I recently took 80 children to see Le tour de France performed by local theatre company Théâtre Sans Frontières. I had often paid theatre companies to come into school to enhance PMFL teaching, but was frequently disappointed with mediocre standards of acting. This was a show with a difference using modern technology to provide a pacey production. The combination of largescreen interactive video sequences shot on location in different parts of France, with real-live drama, was a powerful combination.

The story line centred around the famous cycle race and included a character called Le Fantôme Cycliste who steals the famous yellow, green, red and white jerseys. The show takes the audience to Paris, The Alps and the South of France. Plenty of audience participation with songs, dialogue with actors, and lots of information about France kept the children totally engaged.

Our school was chosen to be involved in the development of their forthcoming production Around the world in 80 minutes. The actors came into school prior to the performance and I was impressed with the amount of time they were prepared to spend listening to the children and incorporating their ideas into the storyline of the new show. After writing and filming they came back to show the children the results and ask for their feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Like the previous show, it has the notorious Fantôme Cycliste who, this time, has been poisoning Belgian chocolate! The show takes the children through jungles, deserts and ice castles around French-speaking countries in the world on a quest to solve the mystery of the vanishing French language.

The team have been filmed on location in Cameroon, Tunisia, Quebec, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg, so there is a wealth of cultures to absorb in a fun way. They have researched traditional customs and native songs.

I know primary schools can sometimes find it a struggle to take children out of school because of the prohibitive cost of unsubsidised transport, not to mention the cost of the theatre ticket and you can’t afford to make mistakes. However, I assure you that you won’t regret this outing. If there is a show near you book up now!

Jane Dawson, PMFL Consultant, South Tyneside