HB enjoyed a fantastic workshop based around Romeo and Juliet and Tudor medicine at Chelsea Physic Garden. It was part drama and part plant/remedy based. They began with some vocal and physical warm up exercises and then split into Montague and Capulet factions, each wearing a different sash and challenging the other.
The session proceeded to tell the story of Romeo and Juliet, with many sections linked to a plant or area of the garden. Different children were chosen to read specific parts of the play whilst everyone else took on roles like 'guests at the party'.
HB was chosen to read Juliet's part for the balcony scene.
The Capulets and Montagues fought.
Some of the children read out lines relating to Romeo's visit to the apothecary.
After lunch the children were challenged to change the end of the play. What if, instead of giving Romeo poision, the apothecary could mix up a potion to calm everyone down? The children were told about the four humours and associated temperaments. They then headed into the garden to collect ingredients to make a sixteenth century remedy for 'frenzy'.
The children then mixed up their calming remedies.
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