Midland Actors Theatre: The "History at Home" Commission
MAT worked with a group at George Dixon Academy, Birmingham (age group 12-13), and also with a group of students at the University of Lodz, Poland (age 20-22). The Commission was from Tom Dipple at the Black Country Living Museum, to review and critique their online History at Home resources for young people. (Woodrow First School were also commissioned by Tom to review these resources.)
Tasks included writing a report on the BCLM resources. Students also researched, planned and designed their own History at Home resources; and undertook market research to test their ideas on target age-groups. Students in George Dixon Academy were also commissioned by children at Woodrow First School, to produce final designs for History at Home resources based on their ideas.
Students at George Dixon Academy storyboarded and produced short drama scenes for inclusion in their History at Home resources, as well as dramatic monologues which they recorded and filmed.
At GDA, students worked with Professor Carl Chinn, to research aspects of local history, and prepare resources aimed at primary schools.
At the University of Lodz, students were studying British Culture (with Dr. Agata Handley). They created History at Home resources, aimed at young people in Poland, to introduce them to aspects of British history and lifestyle.
The work which the students produced was shared with Tom at BCLM. We are presenting a selection here.