World-class theatre for children Page 1 Autism Friendly Performance Synopsis Pack Run! - A Sports Day Musical
Picture information strip: To prepare you for your visit to Polka we have put together a Picture information strip and a synopsis, this is to help you understand the story that you are about to see and to know what to expect during the performance. We have adapted the show slightly by having fewer people watching and you can also choose which seat you sit in. We have lowered the sound levels and throughout the performance the auditorium will have the main lights dimmed instead of being in complete darkness. There is also a designated chill out area outside the auditorium that can be used at any time throughout the show. There are four actors in Run! A sports day Musical. They will pretend to be different characters in the play. These are the main characters: Ella Jermaine Nancy Richard Mr. Budge Marvin Manning Page 2
Ella s Mum Jermaine s dad. Act One Scene One, - At School. It is the last day of term before the summer holiday. Mr. Budge is a school teacher. He is late for school. Today is the most important day of the year, it is Sports Day! Mr. Budge has arranged a special Olympics Sports day. The School will be competing against their rival school, the Blue School. Mr. Budge has invited Marvin Manning. Marvin is a T.V host and pole vault medal winner. He will be handing out the medals. Marvin and Budge went to school together. Ella is the new girl at school.. The other children don t know her very well; she has never been to training and none of them has been to her house. Ella, Nancy, Jermayne and Richard warm up. The Blue school arrives. The Blue School students are much bigger and stronger. Mr. Budge calls them to the start of the bicycle race. Ella starts well and is in the lead. She wobbles and nearly falls. The Blue team over take and win the race. Ella s team is very disappointed and goes to eat lunch together; Ella runs home across the field. Scene 2 Ella s House Ella s Mum has Multiple Sclerosis. This is an illness. She uses a Zimmer frame to walk and she is very weak. Page 3
Ella has made her mum lunch. Her mum does not want to eat as she isn t feeling well. Her mum tells Ella she should be out having fun and not looking after her mum. Ella reminds her mum that when her mum was younger she spent all her time in the pool training to be a swimmer. Ella s mum was an athlete. Ella wants her mum to come and see her compete at the sports day. Her mum she says she will try. Scene 3- Back at School. It is the weight lifting event. Ella and Nancy are competing. Nancy is doing well. Then she loses balance and the blue team wins again. Nancy, Jermayne, Ella and Richard all laugh. Ella is happy to have friends. She upsets Jermayne when she mentions her mum. Nancy takes Jermayne away, comforting him. Richard explains that Jermayne s mum died. Ella didn t know and feels bad. Richard is called away by Nancy. Scene 4 - Gymnastics Nancy is preparing for her gymnastics routine. She is determined to win. Page 4
Richard joins in the routine. Jermayne calls out instructions. This confuses Richard and he stumbles and falls over. Nancy wins and puts the school closer to the Blue schools score. Nancy knows everything about show business. She says her dad works as an Agent or a Manager. Scene 5 - Tennis Jermayne will compete in the tennis tournament; he is doing well against the Blue school. Jermayne notices his dad in the crowd and is distracted. Jermayne s father thinks he should focus on his school work and work hard for his future. He says that the game is not important. Ella cheers him on. He wins the game. They are now on level scores with the Blue team. Scene 6- Judo Mr. Budge is welcoming the crowd to the event. Jermayne and Nancy wave to their parents in the crowd. Ella s mum is still not there. Ella waves anyway. Mr. Budge tells the crowd about Marvin Manning who will be handing out the prizes. Nancy and Ella warm up. Nancy can see that Ella has never done Judo before; she says Ella should have come to practice and that she has made up her mum- especially that she was an athlete. Ella hits Nancy. Page 5
The girls fight and when Mr. Budge turns around he blames Ella. END OF ACT ONE Scene 1- High Jump. Act Two Mr. Budge talks to Ella, he tells her that he did not compete in his school s sports day. He sat out and watched Marvin Manning win everything. Mr. Budge shows her some information on Judo; it is about self discipline and confidence. Jermayne is warming up for the High Jump. Ella is back on the team. Scene 2- Archery Richard is competing in this event. Although Nancy is distracting him with her advice, he gets a bull s-eye. Ella is running the hurdle race. She is doing well but falls at the last hurdle. She stays on the floor. The others gather round her to help but she won t get up. Nancy tells Richard to run across the field to get Ella s Mum. Jermayne tells Ella that even though her mum isn t here she would still want Ella to do her best and keep going and that she is supporting as best she can. Mr. Budge say that they need to win the relay race to have a chance at winning the Sports day. Richard is still not back from fetching Ella s Mum Page 6
Scene 3 Richard asks Ella s Mum to come to the school to watch the last race. She says she doesn t feel confident out of the house. Richard is called back by Jermayne on the loud hailer. Ella s Mum says she will follow. Scene 4- The Relay Race. Nancy, Ella and Jermayne are practicing passing the baton. Richard returns just in time. He runs first, Mr. Budge commentates. Ella is the last to run. She crossed the finish line first, the team celebrates together. Ella hears her Mum who made it to watch the race. The End Page 7