Children from Sure Start Broadway launched their own CD and an accompanying book of songs last Thursday, March 25.

Broadway Tales celebrates the vibrant imagination of young children, and was created in conjunction with the Lyric Hammersmith, storyteller and writer Sandra A. Agard and musician and composer Jon Owen.

Sure Start Broadway funded the project with some additional funding from Youth Music and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. The CD and accompanying booklet aims to celebrate the lively stories and songs from around the world enjoyed by local parents, grandparents, carers and children. Many of the stories and songs in Broadway Tales have been written by three and four year olds and are generally short and poetic.

The book includes illustrations and some translations of stories in other languages, as well as Makaton - signs that are used to help children learning to read. Some stories are based on traditional tales and have a straight narrative e.g. 'How the Elephant Got His Trunk', while others focus on moments and feelings the children have experienced e.g. '' 'Kai Finds a Ladybird'.

Storyteller Sandra A. Agard worked with the children to help them invent new stories or use those that they had already heard:

"As a storyteller and writer, my job is to spark off children's imaginations and I often use traditional stories from Africa, the Caribbean and around the world. Broadway Tales has been a brilliant project because it has shown that even very young children can create something that is quite special and magical."

Multi-instrumentalist Jon Owen created songs with the children, and recorded these with the children, their parents and carers. Selected songs and stories from these recordings make up the book's accompanying soundtrack.

Cllr David Williams, deputy for education said:

"Broadway Tales is an imaginative and ground-breaking project shaped from the thoughts and loves of local children and their carers. The CD and booklet are unique because they capture the spirit of young children in the area."

"I am really impressed with the quality of what they have produced and I know that local families will have many hours of enjoyment from Broadway Tales"

At this week's launch children, parents and guests will enjoy music, stories, songs and cake. The launch will take place at the Lyric, which has recently completed a new education and training room as part of its refurbishment. After the launch, Broadway Tales will be distributed to families with young children in the area.

Sure Start is a council-run government funded programme to promote the health and development of young families with children aged under four. Through improved childcare, health, play and support for parents/carers, the programme aims to create greater opportunities for local families.

The Lyric Hammersmith runs an extensive education department whose goals include providing access to high quality arts for disadvantaged children in Hammersmith, Fulham and West London. Sure Start and the Lyric have developed a partnership to work with Early Years children, parents and carers. This partnership provides opportunities for artists to work together with parent and toddler groups, nurseries and childminders. Broadway Tales is one of these special projects.

March 27, 2004