Coram and the Foundling Hospital research

“If we’re trying to make change happen, we must be prepared to change ourselves.”

In a recent Third Sector interview, our CEO Dame Carol Homden reflects on the realities of building collective resilience, as Coram has brought together a number of charities in recent years to strengthen impact and reduce duplication.

The piece explores the importance of collaboration, leadership, and adapting as an organisation to better support children and young people.

📖 Read the full interview:
https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/carol-homden-if-were-trying-change-happen-prepared-change-ourselves/management/article/1954956

More than 70 years ago, the Foundling Hospital school in Berkhamsted staged A Midsummer Night’s Dream, under the guidance of an inspirational drama teacher.
Two former pupils from that time talk to Carol Harris, Coram’s historian, about how acting in Shakespeare at that young age influenced them for life.
John Caldicott and Ruth Miller, who later became Coram governors, were Oberon and Titania in the school’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in 1949.
‘Drama as such was not part of the curriculum – it was an out of school activity,’ John Caldicott said.
Before that, he added, ‘As far as I remember, we had absolutely no background in Shakespeare.’
By that time, the school was a secondary school run jointly by the charity with Hertfordshire County Council.
'They employed a drama mistress who was highly qualified -- Miss Adams -- and it was she who introduced us to A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I played Oberon.' said John.
‘It was a truncated version, but not that much, surprisingly enough. The beauty of Miss Adams' teaching was that at one stage I said to her I was having difficulty understanding the text and she spent hours simply going through the text.
'She broke it down into simple phrases that actually enabled me to become interested in reading and in English. I was hopeless in most subjects but I became an avid reader after A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’
Ruth Miller said, ‘I remember Miss Adams teaching us to project our voices right to the back of the hall. I have never forgotten that. I have done a lot of public speaking since and she always remains in my mind for that.
'She was a tiny, very energetic lady and I can remember her teaching the diminutive girl who played Puck how to move her body.'
Others in the school -- teachers and children -- were involved in making scenery and costumes, and in doing the lighting for the production.
'The hall in the school was absolutely magnificent,' John said. 'Whatever the difficulties of being in the Foundling Hospital, we lived in excellent accommodation with full central heating, the wonderful concert hall, swimming pool, and gymnasium... The costumes were all handmade in school and they were excellent.'
Hertfordshire County Council's involvement in running the school meant that the Foundling Hospital's pupils were joined by children from the town.
Other children in the cast included Derek Fowlds, who later became a well-known actor – as Bernard in Yes Minister and ‘Mr Derek’ in the Basil Brush Show. Ruth said, 'Derek was one of the town children. He played Bottom the weaver, and he was my boyfriend.’
She continued, ‘I really didn’t know very much about Shakespeare at the time. I think I was overwhelmed at being chosen for Titania, who I thought was the most beautiful fairy queen.’
As with John, this early experience stayed with her: ‘Later, when I to Watford Grammar School, I played Jaques in As You Like It. I also have a book I won as a prize for Portia’s speech from The Merchant of Venice.’

Unlocking Futures with the Power of Shakespeare – Big Give Over 25 years, CSSF has developed cultural and educational best practice, providing opportunity for children to engage with the arts. …