John Kirk

---

A Rose Bruford-trained actor who has also broken pebble-dash and sold credit cards, John Kirk knows that the best stories are built together. His dynamic style transforms audiences from passive listeners into active co-creators, resulting in a uniquely engaging and participatory experience where every performance feels authentically alive.

The moment John Kirk arrives with his suitcase, the stage is set for an unforgettable adventure. From this travelling treasury of costumes and props, he unlocks a world of imagination, inviting young volunteers to step inside his stories and become the characters themselves. This is more than a performance—it's a collaborative journey where students don't just hear a story, they actively build it.

John Kirk leverages a key feature of folktales—repetition—to help children learn new words. Using both well-known and lesser-known stories, he makes language acquisition a joyful and participatory process.The impact is profound: after one session, an 11-year-old EAL speaker in Brasilia independently retold his stories to her family—demonstrating how this approach doesn't just create momentary engagement, but fosters the confidence and comprehension needed for children to truly own and apply new language skills. 

John Kirk's Shakespeare sessions actively involve audiences through role-play, discussion, and volunteer participation. His dynamic storytelling brings three iconic plays—Romeo and Juliet, Henry V, and A Midsummer Night's Dream—to life, making the Bard's language and themes accessible and engaging. 

What nonsense! How can a poem be both meaningless and brilliant? Guided by John, students will explore the playful worlds of Lewis Carroll, Edward Lear, and Spike Milligan. Then, they’ll become co-creators, writing and performing their very own nonsense poem. 

"Absolutely fabulous!! The children were so enthralled and even the shy children wanted to participate." — Colegio San Patricio, La Moraleja, Madrid 

https://video.weibo.com/show?fid=1034:5204297064054908