Imagine writing a story, then watching real actors perform it on stage, right in front of you. That’s exactly what happened for our IB PYP students at OWIS Nanyang this September.
From 2 to 4 September, students from Early Childhood through to Grade 5 watched their own plays performed live by professional actors from The Alchemist Theatre in Singapore. It’s called The Imaginarium, and it’s the first time we’ve run anything like it at OWIS.
Their stories, their ideas
Every script came from the students themselves. There were no set topics or prompts to choose from. Just a blank page and their own imagination.
The result was a wonderful mix of stories. Some students wrote about the joy of reading and the thrill of going on an adventure. Others explored bigger ideas, like breaking down gender stereotypes or what it feels like to be homesick. Each story carried a piece of what we value most at OWIS: curiosity, empathy and kindness.
The idea behind The Imaginarium
The Imaginarium was brought to life by Stephen Rowland, Secondary English Teacher and Instructional Coach at OWIS. The idea grew out of his own career as a working actor, where he saw first-hand how young writers could be part of the rehearsal process for professional productions.
“I had worked with theatres that produced variations of this for Theatre for Young Audiences, where students’ work would be adapted and professionally performed,” Stephen explains.
“I had also been part of the devising process and had seen that writers were often involved in the rehearsal process. After watching these processes, I thought, why wouldn’t we apply the same processes to performances written by kids?”
Stephen had seen how much students could grow through an experience like this. He just needed the right moment to make it happen. This year, that moment arrived, and the results went even further than he expected.
Working with the actors
To bring the scripts to life, Stephen called on actors from The Alchemist Theatre network he’d worked with in past projects. Once each script was adapted for a cast of three, he reached out to see who wanted to be part of it.
“These actors come from a network I have worked with in the past through Alchemist Theatre and its collaborations and projects,” he says. “We all had such a fun time working on these and were so impressed with the quality and content by these young writers.”
A different kind of learning
Stephen sees The Imaginarium as more than a fun activity. It’s a genuine chance for students to apply the literacy skills they’ve been building all year: structuring a story, writing for an audience, drafting and redrafting.
“I like to think of this as a type of assessment where students apply literacy skills such as structuring a story, writing for a specific audience, and following the drafting and devising process,” Stephen says. “Unlike regular assessments, which assess skills students have been practicing, this can be considered an authentic assessment that allows students to see just how important those skills are when applied in real-world contexts where the results have tangible value to them.”
That value showed up clearly during rehearsals.
“The kids had so much to say during the rehearsal process, and it really helped us find their voice in the pieces,” Stephen says.
Watching it all come together
The best part came when students sat down to watch their own words performed, surrounded by their friends.
“When it came time for them to watch alongside their friends, I could see the look of amazement on their faces,” Stephen says.
“They seemed proud, but also swept away by the magic of the moment. Watching moments like these is why I do what I do, and I’m humbled that I get opportunities to provide experiences like these that will have a positive impact on these kids’ development.”
A first for OWIS Nanyang, and a wonderful one
The Imaginarium marks a new kind of learning experience for our students: one where their words, ideas and imagination take centre stage, quite literally. It’s this kind of curiosity and creativity we love to nurture at OWIS.
Want to see more of what makes OWIS Nanyang special? Book a campus tour and come see it for yourself.
