The Great Big Little Parade

Gathered round a long table at Theatre Porto before an evening Drama Droplets session, they’re unanimous about that gloriously noisy half-hour march from the park’s playground round to Theatre Porto, which sits in the grounds. “It’s hard to forget,” says one, to ardent agreement from the others.

 

Drama Droplets is a free, weekly drama group for young people aged 7-11 at Theatre Porto.  When the group were invited to take part in the Covid-19 Reflections programme the youngsters seized the chance to get outside after having been cooped up for so long during the pandemic. The result was the exuberant Great Big Little Parade, depicting their own recollections of lockdown.

 

During the development stage of the process, the three Drama Droplets groups, listed what they’d missed, what they were grateful for, and how Covid had changed their opinions, says Theatre Porto associate director Phil Cross.

 

Many of the items on the Drama Droplets’ list were the little things that made a big difference, he says – “thinking about just going outside or being able to see somebody smile at you down the street because they're not wearing a mask now. The sound of bees in your garden, sharing food with friends, like ordering a pizza.”

 

Thirteen Drama Droplets took part in a week-long workshop - it was fun but intense, writing a script, choreographing dances and learning the show. The resulting promenade piece opened ‘Topsy-Turvy’, Theatre Porto’s family festival of performances, acrobatics, dance and puppetry.

 

“We made massive versions of all of these little things,” says Phil. “We made big bees and big flowers and great big smiling lips. That became the parade.

 

“We also really liked the idea .… of the kids making a lot of noise”.  Local organisation Edsential lent the group loads of instruments.

 

In the playground, The Great Big Little Parade began around a big pile of pizza boxes as the children beat drums and shook tambourines. As all eyes turned on them, they sang.

The smiles were infectious as the Drama Droplets led the parade, marching, clapping and singing, and the crowd followed.   “I was absolutely terrified,” says one. “I felt I was going to mess it up and I was going to drop the banner.”

 

The parade paused by the pond, a quiet moment inspired by the alone time of Covid. “All the audience closed their eyes as well. What could you hear? The distant traffic, the buzzing bees, the quacking ducks, the breeze through the trees.” says Phil.

 

The final stop, outside the theatre, saw the Drama Droplets enthusiastically performing in front of excited friends and family. A community came together.

 

“It was really well received,” says Phil. “Some of them may have been nervous when they started but then when they were doing the final section and were all projecting their voices and smiling and waving at their friends and family – that’s what we do it for.”

 

The pride of the children in their achievement is clear. So too is the community engagement it has nurtured.