Macastory
The children and staff really enjoyed your visit.The Staff were delighted with how engaged the children were and the work they got from the experience. Thank you so much for coming out to us and giving our children such a valuable learning experience. We'd love to have you back at some point and will be in touch in due course. Mrs Laura Mitchell,Head Teacher,Rigside Primary School,LANARK,ML11 9LY
Testimonials and Feedback for Macastory
I commissioned Mac-a-story to develop and lead an activity for primary schools this year, as part of a learning campaign based on Edinburgh's Old Town. They responded to a brief I sent to the network of storytellers, and their proposal stood out out from all the others. Not only did they respond with imagination and enthusiasm to the brief, but they also quoted reasonable fees and presented their ideas very clearly. Their approach was totally unique, blending storytelling and drama in an exciting and innovative way. It was clear that they had carefully planned the presentation to match the needs of the audience, including a variety of participative activities and costumes to help tell the stories. The feedback from schools after the sessions was very positive, and I would have no hesitation in using them again.
David Hicks ,Communications Manager
Edinburgh World Heritage
I first started working with Macastory in 2012 as part of a collaborative project with Scottish Ballet. Ron Fairweather and Fergus McNicol developed and delivered workshops in primary schools across the country, linked to a Scotland-wide creative writing competition on the theme of Hansel and Gretel. It was a really positive experience working with Ron and Fergus – their workshops were engaging, fun, creative, and just right for the intended audience and the brief. They are both very experienced at working with children and teachers, and are responsive to this audience. Ron and Fergus also worked well with the education team and dancers from Scottish Ballet to ensure that the storytelling component of the project complemented the wider initiative. The workshop programme was received very positively by all the schools that took part.
Since then, the National Library has hosted several Macastory shows for schools, including the Twa Rabbies in January 2014. This show was perfect for introducing children to Robert Burns – it was witty, entertaining, and cleverly put together, and the pupils were engaged throughout.
Beverley Casebow
Education & Outreach Officer
National Library of Scotland
Macastory's Ron and Fergus have brought our portraits and their stories to life on numerous occasions and are firm favourites at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Their well-researched and humorous songs and stories are always fun-packed, interactive and pitched perfectly for our family audience. They have entertained and informed visitors of all ages.
Meg Faragher
Families and Communities Learning Co-ordinator
National Galleries of Scotland
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Macastory have performed many times at the East Renfrewshire Storytelling Festival. Their work is of such a high quality and loved so much by everyone that we always ask them back. Whether with a small group or an assembly hall full of children, Ron and Fergus can hold the attention of everyone with ease. Their warmth and use of humour really engages the children so that even those with low attention spans really enjoy the stories.”
Janice Weir
Arts Manager
East Renfrewshire Council.
“We have worked with Macastory for many years at the Traquair Fair and have found them to be superb storytellers and we always get great feed back from adults and children. They have coped with quite large numbers of varied ages with ease. Although we don’t work with many performers on an ongoing basis Macastory have always come up with something new and have really entered the spirit of the event whatever the theme. I would definitely recommend them to others.”
Ron and Fergus weaved their storytelling magic at Giffnock Primary. Their energy and enthusiasm was infectious as they helped all our pupils - from nursery to Primary 7 - develop their oral storytelling skills through their exciting performances and workshops. The buzz as people left our parental workshops was fantastic and we know that mums and dads will be sharing their new storytelling skills at home as well. Thank you Macastory!"
Kirsty Rawley .Headteacher
Giffnock & Robslee P.S.
East Renfrewshire
Happy, involved, focussed and FUN. Yes I really am talking about learning experiences our children have with Macastory. The power of the spoken word has never been in doubt but in today's ICT driven world the opportunity for children to be immersed in living 3D language is so very vital , so step up Macastory. The point I am trying to make here is best summed up by James in P4, " They made me laugh and it was good fun. I told my mum about it when I went home. " Point made don't you think?
Iain Smithers. Headteacher Cults PS Aberdeenshire
Great energy and fun - loved by all! Thank you from Queensferry PS :-)
Karen MacGregor Head Teacher, Queensferry PS
At Balfron Primary we have developed an excellent working relationship with Ron and Fergus. They have supported children in their storytelling and writing skills, and we have had very many wonderful sessions for the whole school. Their work captivates children with a mix of old and new cultures. Teachers always ask to have them back to school and we would highly recommend their work to any school .
Ann McIntosh Head Teacher Balfron & Knightwood Primary Schools , Glasgow & Stirling Councils
Macastory were brilliant at the Inverclyde Myths and Legends Festival , there was a large enthusiastic crowd enjoying all the storytelling that was on offer and we got them all singing along on a beautiful day .
Events organiser Catriona Henderson ,Inverclyde
“What a brilliant show! I have been trying for years to get my children to appreciate the works of art in the Gallery. The ‘Macastory Enlightenment Show’ engaged my 11 and 8 year olds bringing the Gallery alive.
The songs, the music, the costumes and props all added to the entertainment especially when the actors became the people in the frames around them. What an experience! My children are now asking to go round the Gallery to find out more about the characters’ lives in the portraits. Some books have been bought and internet searches too. Who said the Portrait Gallery wasn’t fun for kids!
Chris Lane . Parent, Edinburgh
“Macastory’s Christmas Show was a storytelling delight! It was loved by all of our pupils and by staff. The humour, character and storytelling skills of Fergus and Ron made this a very special event for us – and a lovely way to celebrate Christmas together.”
Rosemary Taylor
Primary School Teacher
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