals to develop the project.

Mike Mallinson – Teacher

Good sound track engaged some/most pupils in class.

Jess Rowland – Teaching Assistant

Very brilliant production, all 0f the children loved taking part. Also the staff who came were excellent with the pupils.

Schools Involved

Thank you to Ganton School for working with us on this project as participants and providing the venue, and the teachers and students who played their part in helping to make this the success it was.

Funding Providers

The Arts Council England and Ganton Schools

Voices Through Art

Voices Through Art – in collaboration with HCAS and the Refugee Council

This special exhibition is the culmination of a 17 week project running in collaboration between Spin Off Productions, Humber Community Advice Service and the Refugee Council. During the workshop sessions the participants worked with professional artists and musicians to explore Hull and their thoughts about the area.

The workshops involved a number of crafts and activities including the following;

Collage and block printing

3D Wire modelling

Origami

Felt mosaic

Photography

Music

Drama

Poetry

The exhibition included Arts and Photography along with Musical and Drama performances by the wide range of people involved. The aim of the project is to showcase the skills of the minority ethnic community members supported by HCAS and Refugee Council.

Credits

Ailsa Oliver

Elizabeth Dees

Jess Aylen

Honor Pallant

David Barton

Peter Snelling

Sally Snelling

Carol Ideson

Funded by

Awards for All

A Child of War

was commissioned as part of the Untold Stories Hull Project funded by Hull City Council Library and Roots & Wings.

The project tells the untold story of Jean Willerton and her evacuation from war torn Hull during the Second World War. The story has original and popular music of the period.

The story covers Jean’s three evacuations and her experiences as a Child of War. We have also been performing in schools in Hull.

Performers

Zoe Kennington and Bryn Ellis

Funded by

Hull City Council Library and Roots & Wings

Comments

Lesley from Stockwell Academy:

“Took me back to the days of listening to my parents and grandparents talking about the war”

Kim from Kingswood Academy:

“Told through the experience of an evacuee made it more personal. Good pace to keep the students attention. Enjoyed the local aspect of war”

Miss Walker from Boulevard Academy:

“It was personal to Hull and students could relate – they were interested in the unusual facts”

Once Upon a Story

was a fun project designed to get parents and young children to discover their creative side at Hull Central Library. This project was funded by the National Lottery: Awards For All scheme.

The sessions promoted learning about art, music and storytelling. Our creative artist Jess Aylen, was at hand to help the families make props. David Barton, a professional musician created music and rhymes and taught the families about the principles of composing a piece of music. Jack Fielding, a professional actor explored with the families how to bring a story to life in a play. At the end of the session, the families gathered together to perform the play ‘A Christmas Carol’.

We also did a project with Bacon Garth School in Cottingham working on the book ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ which was created to encourage young people to start to read as a fun activity and not just for learning.

The song below was written by the families involved in the project and produced by David Barton.

Artists

Jack Fielding

Liz Dees

David Barton

Jess Aylen

Funded by

Awards for All

The 60s – The Decade that Changed The World

‘The Decade That Changed the World’

is a project about the 60’s which Spin Off Productions devised as part of the Humber Mouth Festival 2014.

The project looks at the 60’s and the events that happened in the decade that have had significance on how we live today.

The project includes two plays, the first of which What’s Going On, is a history play which went through US events in the decade including the Space Race, Segregation, The peace movement and the assassination on JFK.

The second play is My Generation which is a forum theatre piece following a teenager who wants to attend a anti nuclear march. Both of these plays explore the music of the 60’s and we have a musician singing these songs as part of the performance.

Artists

Kristian Pierre

David Barton

Jack Fielding

Funded by

Hull Libraries Service as part of the Humber Mouth Festival 2014

Herring Girls

Working with Artlink and Hull City Council, Spin Off Productions as part of the promotion of for Follow The Herring project and play ‘Get Up and Tie Your Fingers’ which was performed at Hull Truck Theatre.

The project took place in libraries and schools as a joint venture funded by The Ice Co. The play showed the audience life through the eyes of a Herring Girl. The play was interspersed with craft activities that were lead by Artlink and created crafts related to the play.

