Once the children are feeling confident in being able to tell their stories it is then time to think about how they want to present their stories in their filmed or staged performances. This stage of the project asks them to think about how they might create things which will support their storytelling and make it visually more exciting such as backdrops, props and costume elements.

There is also an option to present the stories as a puppetry performance. This can be a useful approach if you have any safeguarding concerns about showing children’s faces on the films.

The CREATE stage is supported by two short films by theatre artists to give the children lots of different ideas for this whicharea available by the links on the left.

USING DESIGN TO SUPPORT STORYTELLING
USING PUPPETRY TO SUPPORT STORYTELLING

Toby Olie who features in the Puppetry film also created this guide to creating your own puppet theatre which you may find useful if you wish to take this approach. 

In this section you will explore:

• How DESIGN elements can bring your story to life
• How to add MUSIC and SOUND to your story
• What other CREATIVE DECISIONS can help your class tell this story together
• Ways you can PRACTISE your story?

By the end of this section your class will have at least one story ready to perform.

Full notes guiding you through the CREATE stage of the project can be found in the Teachers’ Mission Guide.