Lancashire 2017

I loved doing the show because I had the part of the officer. Thank you Trench Brothers

I think the best thing was how he always seemed to stay in character and didn’t ever stop! He made us all laugh at some point and it was also really good when we actually got to learn some of the different phrases.

(I learnt) that if we try hard then we will be able to achieve great things

We got to make our puppets in our own way. She told us what we had to do and we did it our own way which makes each of our puppets unique! I also loved what she wrote on our whiteboard! ‘There is no such thing as can’t, TRY!’

The best thing about the day was when I heard the professional singers. And when we sung Trench Brothers together. I loved the show keep up the good work 🙂

I liked when we got to handle the weapons and gas masks and when we got to hold the Victorian cross, there lots of amazing things that they used in WW1

I loved making the head of the puppet because it was the most creative one and Uzma helped me get things right.

The best thing was when he pulled out people for laughing, sniggering or even smiling. The actor was so realistic I actually thought that I was in the real life army. I learned how people were treated in the war, how they got trained, what they were called and even learned some of the Hindu language.

The best thing was when we all sat together and listened to him and made a song. He had a very bubbly personality, and he had a great sense of humour. I learnt how to make music, that the piano is a beautiful musical instrument and that song writing is amazing.

It was even better than I had imagined. Excellent staffing / great support available from the team. Pleasure to work alongside the team. Fabulous for their confidence! Great also for their writing – we loved the cross-curricular work (diaries / letters). Can’t praise the project enough. Would love to be involved again in the project. Loved the experience from start to finish – the children and I have loved it.

I got to express my voice. The song written was by our school. I was excited to sing the song we had made. I learnt to project my voice. I was able to come up with ideas for the composition.

The best thing was using my puppet and my Auntie was able to watch the performance.

We found out what life was like for soldiers who were at war. I enjoyed being a soldier and doing the marching. I discovered what life was like for soldiers who were away from families.

Providing the children with great range of material to look at (which may normally be behind a glass cabinet in a museum). All were able to discuss the artefacts in a more in-depth way.

I liked seeing the artefacts from the war (like the weapons and peep holes). The man gave us lots of new information.

I learnt about the Periscope and they used it so they didn’t have to pop their head up and risk getting shot in the head.

The best thing about this activity is that it was realistic. The worst thing about this activity was it was not real.

We learnt how to make the puppets and that you can always try again when you go wrong.

The best thing about the day was when we did the actual performance because we had a real audience and it was a lot of fun. The worst part was when it finished. I would like to know more in the future. Children should look forward to this exciting visit.

[I learnt that] it was ok to be individual, all our soldiers looked a bit different and that is ok.

There is nothing that could be better it was the best. I got to learn how to make rhythms and beats.

I learnt from this activity that the French called the Germans Alboche and the British also called them Boche which means cabbage in French. The French called the Germans cabbage because they have a big round head like a cabbage.

I learnt that in the trenches they weren’t allowed to write in their letters exactly where they were so they had no privacy.

I was able to touch things that you can’t touch in museums, which meant I learned a lot more

I cannot fault the team effort on the day. The creative team did a fantastic job sorting the children out. They were a slick, well rehearsed crew who knew how to get the very best out of our children. The children worked hard, listened hard and loved taking part in the show. Please come back and do another one.

[The best thing was] that you got to make your own songs and you got all your ideas listened to. [I learnt] how to sing properly and how to actully compose a song and know what its like to compose a song.

Well for one, I learnt that life being a soldier is hard and the drills are very tricky. Secondly I learnt that soldiers are not allowed to pack much when they go to the trenches.

I liked how it evolved from the beginning to how it was in the end – seeing our puppets grow

Thank you to everyone at HMDT and LCC for their efforts and organisation. We have had a great term learning about WW1 and Trench Brothers. I cannot believe the experiences both children and adults have enjoyed for such a bargain price. We would love to do similar projects in the future. Thank you once again and congratulations on a job well done.

I learnt not to give up and always believe in yourself that you can do great things in life

We loved the performance and it felt good to perform for other people. And we loved the t-shirts. We learnt that we could perform in front of lots of people. If you do this prodject then you will have great fun

Fun, amazing, flabbergasting (which means the best!) There was nothing bad about this activity. It was just fantasic and we loved it. Thank you for coming!

[I learnt] how to compose music (I now want to be a professional singer when I’m older!)

I loved seeing the shot gun it was legendary! and I learned that we shouldn’t laugh about the war because it is sad what happened to the soldiers.

It has been an honour to work on this project and the children have got a lot from it. Some children were disappointed that they didn’t get the chance to get a speaking part. The final performance was very professional and there were many positive comments from parents and governors saying how much they enjoyed it. One parent said that it was the best school performance he had seen!

I learnt that singing in front of a crowd is not all bad. I hope we can do something like this next year.

I learnt about what they used the war and that Indians came to help England.

I liked making the puppets, seeing everyone else’s puppets different looks and operating my puppet in the performance

The children were able to experience the process involved in song writing. It demystified it and allowed the children to take ownership of their own song.

I loved the activity, I don’t think there was anything bad about it.

I learnt that soldiers from India wrote a lot of letters to their family members or friends back home. They were proud to fight for England.

The children really got a sense of what it must have been like for new recruits. This developed their descriptive writing immensely. Very impressed.

We got to sing with professional singers. I had a very good time and I would like to do it again.

Everyone mostly enjoy themselves and everyone got involeved. They also got to share all their ideas

[I learnt] what it was like to be in the war and that the leader wasn’t allowed to wear dirty underpants!

