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Ps in a Pod sculpture inspires school drama session

ByEmily

Jul 11, 2017 #education, #Ps in a Pod

An outdoor art installation has been the inspiration for a fun drama workshop at a school in East Durham.

Children from Westlea Primary School, Seaham, took part in a drama workshop based on Louise Plant’s sculpture Ps in a Pod.

The piece, featuring three cast iron shapes, which are arranged differently depending on their surroundings, is located at Noses Point in the town.

It was commissioned by Durham County Council as part of a new approach to the visual arts, which sees work sited in community locations rather than being displayed in conventional gallery spaces.

The theme of Ps in a Pod is ‘the same and different’ and pupils at Westlea were asked to explore this idea with the help of drama worker Jane Crawford.

Working in pairs and groups, the children were tasked with carrying out simple sets of instructions to create shapes using their bodies.

Colin Robson, community cultural development coordinator, said: “The aim is to create a playful atmosphere where the youngsters are prone to be more open with themselves and others.

“And, as there is no predetermined outcome, keeping to the instructions is impossible without cooperative learning and self-reflection.”

Dance, art, music and drama workshops are taking place at primary schools and youth groups around East Durham while the Ps in a Pod sculpture is situated in the town.

The sculpture will then move on to Wharton Park, in Durham; Bishop Auckland Market Place; and finally, Hamsterley Forest in April 2018, with further workshops planned for each location.

By Emily