Creative educational arts consultancy delivering exciting high quality drama, film, animation, music and training workshops to motivate children, young people and adults.
I believe that creativity provides a platform for learning not only for school education but for life. Please have a look through my projects to see how I could support your organisation.
This months featured projects:
LATEST NEWS!
Les & Patrick Hargreaves are leading a one day 'Just For A Laugh?' training day at the Education Development Centre, Spennymoor, County Durham on Wednesday 28th September 2011. Contact Durham County Council CPD - Course details available from Leigh Brown 01913834558 or email us leskeys@hotmail.co.uk
We are currently producing a promotional film for DSMS - Darlington School of Maths & Science. 'Just For A Laugh?' will be delivered in 8 County Durham schools and youth organisations Sept - Nov 2011
Les is musical director for Dick Whittington at the Journal Tyne Theatre and Opera House Nov-Jan 2011/12
'Just For A Laugh?' will be evaluated by Newcastle University 2011
Les & Patrick Hargreaves will deliver a 'Just For A Laugh?' session NSCoPSE conference at The Met Hotel, Leeds 4th October NEW - PROJECTS PAGE
You can see film clips of several of our past and current projects
Spirit of Africa
We have produced the biggest creative project we've ever been involved in. We took 500 children from 16 Durham County primary schools and produced an African show in week. The whole project started on Monday 4th July and finished on Friday 8th July performing two shows to over a 1000 people. The week was an inspiring time of dance, drama, singing and drumming. Thanks to everyone involved in the project. Recent comments: "The children really enjoyed designing each tile to represent different aspects of Bowburn and the surrounding area. To see the completed muralin our entrance was amazing! Children, staff and visitors are enthralled by the fantastic outcome of their efforts. Many, many thanks, Les, for your patience and your expertise!"
Mrs Trish Fay, Bowburn Infants & Nursery School Aviary Creative Tools
Checkout these free creative design tools. There's also a section for education to help children manipulate photo, music and design.
Educational and Commercial Promotional films
We are currently working on several commisions for high quality professional promotional film packages. We can offer full support with storyboarding and pre-production work. Filmed in full 1080i HD and edited on our in-house Adobe studio. We can offer a range of animated support packages, multi format compression and DVD replication services.
Making a Story Chair
This project had an environmental focus. We used an old disgarded chair and decorated it with old rubbish. We used old plastic bottles, cable, cardboard, plastic, material, polstyrene, wood and many more. We did some research on the Green Man and the Lord of The Rings for inspiration. We covered the whole piece with papier mache, painted it using shades of green and varnished the final piece.
Summer Schools 2011 - Salt Dough Healthy Eating Project
We spent the beginning of August working with artists Gill and Maureen Ashman. We made salt dough models of healthy and unhealthy foods and then coloured, baked and varnished them. We then made a big face featuring all of our foods. Have a look for yourself.
St Francis Animation - The Aycliffe Angels
We've had a great time animating in St Francis Primary School in Newton Aycliffe learning all about the Aycliffe Angels. The Angels were the woman who worked in the munitions factories during the war. Have a look at our film made during a week long project in July.
Prior to setting up this consultancy Les worked as a secondary school head of music, drama, expressive arts and PSHE. His creative consultancy was established in 2002 delivering creative arts and film projects in all phases of education. Les is also Gifted & Talented Strand Coordinator for Bishop Auckland excellence cluster working with G&T children, young people and staff within the curriculum and through a variety of enrichment and summer school activities. As a professional pianist he continues to perform professionally and has worked in London’s West End, toured throughout Europe and continues to work in local theatre. His consultancy delivers creativity in any context and has worked with over 150 schools and youth organisations and has won awards and additional funding from EiC, Creative Partnerships, Drinkaware, Mentor UK, Teenage Pregnancy, UNICEF and the British Council.
Les has visited schools in Holland, India and New Zealand to learn more about cultural music, art, drama and dance.
Les working at South Point School Assam North East India
"As a Specialist Arts College, creativity is at the heart of every child's learning. Les Watts brings a new dimension to creative teaching & learning which has impacted significantly on students' 'enjoying and achieving.' His work with our primary partner schools and Gifted & Talented students is outstanding"
