WHO THEY ARE
WHAT THEY DO
On top of regular clown shows:
Clowns Without Borders: Annabel (Banana Bell) is a project co-ordinator and senior performing and facilitating artist for Clowns Without Borders South Africa (CWBSA). CWBSA is an artist-led humanitarian organization dedicated to improving the psychosocial condition of children and communities in areas of crisis through laughter and play. This takes the form of clown shows and arts based programmes which use play, storytelling, circus arts and mindfulness to bring communities together. Annabel is currently a board member for CWBSA and on the advisory board for CWB UK.
Annabel has performed, facilitated, directed and co-ordinated projects for CWB in Swaziland, South Africa, Kenya, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lithuania and Sweden.
Clown Doctors: Clown doctors are clowns who go to hospitals and clinics to bring emotional relief to patients and their families through laughter and play. As the saying goes, ‘Laughter is the best medicine’!
Having trained with Raudonos Nosys in Lithuania, Creative Beans regularly sends Banana into the government hospitals in Swaziland (and any visiting clown doctors too). Banana has also visited Cheshire Homes, the only rehabilitative centre for children living with disabilities in Swaziland, bringing laughter and smiles to children and their families. Contact Creative Beans to find out more.
Storytelling: Stories contain great wisdom and have been used for centuries to help us understand our world. They are a creative and friendly way for adults and children to explore emotions, core values and life lessons. Through creative arts, Creative Beans classes and workshops explore stories from around the world in a fun, playful and meaningful way. Story themes such as caring for the environment, being yourself and life dreams can be explored through drama, art, song and dance.
Grown ups: Creative Beans believes in the power of creativity, play and self reflection to inspire personal and social transformation. We can offer workshops for companies and groups using creative and expressive arts, games, stories and play to build trust, community and self reflection.
Activities for kids, including:
Jelly Belly Eco Camp: Jelly Belly eco camp is a fun, creative and eco friendly way for your child to spend their holiday. They will be involved in nature arts and crafts, outdoor activities, games, making healthy nutritious snacks, circus skills, environmental awareness and recycled art. In this safe, open and positive environment it is also a chance for your child to play and interact with other children.
Drama classes
Creative Beans Drama Classes are fun, playful and friendly; using drama to build confidence and self-esteem, improve listening and communication skills as well as using creative movement and music to develop coordination and expression. Classes are structured to include improvisation, voicework, movement to music, storytelling and performance skills. We also play many games to inspire the imagination, encourage teamwork and develop awareness! Classes are aimed at children between 3 and 11 years old and are taught at pre-school and primary school as an extra curricular activity.
In the past, the following schools in Swaziland have offered Creative Beans drama as an extra-curricular activity: International Montessori, Panorama Montessori, Sifundzani Primary, Montessori Life, Care Bears pre-school and Waterford KaMhlaba United World College.
Shows:
Charlene and the Chocolate Factory (2013)
An adaptation of the classic, performed by students at Montessori Life Primary School.
Voice and performance coaching by Annabel Morgan
The Peace Child (2009)
The Peace Child, a parable of the Christmas story, is set in the far-off and fictional land of Mambica. It tells the story of two opposing tribes with different lifestyles and traditions. The Sopongi and Wannakiki tribes are separated by a river and also by generations of animosity. There seems to be little hope of reconciliation until one day the tribes receive some unexpected visitors…
With its tribal rhythms, great melodies and positive message of peace and goodwill, The Peace Child was a colourful and vibrant Christmas show performed by 120 Grade 1 and 2 children at Sifundzani Primary.
Directed by Annabel Morgan.
Green Beans
Creative Beans is dedicated to inspiring creative thinking for sustainable living.
Our Green Bean activities include recycled arts and craft workshops, creative environmental workshops and eco camps. Workshops often use stories with environmental themes as a starting point to explore inter-connectedness and dependency on the planet. For examples of how we work, see the projects below.
Water 4 All Sanitation Project
Partnering with COSPE, Creative Beans carried out creative environmental sessions in primary schools in the Lubombo region of Swaziland.
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Tetrapak Wallets: An environmentally quirky way to store your money and cards!
Tetrapak recycled wallets are handmade in the Kingdom of Swaziland, using discarded milk and fruit juice cartons. The wallets are a creative and practical approach to recycling in a country where there is a need for environmental awareness and creative thinking. All of the Tetrapaks used have a uniquely African design, in particular those for Mageu, a maize drink.
The wallets provide inspiration to think creatively and see economic potential in what is usually regarded as waste.Each wallet is made from a recycled carton so quality may differ. Each wallet also had a life of its own before becoming a wallet. Imagine the stories it could tell. Inside each wallet you will find a 5c Swazi coin as a symbol of good luck. May prosperity flow with ease and abundance!
Outreach:
Creative Beans is dedicated to investing time and energy in voluntary projects in the community, especially for orphans and vulnerable children. We take a Robin Hood style approach; charging a little extra to those who can pay to enable those who can’t to still enjoy the fun!
In Swaziland there is currently little emphasis on the arts in primary school curriculum or encouragement of creative thinking and expression. Even more so for those children who are unable to go to school. Creative Beans is dedicated to lighting the creative fire within disadvantaged communities.
Creative Beans projects have ranged from writing and directing plays at Neighbourhood Care Points to visiting children’s homes and hospitals as a clown.
Sources:
- http://creativebeans.weebly.com/