Pop Up Play: a symposium

Fun, Clever, Inspirational, Innovative, Educational - and that’s just the concept. In reality, the final product is so much more.

Pop Up Play is a new piece of software that introduces a whole new easy-to-use immersive education experience whether it be mainstream education, special needs, ESL or in students' own homes.

Thanks to The Spark Arts for Children, De Montfort University and Dotlib Ltd., any child with access to a computer, projector and webcam can enter their favourite video scene. And with the use of Pop Up Play’s tracking capabilities via the use of a Window’s Kinect, that same child can also track any item/picture to their body including a full character suit. The child can choose to be a pirate, a fairy, or even a favourite toy. The only issue is keeping up with how fast the kids can think up new scenarios. Time for another arts and crafts lesson!

It was a pleasure to attend the software’s launch at DMU during the 2015 Culture Exchanges week. The symposium began with a rundown of the program's development through four separate case studies in Leicestershire schools around Leicestershire, and it had everyone’s undivided attention from the start. After a quick lunch, we were all whisked upstairs in DMU’s PACE building to see the program in action. There were a few children ready to help and they showed us adults how tablet control should be done - and what fun could be had.

Since Pop Up Play is open source software and free to download HERE. Your imagination is the only limit.

Daniel Jensen

Starring Adrian Mole

 

As playwrights Jake Brunger and Pippa Cleary talked about pitching the idea of an Adrian Mole musical, writing the script, finding the right cast and working with the kids, it was clear that both writers had a great deal of respect and admiration for everyone involved with the production.  

When asked about working with Sue Townsend, both Jake and Pippa’s reaction was one of fond memory and lasting impressions. They spoke about trying to capture Sue’s voice whilst writing the script, of keeping the original content and not diverging from the magic of the original books. I found it very amusing to learn that during several meetings, Sue would point out a particular line and announce “I don’t like this one, I don’t think it’s right”, only to be told “but, Sue, that’s one of yours!”

Though many famous people have stated that you should never work with children, those at Curve take a different view. Apparently the hardest working members of the cast are the also the youngest. With school classes, script rehearsals and set management all being juggled at the same time it was a pleasure to hear of how much fun the kids have been to work with.

 ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾’, opens at The Curve theatre on Saturday 7^th March. I booked my ticket the moment the interview finished.

Daniel Jensen