Freshwater Theatre Company

The Victorians

Victorian England was quite different to life today. Our workshops give children the chance to experience life as a Victorian, from strict school teachers to household chores and toys.

Victorian Schooldays

Transport your classroom back to 1899 and give your children a lesson they won’t forget as our Victorian schoolteacher assesses handwriting, drill and arithmetic.

One facilitator visits your school in role as a Victorian schoolteacher covering different aspects of the Victorian curriculum and exploring the cultural context of the time. 

Key Areas

• Writing with slates and copybooks
• Times tables and arithmetic
• Spelling practice
• Victorian school punishment implements

Curriculum Link

• Developing an awareness of the past

Victorian Homelife and Toys

The ‘new servants’ at Sudbury Manor must complete all household chores to the housekeeper’s satisfaction if they are to enjoy the Victorian toys at the end of a long day.

One facilitator visits your school in role as a Victorian housekeeper and works with one class at a time, giving the children a chance to explore different aspects and chores of a Victorian household, as well as a chance to play with Victorian toys at the end.  

Curriculum Link

• Developing an awareness of the past 

"The children want to be historians now, a great way to start our home in the past topic."
Louise Boardman, Hinchley Wood Primary School, Esher

• Up and Down the Ages - Large Group Workshop

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  Subject: History 

  Age Group: 5-7 Year Olds (Key Stage 1)

  From Ancient Greece to the present day, your children will explore five different time periods using music, dance and artefacts, meeting historical characters including Samuel Pepys, Rosa Parks and Tim Berners-Lee. Read more.

• Magical Toy Museum

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  Subject: History

  Age Group: 5-7 Year Olds (KS1)

  Late in the day, when all the visitors have gone home, your children enter the Magical Toy Museum. Using their bodies, voices and imaginations they will bring toys to life. Read more.

• Florence Nightingale

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  Subject: History

  Age Group: 5-7 Year Olds (KS1)

  Travelling with Florence to Scutari hospital and roleplaying scenes from her life, your class will explore her childhood memories as well as her nursing legacy. Read more.