You could be mistaken for thinking you had crossed the border and drifted off the west coast of Scotland if you’d come to the energetic Year 2 Drama workshop at the pre-prep on Monday.

An actor from Freshwater Theatre Company held the Year 2 spellbound as he transported us all from windy wet Dulwich to the western Isle of Struay. Captain Natalie rowed us masterfully into the harbour to a rousing group chorus of ‘Speed Bonnie Boat’. In our imaginations we visited special places on the island – past the boggy loch and the bonny loch, where eagles swooped, rabbits scurried and the one-eye lighthouse blinked. There was a very special Scottish welcome waiting for us . Year 2 played the roles of Katie Morag and Baby Liam, Lady Artist, Neilly Beag, Mr and Mrs McColl, Grannie Island and Grannie Mainland beautifully. I especially admired Grannie Mainland’s vigorous defence of her all-purpose scrubbing brush.

Year 2 teachers, Mrs Brown and Miss Moore are introducing a new Geography based topic, The Island Home, using a comparison between the Isle of Coll and Dulwich, in terms of trade and industry, transport, wild life and population. The actor was able to weave skilfully into his journey references to all of these things and to weather and compass points, reinforcing knowledge and having fun at the same time, especially at the ceilidh!

‘I liked being the Lady Artist’ said Saskia, who wants to be an artist when she grows up; ‘I liked the journey, meeting Katie Morag, the dancing - everything!’

Thank you for the inspiration of Freshwater Theatre Company, Mairi Heddiwick’s ‘Katie Morag’, and for all the enthusiasm from Year 2.

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