Shadow Shapers
Shadow Shapers was a cross art form ‘Arts in Education’ ‘Creative Ireland’ project designed by Theatre Artist Margaret Callan Bergin in collaboration with 3rd class teachers of Lucan East ET. Sarah and Tomas. The project is using creativity as an inspirational pathway to broader learning for the students.
Taking the theme of ‘light and Shadow’ as an inspirational starting point the students explored our theme through the medium of visual art, storytelling and Theatre. The project gave the students and teachers unique access to engagement with a professional playwright and Theatre practitioner. They learned the step by step mechanics of building a story and producing their own shadow puppet theatre play.
This included voice recordings in a professional studio and a visit to Rua Red Arts Centre Gallery. Both classes engaged collaboratively with Margaret in writing and performing their own original drama and Shadow Theatre Story which they performed for their school and parents. They also created a window silhouette art installation with Margaret
‘Shadow Shapers’ supported by Creative Ireland South Dublin
Shadow Shapers 2018 Creative Schools Project comments from
School Principal Grainne McManus.
'I consider myself extremely lucky to have been a member of the audience for the Shadow Shapers Garbo Productions by the two 3rd classes in my first week as Principal of Lucan East ETNS. And what awe-inspiring performances they were! The staging, the sets, the storyline, the script, the silhouettes, the music – it grasped the attention and imaginations of every audience member from start to finish. I never would have thought that third class pupils would be capable of completing a show of this standard and I feel it was only possible because of the exemplary artistic leadership and guidance of Margaret Callan.
T
he simplicity of the silhouettes coupled with the musical and voice recordings transported us to another world – it was truly enchanting.
None of this would have been possible without the phenomenal work that Margaret Callan put into the writing and production of both shows. Margaret was ambitious for and set extremely high standards for what she wanted to achieve with the children and in order to do so she worked with the students for an extra month and a half voluntarily.
I would like to thank Margaret for her dedication, professionalism and innovation when working with our students. I do hope that our school and students will have the good fortune to be able to work with Margaret again in the future. In my opinion this dramatic experience is one which is unparalleled by anything I have seen in the schools I have worked in to date'.