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Woodland theatre trail, showcasing local schools' Christmas artwork
Over 1,000 children from nearby schools have helped to create a Christmas display down Miss Alice’s Drive.
Christmas displays each year, Waddesdon’s curators draw upon their specialist knowledge to come up with a festive theme that is unique to Waddesdon. For 2018, Christmas Carnival reflects Waddesdon’s history as a place for entertaining and parties, with decorations taking inspiration from sumptuous feasts, masked balls, fancy dress and fairy tales.
In addition to the more traditional decorations, Waddesdon also welcomes some rather special masterpieces over the festive period. Every Christmas, local schools are given the opportunity to showcase their talents in an artistic competition, and the pieces are displayed for all to see in an outdoor trail.
As fairy tales and storytelling are at the heart of Christmas Carnival, it made sense that this was reflected in the theme of this year’s school project… pantomime characters! The students involved have illustrated some of the nation’s favourite pantomime heroes and villains on large sheets of vinyl, which have then been attached to light boxes to create an enchanting illuminated woodland theatre along Miss Alice’s Drive.
From Peter Pan to Sleeping Beauty, there are 20 pantomime-inspired artworks to see as you wander down Miss Alice’s Drive as well as lots of decorated baubles from many other local schools. Visitors are invited to vote for their favourite Christmas creation during the walk and the winning school will be awarded a trophy.
Here are some of this year’s masterpieces…
Furze Down School, a local school for specialist educational needs, has designed our Captain Hook light box.
“My Furze Down students loved creating the Captain Hook light box. They fully embraced dressing up and finding their inner pirates so they could add a personal touch! They learnt about light, shadow and silhouettes and researched Captain Hook’s character and personality traits to help influence the finished piece.
We always enjoy a trip to Waddesdon but it is all the more special when we can come and see our work on display. The students had such a sense of pride and achievement seeing their creation alongside so many other brilliant works of art.” Elle Mansfield.
Visit Waddesdon this Christmas and vote for your favourite Christmas pantomime-themed artwork! Voting closes Fri 21 Dec.
A big thank you to the following schools for helping us create such a wonderful Christmas display this year:
Swanbourne, Mursley, Drayton Parslow
Long Marston
Turnfurlong Junior School
Ibstone CE School
Westcott
Ashfold
Furze Down
Little Missenden
Maids Moreton
Five Acres
Berryfields
Stony Dean
Waddesdon
Stocklake
Harding House
Bearbrook Preschool
Prestwood Infant
Brookside
Grendon Underwood
Stone School
George Grenville Academy
Haddenham Junior School
Whitchurch Combined School
Booker Park School
Southwold Primary School
Finmere CE Primary School
Bradwell Village School
Cuddington & Dinton
Broughton Junior School
Wingrave School
Southcourt Baptist Church Playgroup
Barley Hill Primary School
Thatcham Park Primary School
Steeple Claydon
Quainton Primary School
Prestwood Junior School
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