They strode onto the stage, paused for a moment to calm their nerves, and looked their audience in the eye. And then, they started to recite.
A three-month project to introduce primary school pupils to the joys of poetry came to a successful finale at the Norwich Playhouse yesterday, with children giving a series of confident performances in front of a full house.
Young poets from Colman, West Earlham, St Michael's and Kinsale junior schools explored the themes of 'What I know', 'When I grow up', 'Fears', and 'Journeys', after holding a series of workshops with poets Luke Wright and Molly Naylor.
Millie Hull, 10, from Colman Junior School, whose small group performed a poem they wrote about food, said: 'Me and my friends thought that poetry was just a couple of words that had to rhyme, but we found out it is not. It's more about using your imagination and having a good time.'
Aston Gibson, 10, whose group from Colman wrote about love, said: 'I thought poetry was nothing to do with me, but Luke really made that decision false. I really enjoyed poetry.'
It was the first time PoetryQuest, run by arts charity Children and the Arts, had come to Norfolk, and Mr Wright said: 'I was really, really impressed with them today.'
Do you have an education story? Email martin.george@archant.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here