FRAN MOULDS

THEATRE MAKER

Writing

Some of the projects in which Fran has been involved as a writer can be found below.

The Lost Lending Library

Co-writer and Performer | Punchdrunk Enrichment

Fran Moulds playing Peabody in The Lost Lending Library © Punchdrunk Enrichment
Fran Moulds as Peabody, in The Lost Lending Library © Punchdrunk Enrichment

“The Lost Lending Library has been an amazing experience for the children and a fantastic writing stimulus” Headteacher, 2014

An interest in books leads a local librarian to a primary school, where they discuss literature and favourite books and stories. The discovery of a strange mysterious locked book and a shared love of the book ‘How to Live Forever’ by Colin Thompson leads to the mysterious arrival of the Lost Lending Library.

800 floors high and containing every book and story in the world, the library jumps from place to place and arrives where it knows it can meet great storywriters.

Pupils at the school are guided through the library by the guardian ‘Peabody’ and are inspired to write their own stories.

 

 About Punchdrunk Enrichment

In 2008, Punchdrunk began a groundbreaking experiment in reaching out to children, young people and the wider community with activities that focus on the innate creativity and imagination of the individual. Fran has been working with Punchdrunk Enrichment since 2009.

punchdrunk.org.uk/enrichment

The House Where Winter Lives

Co-writer and Performer (Mrs Winter) | Punchdrunk Enrichment

winter800
Fran Moulds and Matthew Blake in The House Where Winter Lives © Punchdrunk

The House Where Winter Lives is an immersive storytelling adventure for children aged three to six years old.

Mr and Mrs Winter invite children to join them in their warm and welcoming cottage, as they are preparing for a winter feast. Unfortunately they’ve mislaid the key to their larder! The children join them on their journey through a secret forest to find the missing key.

From November 2012 to January 2013, Punchdrunk Enrichment transformed The Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford, East London, into a magical frozen forest where children and their families could explore the wonder of winter. The show had a sold out run at the Perth International Festival in February 2014.

“This stunning little show is a magical achievement” The Times

“This production…leaves you totally delighted.” ☆☆☆☆ The Guardian

“The coolest kids show in town.” ☆☆☆☆ Time Out

“Sweet and almost poignantly old-fashioned…This show is definitely recommended.” ☆☆☆☆ The Telegraph

Commissioned by Discover Children’s Story Centre, Stratford, East London. Funded by Arts Council England and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.

About Punchdrunk Enrichment

In 2008, Punchdrunk began a groundbreaking experiment in reaching out to children, young people and the wider community with activities that focus on the innate creativity and imagination of the individual. Fran has been working with Punchdrunk Enrichment since 2009.

punchdrunk.org.uk/enrichment

Arabian Nights

Writer and lead facilitator | Adventures in Learning

The book Arabian Nights
© Coney

A magical project that casts Birmingham’s children as heroes in a quest to find the genie’s lost story and bring their own tales of Arabian Nights to life. Presented by Coney, Library of Birmingham and Birmingham Rep.

Arabian Nights aims to engage Year 3 – Year 5 pupils in an interactive narrative adventure that will develop their creative writing skills, increase digital literacy and empower them as artists. Taking place over 4 weeks, it uses live performance, email, storytelling and involve pupils creating work alongside professional artists.

“I was definitely enthusiastic and I felt that I was being led on the journey too. I was just as excited as the children when we received emails! Watching the children in the Rep was great! Many of the children were whispering to their friend and saying, that’s my part, I wrote that! They were very proud of themselves!”
Katie (teacher), Nansen Primary School

On a day like any other, the class begin to watch an unusually boring video on the history of concrete when a technical fault occurs- the screen pixelates and the face of a Genie appears, asking the pupils for help: once a major character in Arabian Nights, he has disappeared from modern versions and his very existence is at risk.

Speaking to the class via emails and video messages, the genie helps them discover the stories of Arabian Nights and embark on a journey to Library of Birmingham to discover the magical secret room where the ancient book was lost… Discovering that the pages have crumbled to dust, the children must create new stories about the genie, complete the book in their classroom and return it to the Library so the stories can be shared. With a sprinkle of magic, the genie thanks the class by having their stories performed by professional actors on stage at the REP theatre.

Adventures in Learning

Adventures in Learning are interactive stories that take place in the classroom to motivate formal learning. They’re made with all the attention to detail and artistic values that characterises Coney’s work for adults, but are constructed in close collaboration with teachers to create an engaging narrative framework within which learning can be delivered.

Fran has been working with Coney since 2009. She is a regular contributor to Coney’s Adventures in Learning, having worked on projects including Arabian Nights, Inspiration Days, A Cat Escapes, and Rhyme Rocket.

coneyhq.org/learning-participation

Inspiration Days

Performer and supporting writer | Adventures in Learning

From Greek Gods who have been evicted from Olympus to explorers with no sense of direction, primary classes face an unusual day at school when strange characters burst into the classroom with a big problem that only pupils can fix. A world of possibilities open up when fossils are discovered beneath the playground, a lady with a mysterious suitcase needs help unlocking the contents and Zeus strides into the school hall.

“The workshops that were tailor-made to fit our topics were both engaging and exciting for the children and adults! Coney made learning come to life and inspired every child…” 
Jehan Morbi, Assistant Head at St Eugene de Mazenod Primary School, London

Adventures in Learning

Adventures in Learning are interactive stories that take place in the classroom to motivate formal learning. They’re made with all the attention to detail and artistic values that characterises Coney’s work for adults, but are constructed in close collaboration with teachers to create an engaging narrative framework within which learning can be delivered.

Fran has been working with Coney since 2009. She is a regular contributor to Coney’s Adventures in Learning, having worked on projects including Arabian Nights, Inspiration Days, A Cat Escapes, and Rhyme Rocket.

coneyhq.org/learning-participation

Passion of Christa

Director, Writer, and Performer| Union Chapel

Chrysalis Opening © Janet McKenzie
© Janet McKenzie

A meditative, sensory-based theatrical experience devised by four female performers.

On Good Friday, the story of the Passion is retold and reimagined through the eyes of a female Christ. An evening of performance, ritual and music exploring suffering and grief from a unique perspective, in the atmospheric Union Chapel.

The Passion of Christa is a piece of Sacred Theatre. It’s an inquiry into the possibility of Christ
representing aspects of the Feminine Divine – Christ as darkness, death, descent, chaos, bodily
sensation, emotion, vulnerability, grief, rage, despair. It’s an inquiry into the paradigm of order and
authority that wants to shut that down and ‘crucify it’.

We asked ourselves the question who is the suffering Christ? We asked ourselves who is Christa? We considered our own experiences, as women, growing up within a church tradition.

Our vision of Sacred Theatre is a coming together of artists through heart connection and a
commitment to deep intuition, with the intention of creating a space where ‘the Gods can descend’.

About Union Chapel

Since 1992, Union Chapel has been hosting concerts and events – this has grown over the years and it now has hundreds of events a year. Readers of Time Out have voted it London’s Favourite Venue an amazing three times.

unionchapel.org.uk

Activities

Directing
Writing
Performing

Collaborators

Coney Ga Ga Theatre Kit Theatre Punchdrunk Union Chapel