PUPILS at Caldew School in Dalston in have been practising their acting skills while understanding what it felt like to be an evacuee in World War Two.

The Year 7 pupils were looking into the past for inspirational stories to recreate by using the drama techniques to see how it felt to walk in the footsteps of people who had been through incomprehensible situations.

Drama teacher, Helen Openshaw, said: “Before the half-term we explored the theme of journeys by looking at images that started some really interesting discussions, for example, refugees, slavery, and survivors from the Titanic.”

Using the stories of wartime evacuees as a starting point to develop their own characters, the students created still images and tracked the journeys of their own characters to explore how it felt to be an evacuee during those challenging times.

Helen continued: “We used physical theatre techniques to explore further the environment of journeys and the feelings of those who are in danger when travelling.

“We are now looking specifically at evacuees in World War Two.”

Previously Helen had shown the students a short documentary on The Imperial War Museum website about how the evacuation of big cities was organised and what it was like for children on the day they left.

She went on: “This term the students will develop their own evacuee character by using in-role writing, and then building a story about the experience of being evacuated.”

Year 7 student Summer Blake, said: “I enjoy doing practical drama.”

James Messenger added: “It shows you what really happened.”

Helen said: “I feel that by looking at past events in drama, students are able to empathise more if they put themselves in their shoes. Understanding how others feel then feeds into everyday situations.

"Practical Drama, working in groups, is important for students to learn how to communicate with each other, listen and encourage others. Teamwork is a skill that will help them throughout their lives.

“We will also revisit some of the physical theatre techniques that we have learnt to help explore the feelings of the characters.”

Helen is hoping that by showing the students what children back then had to go through and helping them into the hearts and minds of the survivors and evacuees, it will provide them with a sense of gratitude and humility.

She said: “Past events are also interesting and engage students with the learning. This also creates interesting discussions – how we adapt to circumstances, how we feel in certain situations.

"Often there are links with today, and students can see the parallels.”

“There will also be the chance to look at how documentary theatre works, too.”

Year 7 student Lily Lytollis said: “You get to feel how they felt as an evacuee.”

And fellow student Jack Tod said: “Due to Covid we have had to do things differently in drama. It’s been good watching clips of actors to understand drama skills, but now we are having a go.”