Wild Visions in Sheffield
The event appealed to a wide audience and in the opening workshop Lucy told various episodes from the Jason cycle of stories to an entire Year 8 cohort of 240 students, plus a few Year 9s and Year 12s, for almost an hour, holding her audience spellbound throughout with her skill and energy. It was wonderful to see the oral tradition still alive and kicking! There was time for a few questions at the end and there were many hands up, mostly wanting to know what happened next – a sure sign that the students were fully engaged in the process. Applause was loud and long!
As Gina expands: “One of the main reasons we were delighted to have Lucy in school at this particular point in the academic year is that our Year 8s are about to embark on the Options Process where they make their GCSE choices. We have no curriculum time in Year 8 so we are always keen to find ways of connecting with these students outside normal lesson time in the hope of increasing GCSE numbers for both Classical Civilisation and Latin. It will be another couple of months before we can see whether Lucy’s visit has indeed boosted our numbers of recruits but a few more students attended Year 8 Classics Club the following day and a couple of students came to ask about Classical Civilisation GCSE so, perhaps, the signs are positive. The event certainly served to remind the Year 8s that there is a Classics Department at High Storrs and they all thoroughly enjoyed it.”
As Branch President John Drinkwater writes: ‘I can say without hesitation that this was the best-attended, most engaging and most stimulating meeting of the Branch that I have ever attended, and that since 1972! Katy offered her versions of the myths of Leto and the Swan, Artemis, and Procis; Lucy gave us the sad tale of Cassandra. There was a near-capacity audience of almost 90, comprising people of all ages but, which was particularly encouraging, a large number of teenagers from several schools. Katy and Lucy’s narrations were astonishingly skilful. Time just flew by, and it was clear that all those watching and listening were wholly absorbed by them.’
‘Both before and after the performance, members of the audience keenly received information about the Branch and its activities by registering their email addresses on our website (for the management of which I must also thank our Secretary, Peter Hulse) which bodes well for the future of the Branch and is a justification of its decision to focus on local schools.’
If you would like to find our more or join the Sheffield CA branch, you can contact Peter at this address.
