Festivals - key stage one

Teacher and pupil

Celebrate the joy of the seasons with magical festival-themed workshops! Our curriculum-linked sessions bring the spirit of celebrations from around the world into the classroom, helping children explore traditions, stories and values in creative and meaningful ways.

Led by experienced facilitators, each workshop blends storytelling, drama, music and movement to immerse children in the sights, sounds and symbols of festivals such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, Hanukkah, Christmas, Easter, Eid and more. Through role-play and hands-on activities, pupils discover the origins and meanings behind these special days, building cultural awareness, empathy and a sense of global citizenship.

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CHINESE NEW YEAR
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CHRISTMAS

Diwali

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Step into the colourful world of Diwali with our high-energy, interactive drama workshop! Children will explore this magical festival through story, music, dance and imaginative play.

From flying to Mumbai to meeting the heroic characters of the Diwali story, this session bursts with movement, creativity and cultural celebration:

  • Travel to Mumbai and discover what makes India unique
  • Bring the Diwali story to life through role play, dance and freeze frames
  • Learn traditional Bollywood-inspired moves and perform a Diwali group dance
  • Compare how Diwali is celebrated in India and the UK today

Learning objectives:

  • Understand the key events and characters of the Diwali story
  • Develop confidence in communication, movement and storytelling
  • Explore cultural diversity through imaginative play and discussion

Curriculum links:

  • KS1 RE: Hinduism- festivals, beliefs and traditions
  • KS1 English & Drama: Speaking, listening, performance and storytelling
  • KS1 PSHE: Understanding and respecting different cultures and beliefs

This workshop pairs brilliantly with our World Explorer session for a cultural immersion day.

"An energetic and vibrant way to bring Diwali to life. We all had the dance moves stuck in our heads for days!"

-Year 2 Teacher, Ewell Castle School

Click here to book a Diwali festival workshop.

Chinese New Year

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Step into the magical world of Chinese New Year as children fly to Beijing to celebrate the Jade Emperor's birthday through story, song, movement and roleplay.

From racing across rivers as zodiac animals to joining a traditional dragon parade, this immersive workshop brings one of the world's oldest festivals to life!

Through interactive drama, children will:

  • Learn the story of the Great Zodiac Race by becoming each animal
  • Explore Chinese culture, traditions and language
  • Create a dragon dance in groups or as a class parade
  • Use emotion and character to bring the story to life

Learning objectives:

  • To understand why and how Chinese New Year is celebrated
  • To recall the story of the Zodiac and sequence the events
  • To explore character and feeling through movement and drama

Curriculum links:

  • EYFS & KS1 Understanding the World: Celebrations and traditions around the world
  • KS1 English & Drama: Storytelling, sequencing and roleplay
  • KS1 PSHE: Exploring emotions, teamwork and cultural awareness

"They were still talking about the Zodiac Race for days later!"

-Year 1 Teacher, Tower Hamlets

Click here to book a Chinese new year workshop.

Celebrate Christmas with Perform for Schools

Bring some festive cheer to your school this December with one of our Christmas workshops.

From The Nativity Story to the classic British tradition of pantomime or lots of fun party themes, our DBS-checked actors will bring a little extra sparkle to your Seasons Greetings! We can even send a Facilitator to support you with the end of term play.

Pantomime Fun -Jack & the Beanstalk and More

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A lively and interactive exploration of classic British pantomime tales featuring beloved characters from Jack & the Beanstalk, Aladdin, Cinderella, and Peter Pan, bringing festive theatre traditions to life.

Step into our magical world and journey through famous pantomime stories where pupils will:

  • Travel back to enchanted settings like giant's castles and magical caves
  • Improvise scenes featuring heroes, villains, and fairy tale characters
  • Meet pantomime favourites such as Jack, Aladdin, Cinderella, and Peter Pan
  • Discover how pantomimes bring communities together and build confidence through performance

Learning objectives:

  • To bring stories to life through role-play and improvisation
  • To practise confident solo speaking
  • To engage with traditional pantomime music and song

Curriculum links:

  • EYFS & KS1 English- Traditional tales, speaking and listening, story sequencing
  • KS1 Drama- Exploring characters, role play, imaginative storytelling
  • PSHE- Turn-taking, creative collaboration, confidence-building

"Every child was completely engaged the whole time! The beanstalk game and the silly sandwich were their favourite parts"

-Year 1 Teacher, Willowbrook Primary

To find out how to book, click here.

Wonderful Christmas Parties

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A festive celebration workshop exploring the magic of Christmas through story, song, and role-play focusing on St. Nicholas and the wonders of the North Pole.

Step into a snowy wonderland and join our seasonal adventure where children will:

  • Travel to the North Pole to meet magical animals and explore the environment
  • Improvise scenes as elves, reindeer, and gift-makers
  • Learn about St. Nicholas and the tradition of gift-giving worldwide
  • Discover how festive songs and stories keep Christmas traditions alive

Learning objectives:

  • To explore the origins of Christmas traditions
  • To engage creatively with seasonal themes through drama and song
  • To develop social skills and teamwork in a festive context

Curriculum links:

  • KS1 History: Understanding cultural celebrations and traditions
  • KS1 PSHE: Exploring generosity and community spirit
  • English & Drama: Developing role-play, listening, and singing skills

"Absolutely magical! The children loved the journey to the North Pole and had a fantastic time. We rebook every year!"

-EYFS Teacher, Bishop Challoner School

To find out how to book, click here.

The Nativity Story

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Join us on a heart-warming festive adventure as we step into the world of the Nativity! This joyful workshop brings the Christmas story to life with exciting characters, imaginative games, and a very important mission- to help an actor remember the true story of the first Christmas.

With donkeys, angels, and wise men galore, children become the experts and storytellers of this magical tale. Through interactive drama, children will:

  • Become Nativity experts by exploring key characters through movement and voice
  • Play imaginative group games that build teamwork and listening skills
  • Recreate the journey to Bethlehem with improvisation and storytelling
  • Bring the Nativity story to life through song, character work and creative play

Learning objectives:

  • Retell the Nativity story through physical theatre and drama games
  • Develop confidence in communication, expression, and collaboration
  • Explore narrative structure and key story elements through performance

Curriculum links:

  • KS1/Lower KS2 English: Storytelling, Speaking & Listening, Performing
  • RE: Understanding the Christian Nativity story
  • PSHE/Drama: Teamwork, empathy, and confidence-building through role play

This workshop pairs beautifully with our Easter workshop for a seasonal RE and drama programme.

"The leader engaged the children by fitting in lots of different activities that helped them deepen their learning. The kids loved it and we would book a workshop like this again!"

-Year 1 Teacher, St Mark's CE

To find out how to book, click here.

Watch Them Shine! - Christmas Performance Workshops

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A practical and confidence-building workshop designed to prepare children for end-of-term Christmas performances with support from professional actor/singers.

Step onto the stage and develop skills where pupils will:

  • Travel through exercises that build confidence and stage awareness
  • Improvise and develop characters through role-play
  • Meet professional performers who guide them in vocal projection and memorisation
  • Discover techniques to shine during solo and group performances

Learning objectives:

  • To build confidence in speaking and performing on stage
  • To learn memorisation and vocal techniques
  • To develop teamwork and character work through drama

Curriculum links:

  • KS1 PSHE: Building self-esteem and communication skills
  • English & Drama: Enhancing speaking, listening, and performing skills

To find out how to book, click here.