"IF" a dramatic approach to anti-bullying took place November to December 2015
The Kipling Festival received an Awards for All grant to run a pilot drama project – and invited local Deans children participate. The highly successful programme was designed to encourage confidence and help them devise strategies for dealing with anti-social situations whether they find themselves as recipients or, just as importantly, as bystanders, as well as encouraging them to identify and stand up for personal values. to request a similar programme for your school or community group: info@kiplingfestivalrottingdean.co.uk Kipling himself was badly bullied as a child and this made him all the more determined to be a warm, kind and playful parent, one who was responsive to childhood fears and whose writings encouraged youngsters to face difficulties and challenges through imagination.
The Kipling Festival has worked with the local schools for more than two years, delivering workshops and performances to stimulate creativity, art and literacy. Over 800 children have participated directly in our programming since May 2014
Gwen Holmes, our drama coach/educator has a three year Conference of Drama Schools diploma and APDA accreditation (Distinction) as well as enhanced DBS clearance. She has recently completed three tours with SameSky's Otherworld company sharing immersive theatre with children with special needs. She the directed the acclaimed youth outreach Rikki Tikki Tavi during the 2015 Festival and taught drama and English in Italy for five months in 2016.
Her interest as a teacher/educator is employing drama to build skills to face challenges and overcome obstacles as modeled in hero journeys and classic stories. Recent studies in Scandinavia have shown that drama and role playing "empowered students by exploring the connection between thoughts, needs, feelings and actions and improved social relationships and reduced alienation on the playground and at school" (Petersen, Rigby and Salmivalli, 2005).