Artists

Rachel Mills

Funded by

Hull Council City Arts Unit and The Ice Company

Mythical Maze

Spin Off Productions has been commissioned for the fourth year to help the Hull Libraries promote the National Reading Challenge.

In this years production Honor Pallant has written a performance to take the actors to the centre of the Mythical Maze. The two walkers go on an adventure to the centre of the maze. On their way they meet Ezam the keeper of the maze who introduces them to some of the creatures that live in the Mythical Maze and helps them on their way to join the National Reading Challenge.

David Barton has once again composed the original soundtrack which can be heard with the players below.

Performance 1

Performance 2

Funded by

Hull Library Service as part of the Summer Reading Challenge

Artists

Emily Kingston

Aneirin Evans

Alice Rose Palmer

Rachel Mills

Jack Feilding

Kristian Pierre

Micheal Brown

Paul Serghiou

A Full Presentation at the following Schools

Francis Askew

Rokeby Park

Priory

Bridgeview

Pearson

Southcoates

Appleton

Thanet

Greenway

Sidmouth

Endike

Newland St Johns

Buckingham

Christopher Pickering

Newington Academy

St Richards

Maybury

Longhill

Neasdon

Sutton Park

Bricknell

Cleeve

Biggin Hill

Spring Cottage

St Anthony’s

Hall Road

Fredrick Holmes

Endsleigh Holy Name

Stepney

Ganton

St Nicholas

St Marys

Ings

Eastfield

Griffin

Oldfleet

Stockwell

Wansbeck

Bellfield

Bude Park

Westcott

Alderman Cogan

Northcott

Shaking Shakespeare

was an exciting and innovative introduction to Shakespeare for KS2 (years 4, 5 & 6) pupils funded by Hull City Arts & the Hull Library Service. We travelled back in time to meet the immortal bard himself, the audience had the chance to ask him some probing questions, find out all about Elizabethan theatre and then watch a performance of one of his most famous plays “Macbeth” (specially abridged). This performance gave us the opportunity to work with some of the young people who study drama at Hull College.

Artists

Gerald Fox

Micheal Barker

Kimberley Macharia

Hannah Wilson

Sam Potter

Funded by

Hull City Arts and Hull City Libraries Service

Funded by

Spring Cottage Primary

Stockwell Primary

Bridgeview School

Longhill Primary

Victoria Dock

Northcott School

Ganton School

Pearson Primary

Creepy House

Commissioned by Hull Library services,two teams toured primary schools in Hull area to promote participation in the National Summer Reading Challenge. Written by Honor Pallant, featuring shadow puppets created by Liz Dees and with original music by David Barton. Spin Off Productions once again contributed to record numbers of Hull children signing up and completing the challenge.

Due to the success of this years promotion, they booked Hull city Hall for the full day and we where asked to perform in front of parents and children.

Artists School Tours

Emily Thompson

Gerald Fox

Andrew Ross

Liz Dees

Summer Workshops

Jade Wasling

Paul Serghiou

Musical Score

David Barton

Funded by

Hull Library Service as part of the Summer Reading Challenge

A Full Presentation at the following Schools

Sidmouth Primary

Parkstone Primary

Appleton Primary

Priory Primary

Wheeler Primary

Adelaide Primary

St Thomas More RC Primary

Francis Askew Primary

Craven Primary school

Soathcoates Primary school

Canadish Primary

Marfleet Primary School

St Richard Primary School

Thanet Primary

Maybury Primary School

Neasden Primary

The Highlands Primary

Sutton Park Primary

St James Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary

Cleeve Primary

Spring Cottage Primary

Bridge View Primary

The Parks Primary

Holy Name RC Primary

Frederick Holmes

Pearson Primary

Endsleigh Holy Name Primary

Eastfield Primary

Wold Primary

Ganton

St George’s Primary

Thoresby Primary

Paisley Primary

Collingwood Primary

Bellfield Primary

Mountbatton Primary

Griffin Primary

Stockwell Primary

Oldfleet Primary

Dorchester Primary School

Gillshill Primary

Freedom Wall

was a 2013 Humbermouth commission inspired by Martin Luther King’s famous I have a dream speech. Children and adults of all ages and abilities were invited to come and join one of Spinoff’s talented visual artists at a local library to help create Hull’s very own Freedom Wall. Participants were encouraged to paint, write, draw, scribble and doodle their ideas.

