Primary school

by Peter Griffith

 

Monica has been sent into the garden to play. The garden is boring - no computer, no tablet, no mobile phone. But then Monica hears a strange noise - and Goggie appears!

 

Goggie takes Monica to the moon - to the bottom of the sea - to Africa - to the north pole. This highly entertaining play helps children to learn English; and shows them that if you use your imagination, you can fly anywhere you like...

 

 

Photos of 'Googgie'

 

Extract from the script 'Goggie'

 Monica: (a stick emerges from the crate and pokes Monica) Ow! What is that? Is there something behind this box? (Monica explores behind the box) No. There is nothing there. (Monica sits again. A hand comes out of the box and taps her on the shoulder) Hey! What is that? Is there something inside this box? Is there?
 Audience: Audience: Yes.
 Monica: (The knocking and answering is repeated a few times) What can it be? What do you think it is? (Monica takes a stick and uses it as a gun) All right, I know you are in there. Come out... with your hands up! (a white flag comes out of the crate and waves) It looks friendly. Ah... here is the lid. I open the lid – and what do I see? (Monica opens the lid. Goggie enters from the box)

by Peter Griffith

 

Jack and his mother have no money, and no food. Then Jack climbs up a magic bean-stalk and finds himself in another land, above the clouds. Jack finds enough gold to help his family out of their poverty – but the gold is in the power of a terrible giant who eats children!

 

Jack and the Beanstalk is one of England's best-loved folk-tales. This dramatisation in extremely simple English makes specific use of the vocabulary available to pupils in the third and fourth school-years.

 

 

Photos of 'Jack and the Beanstalk'

 

 

Extract from the script 'Jack and the Beanstalk'

Jack: This is our cow. Her name is Buttercup. Come along Buttercup. (Jack enters with a cow)
Mother: Ah, good morning Buttercup. Now Buttercup, have you got some milk for us today? (the cow shakes its head)
Cow: Moo!
Mother: Oh dear, the cow has no milk for us.
Jack: Are you hungry, Buttercup? (the cow nods) I am hungry, and my mother is hungry, and the cow is hungry. What can we do?
Mother: We must sell something.
Jack: Can we sell this spoon?...Can we sell this bowl?...Can we sell this table?...Can we sell this chair?
Mother/Audience: No.
Jack: There is nothing else here!
Mother: We must sell... the cow.
Jack: Sell the cow? Sell Buttercup?
Mother: Yes, we must sell the cow. Jack, take Buttercup to the market, and sell her!

by Peter Griffith

 

Lizzie falls asleep while reading her favourite book – a book about pirates! Suddenly her bed turns into a pirate ship, and the villainous Captain Porridge is leading her on a wild quest to the southern seas...

 

As well as providing an entertaining adventure, the play helps pupils to practice vocabulary that they meet in their first four years of learning English – colours, body parts, clothing, numbers, animals, directions, weather; and makes specific use of themes that are included in current text-books – the pirate ship, the haunted castle, feelings, food, and simple actions.

 

 

Photos of 'Lizzie and the Pirate'

 

 

Extract from the script 'Lizzie and the Pirate'

Lizzie: I'm hungry. We must make something to eat.
Porridge: I am hungry too. Black-eyed Bess!
Lizzie: Yes Captain?
Porridge: Make us something to eat.
Lizzie: But...I don't know how to cook!
Porridge: You don't know how to cook?
Lizzie: That is right. I don't know how to cook. Can you cook?
Porridge: No. I don't know how to cook.
Lizzie: Can you make us a pizza?
Porridge: No. I can't make a pizza. Can you make us fish and chips.
Lizzie: No, I can't make fish and chips. Can you make sausages and beans?
Porridge: No, I can't make sausages and beans. Can you make a chocolate cake?
Lizzie: No, I can't make a chocolate cake. I can only make one thing.
Porridge: And what is that?
Lizzie: Strawberry-and-banana-milkshake.