Zombie apocalypse

I am teaching three times two hour sessions a day at the moment: an “audition” class with the cast to start with, and then two INSET classes with groups of teachers (30 each, in theory, but it varies, and I am only into the second day.)  Which is a relatively challenging timetable.  But the fact that I love what I am doing makes it pretty much fly past.

I did have to spend the4 first part of every lesson explaining, several times, since they never all arrive at once, what had happened to my face.  Which I made light of, of course, in my usual self-deprecating style, and repeating the joke that tomorrow I would arrive on a pair of crutches, a wheelchair, etc.

Naturally, the two INSET classes are pretty much the same thing repeated, but at least on the first day, I was able to use some of the same ideas.  All three groups, for example, played a version of Granma’s footsteps called Zombie Apocalypse, in which they not only had to be still every time I looked at them, but had to have suitably horrific expressions and body-shapes.  In some ways it is a shame I don’t have a picture of the teachers’ versions, as they are totally committed to it in a way the students do not yet feel  able to be.

So car, I have taught all three groups in the simply enormous examination hall, way up on the fourth floor, which is otherwise largely unused… except for exams, of course, and the odd assembly.  It was good to have it as an example of the fact that a space just not have to be empty to be suitable for Drama.  This space was usable… but it was far too big.