Artist

Liz Dees

Funded by

Hull Libraries Service as part of the Humber Mouth Festival 2013

Mysteries of the Jigsaw

was a 2013 Humbermouth commission aimed at children under 10 and their families. Featuring a large jigsaw, participants are invited to join the storyteller in fitting the pieces together and solving the mystery. The young people are taken on a journey with our intrepid explorer to recover the pieces of the jigsaw, which are scattered around the jungle and to gradually piece them together. Musical songs and games along the way are also part of the project.

Artists

Paul Serghiou

Kristian Pierre

Funded by

Hull Libraries Service as part of the Humber Mouth Festival 2013

Freedom Festival 2010 - 2013

Freedom Festival

Spin off Productions has been actively involved with the Hull Freedom Festival over the last four years.

We began with a performance of Cat in Hat in 2010, the following year we delivered a play about Circus Life.

In 2012 we delivered a performance of Odd Socks the Scarecrow. Since 2012, we have taken lead on arranging the entertainment for the festival. We hosted craft sessions and maypole dancing engaging young people who attended the festival.

In 2013 we devised a musical play based around The Freedom Festivals theme, Welcome to the World.

Artists

Ayse Ozkurt

Paul Serghiou

Emily Thompson

Kamlesh Singh

Kimberly Macharia

Kirsty Norman

Steve Elliot

Funded by

The Freedom Festival

Tin Soldier

The performance, which was sponsored by the Art Council was to produce a bespoke version of the by Hans Christian Anderson to specifically appeal to children with special needs. This involved designing a set and props that will allow special needs children to interact, join in, and overcome their learning difficulties by arousing their interest. The play toured Yorkshire and parts of Lincolnshire.

Artists

Dean Ramsden

Mathew Haigh

Gerald Fox

Rachel Gay

Funded by

Arts Council England

Participating Schools

Maybury Primary School

Springhead School

Warren Wood Community School

St. Anne’s School

Brooklands Community School

Bridgeview School

Northcott School

Cambridge Park School

Ganton School

Tweendykes School

Fredrick Holmes School

Riverside Special School

St. Bernard’s School

The (Grantham) Ambergate School

Sandham School

The (Grantham) Sandon School

The Eresby School

Kingsmill School

New Beginnings

Honor Pallant was keen to link various creative elements into a package that contained original stories, a creative artist and a musician. The project showed how these diverse arts could be used to interpret a story. Spinoff delivered workshops with the children that encouraged them to write their own stories.

Artists

Gemma Banks

Liz Dorton

Funded by

Hull Library Services

Participating Schools

Northcott Primary School

Tweendykes Primary School

Bridge View Primary School

Ganton Primary School

Story Lab

Spin off were approached to deliver a project to encourage more young people to join The National Reading Challenge .The Story Lab theme was based around the 2012 Olympics and in conjunction with Hull Library Service, we asked children to answer a quiz question and if it was correct, they received a prize. This story lab project was very successful, engaging record numbers of young people. Hull Library service condemned our actors and performances. The final presentation was performed at Hull City Hall, in front of the young people and their families.

Artists

Paul Serghiuo

Kimberley Macharia

Liz Dees

Kirsty Shipley

Thomas Fairie

David Barton

Funded by

Hull Library Service as part of the Summer Reading Challenge 2012

Let the Stories Begin

Funny Bones

This well known book was performed as part of the Humber Mouth Festival. This again was a project to encourage a love of reading, enabling those children who need extra support to engage and lose themselves in a world of stories. When shown at the Freedom Festival during the same year, this proved to be a very popular and played large audiences with people waiting.

Artists

Gerald Fox

Jason Coyle

Funded by

Hull Libraries Service as part of the Humber Mouth Festival 2011.

Cat in the Hat

We encouraged young children between the ages of 5 and 8 to enjoy the magic of Dr Seuss and his rhythmical stories. 30 children at a time, watched in a 3-dimensional way the poem come to life. Afterwards, they took part in a workshop which related to a performance they have just seen.

Artists

Jason Coyle

Jade Wasling

Gerald Fox

Funded by

Freedom Festival and Hull Libraries Service