I think that the best thing during this lesson was when we write our own letter then formed it in to a magnificent sound and it also made us think.

I liked it all because I learnt lots of facts and even got to try on some clothes from the First World War. I enjoyed trying on the putties even though they were slightly big . It was hilarious when I tried on some of the glasses they used to wear!

Could not believe the amount of time and resources provided to the school and the final product at the end. The children are fascinated with WW1 now and keen to learn more but also developed a greater understanding and respect. Excellent and highly recommended to any school. The project will give high quality education and more to the children and school as a whole.

I thought doing the show/performance was the best part. I loved doing mostly everything if it was up to me I wouldn’t change anything about it.

I learnt that you can create anything with a little imagination and some materials.

It felt so realistic and it made me feel like I was there and although I knew it was an actor I still enjoyed it.

Some of us got to try and play the piano which was fun. Making our own music masterpiece was exciting.

The best things were trying on the uniforms, when I tried on the glasses and hurting my foot when I tried to kick the really heavy football!

A great understanding and empathy about the British colonies as well as promoting tolerance, identity and pride concerning each other. HMDT Music and their artists were phenomenal to see in action and work with. It is brilliant for children to see specialists in their own field. This has inspired them into thinking about careers in Art, music, singing and acting etc.

When the children wrote their diary extract, they wrote descriptively and passionately about their experience of being a soldier in the British army.

I found everything really good. I don’t think anything needs to be improved – the sound effects of the lemon drop bombs in the play were really scary!

I enjoyed getting to make the turban for our little puppet. I was so glad we got to use them in the performance and then keep them!

I learnt a lot about the First World War and now know a lot more from being able to write a song about the trenches.

The best thing about the activity was that we learnt even in letters if changed a bit and sung, it actually becomes lyrics to a song. YOU CAN MAKE MUSIC FROM ANYTHING

[I learnt] how much respect people the soldiers had to have for each other.

the best thing about this activity was when we made the puppets and played with them. i learnt that i need to take my time when im doing something so i can do it right.

We got to see what life for the solders were like and I think it was a little scary and bossy for them. [I learnt] that life as a solider was very difficult and that they were treated with no respect what so ever; especially for doing the most simplest of things like gnawing, coughing and slouching. They missed their family.

Brilliant singers, organizers and directors. They loved seeing all stage and realistic props as well as costumed soldiers again. Luca is normally shy but got a main part and performed brilliantly.

The best thing about it was that he described all of the notes and he would play it three time after we finished that section so we could remember and understand the tune. Over all this was my favorite part of working with the Trench Brothers.

[It was] creative, pleasurable and heart pounding.

I liked to see the weapons and things like the glasses and masks also I liked that each table was set out with different topics like the clothes on one table and the food on another

The best thing was to be able to put all our hard work into this play. I also like the fact that I was acting and having a director.

Over and above my expectations. They’ve learnt so much about WW1 and the ethnic minority soldiers who we probably wouldnt have focused on before. I’ve learn lots of new facts and was naive about the impact Commonwealth soldiers had during WW1. Thank you once again “

The best thing was all of it because expands our minds into doing new stuff we have never done before.

[The best thing was] how he acted so realistic and it was so unique and it was exciting. Also all the activities we did were really fun. We learnt that the soldiers from WW1 were really strict and were very hard on the soldiers. Also Thank you !!! for teaching us all of this.

I think that the best part was where we got to find out things that we didn’t know and where we got to touch things and look at things that we didn’t really know before like the leg bandages called putty and we had a challenge to try and put them on.

It was so important learning about the uniforms by making it ourselves. I learnt what the soldiers looked like and wore and the puppets were accurate so were more fun.

As a school located in a traditionally ‘White English’ village, we often find our children and families have little knowledge or empathy with other cultures. It has been valuable for our school to embrace the contributions made to the war effort by Black soldiers. thank you – an amazing experience for us all

We loved it. Lucy was so lovely and made it easy for us to do.

I had lots of fun trying on the uniforms and puttees and looking at the rifle.

The best part was performing with the puppets, getting to keep the t-shirt, meeting the actors.

They learned that they can be song writers and composers. They gained confidence to sing in front of their peers and were proud to have their ideas included in the song.

I liked trying on the uniforms, looking at the footballs and learning about the rifle.

The best thing was that we got to make the letter into our own song and had actions to remember the words.

The best part of the day was the acting, as I had one of the main parts and got to interact with the other actors, which may change my life choices to becoming an actor.

The best thing is when we painted the head and added the eyes and lips because you could make the character come to life.

We got to experience what the Indian soldiers had to do before the war. I enjoyed learning things in new languages. I learnt the different commandments the Havildar called out in Hindi and Punjabi.

The best thing about this activity was when we held and wore the artefacts because I felt as if I were in the war.

The best thing was that we learnt how to be a sepoi. We learnt the hard way of being the sepoi and how they lived in the war. I learnt how strict the Indian army had to be with their sepois. I also learnt instructions and drills and how they earnt stripes.

I learnt that music is something everyone can.

Getting to hold and wear the artefacts felt as if I were in the war.

The best part was when we made the head because it was fun and challenging. I learnt how to make a cap using different techniques.

This project met all my expectations and more. The experience the children have had is something they may not have again. The quality of the staff from HMDT music and Lancashire County Council has been exceptional. They have been in constant contact and produced a high quality of learning. HMDT Music and artists have been fantastic. they have helped every step of the way.