Our Easter Play

Brian Ogden

Rating:

The story of “Our Easter Play” is seen through Peter’s eyes, with an adult-read narrative. Peter, John and the woman who recognises Peter have simple speaking parts and there are unlimited miming parts as the other disciples and the “crowds”.

The four songs are set to well-known nursery rhyme tunes such as Three Blind Mice, and cover the journey to the Upper Room, Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, Peter and John finding the tomb empty and the breakfast on the beach. There is no song about the crucifixion, but three suitable songs are suggested if required. The music is melody line only with guitar chords and the song words and music are photocopiable.

Clear stage directions appear throughout.

The book includes a useful list of props and, for some reason, the template for a paper fish. (A line drawing for the suggested friezes of the Easter Garden and the post-resurrection lake scene might have been more useful for the artistically challenged!)

There are no children on stage during the Good Friday narrative, and suggestions for appropriate Easter music at this point are included.

Notes explain which FS early learning goals and KS1 RE requirements are covered.
At my school, Brian Ogden’s Nursery Rhyme Nativity was successfully and enthusiastically performed by Year 1 so I know the idea works!

This is a faithful retelling of the events surrounding Easter, but with no explanation of why Jesus was arrested and put to death. This would need to be covered in another way.

Reviewer: Marian Smith, Class Teacher and Subject Leader for RE and Music, Elmgrove First School, Harrow, Middlesex

Review posted on: 16 March 2010

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