These plays were written between 1990-1997 by children aged 6-9 at Hugh Myddelton and Hanover Primary Schools, Islington, North London. They were improvised verbally while I typed on a portable typewriter, trying to keep up. The use of a typewriter meant that only minor corrections were possible so the spontaneity was not lost in re-writings, and there was a commitment, an irreversibility, in the setting down of the words. It wasn't quite the stream of consciousness it would have been if I had used a tape recorder - the flow was regularly halted while I 'caught up - and this forced some necessary and worthwhile pauses for thought and discussion about the direction of the plot, character development, moral implications, tastefulness, etc.

They were made in one go, with some plots being resolved with extreme haste as the dinner bell went, in the midst of often very noisy classrooms, with distractions from teachers. The clickety-clack of my Silver Reed was not always a very welcome addition to the sound world of the classroom and some of the more irreverent or violent plays never made it to the bookshelves. But in the right environment the little books were big favourites, becoming dog-eared and memorised by their authors and classmates.

The recordings on this disc were made in a similarly direct manner, in single takes, at LEGO HQ, Brick Lane, and in various kitchens and bedrooms. All music and sound effects were improvised with whatever was at hand. They were performed by L.E.G.O. for broadcast on RESONANCE FM in Summer 1998, on the daily morning show ‘GO! For children of all ages’. Thanks to Phil England and Ed Baxter for setting this up, and to Lepke B. for his enthusiasm and support.

TRACKLIST:

1. 1.Batman, Robin, Bad Robin and The Donkey
   

2. 2.In the Bag
   

3. 3.The Ice Queen and The Sun King
   

4. 4.Golder versus Tommy
   

5. 5.Three Blobbies and a Bad Bad Wolf
   

6. 6.Poodley Doo!
   

7. 7.Ginghes and Roger
   

8. 8.The Gold Nicker and The Bad Knight
   

9. 9.Mrs.P and Mrs D.
   

10. 10.The Babyeaters
    

11. 11.The Warrior’s House
    

12. 12.A Big Bite (or A Bloody Row)
    

13. 13.The Crying Baby