Story Pirates Run Ashore at Bragg School (Video)

Do you know what a story starring an opera singing hamburger the size of a pea would look like? 

Well if you attended the Story Pirates assembly at the Bragg School last Friday you would have seen it come to life yourself.

The Story Pirates sailed into Chester last Friday for a pair of assemblies for the students at Bragg School. The show features brightly clad improv artists performing a variety of games centered around an idea storm.  The Idea Storm assembly starts with a warm up very reminiscent of a pep rally. the warm up began with a series of simon says style motion and sound repeating excercises that incorporated characterizations from the students. "Ninja Style" and "Superhero Style" were the two to close out the warm up (see the video with this story).

Pulsing the crowd for suggestions (with an assistant that can only see those raising 'quiet hands') the Story Pirates began a sly writing workshop. They quickly introduced the students to the parts of a story, and how conflict and obstacles play a part. Soon,audience suggestions were informing composition, narrative structure, plot, character and conflict resolution. 

Students then were given the chance to see what they created live as the troupe brought their story to life. They key elements to a Story Pirates show are the suggestions from the students, the improv musical numbers and scene work from the actors and the institutional emphasis on creative problem solving and non-violent conflict resolution.

Students and staff laughed throughout the Story Pirates assembly, and the students were left with an enhanced took kit for writing that allows them to channel their creativity and "let their imagination take the lead."

So like all pirates, the Story Pirates are loud and bombastic and are there to plunder.

Well, plunder the minds of those gathered for ideas anyway.