Before creating the images, the children are given a quick and clear overview of the plot (see below) so they understand the key moments they are showing.
Freeze frames help children communicate story, character, and emotion using stillness, facial expression, and body language.
1. Give the group a quick plot check
Explain that this is The Dream, Perform's modern-day version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Theseus and Hippolyta are preparing for a huge celebrity wedding.
Oberon wants to control the live stream of the wedding, but Titania gets there first, so he asks Puck to use an app to distract her.
At the same time, Hermia loves Lysander but is being pushed to marry Demetrius. Helena, who loves Demetrius, gets involved and everything becomes very mixed up.
Puck's app goes wrong, people fall in love with the wrong person, and there is lots of confusion.
After a series of mistakes involving a donkey-headed actor called Bottom, Puck fixes everything and all the couples end up with the right person at a triple wedding.
2. Explain what a freeze frame is
Now that the children know the story, explain what a freeze frame is. It should look as though someone has pressed pause on a film. Bodies must be completely still, with clear facial expressions and strong body shapes that show what is happening.
3. Capture different moments from the story
Split the children into five groups and tell them they will each create a freeze frame showing one important moment from the story.
The moments are:
Give the groups a few minutes to prepare, reminding them to think about levels, reactions and clear storytelling.
Watch the freeze frames in order so the whole story of The Dream is told through images.
Encourage bold physical choices so the freeze frames read clearly from a distance. This activity works particularly well when children are reminded that stillness is as important as expression. It is an excellent way to reinforce narrative structure while allowing every child to contribute visually.
Lucy Quick, Principal of Perform.
