Time Will Tell

Time Will Tell — our education project for the 2009 Literature Festival

Listen to Time Will Tell

Hear the Time Will Tell story again, presented here in two parts compiled from recordings made by BBC Gloucestershire.

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…and listen to the final performances from the six schools involved.

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Time Will Tell, in association with BBC Outreach and BBC Gloucestershire was probably one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken by the Education team at Cheltenham Festivals, so expectations were high and nerves were stretched by the time our six schools arrived at 5pm on the day of the performance at Cheltenham Town Hall. We need not have worried. A packed hall full of friends, parents and assorted VIPs were treated to a dynamic and exciting evening of six evocative stories performed as powerful pieces of drama.

“There were many comments after the performance expressing people’s enjoyment and amazement at all the performances.”

Yvonne Draper, Cotswold School

From the high comedy of the Cotswold School’s Spaced Out, to the social tensions of The Crypt School’s Underground and the haunting tragedy of Balcarras School’s Loss, each school delivered a memorable performance that will stay with all those who saw it for years to come. Following the performance children from each participating school were presented with goody bags by Martin Horwood MP.

“I was very pleased with the way that they performed. I felt that the students really rose to the occasion.”

David Sharkey, Balcarras School

The six Gloucestershire senior schools involved were:

Balcarras School, Cheltenham
Chosen Hill School, Churchdown
The Cotswold School, Bourton on the Water
The Crypt School, Gloucester
Maidenhill School, Stonehouse
Rednock School, Dursley

“The help and encouragement was excellent and the promotion of the project by the BBC was very exciting for the pupils and the school.”

David Brookes, Chosen Hill

Pupils from all six schools wrote a short story to celebrate one of the six decades of the 60th Cheltenham Literature Festival. Leading author Philip Ardagh helped the children write their stories, and actor and director Fiona Ross helped shape the stories for the stage. The culmination was a big performance at Cheltenham Town Hall on 12 October 2009.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire website follow the project on the and listed to audio downloads as the decade detectives get to work.
Philip Ardagh’s own website more information about the project.