A VISIT FROM DR XARGLE

 

 

Format:

A hoot of a performance with audience participation featuring a costumed character based on the alien teacher from the Dr Xargle series.
N.B It helps if the audience are familiar with the Xargle books/concept prior to the visit.

The Dr Xargle character is hidden in the room, eg, behind stage curtains. When the children arrive, I talk about aliens and read Dr Xargle's Book of Earthlets.
Xargle then exposes a tentacle in true pantomime style so the audience can see it but I can’t.
After much,"Oh no there isn’t!” from me and "Oh yes there is!” from them, I fetch him, we examine his features and have to guess the following: Where does he live? A cold planet as he has thick fur. What does he eat? A child volunteer offers Xargle a cucumber which he refuses. Another offers him a sausage and is chased round the hall - he’s clearly carnivorous!
Does he like music? Volunteers are given instruments and 'play’ for Xargle, who dances. More volunteers hold his tentacles and dance in a ring. I then look in Dr Xargle’s bag, find two pull-on masks of a girl and boy and suggest this is how aliens disguise themselves on Earth. Two volunteers try on the masks. Also in the bag are items Xargle has picked up as souvenirs- a scrubbing brush, a pair of socks and a huge pair of pants- but what might an alien think they are; A hair brush? Tentacle warmers? A hanky for his massive snout? Volunteers test their theories by brushing his fur, putting socks on his tentacles and wiping his nose. There’s still something in the bag - a big green egg. I suggest it’s an alien egg and hand it to a teacher for safe-keeping. Dr Xargle looks out of the window up at the sky- he’s seen his spaceship, it’s time to go. A teacher escorts him out back to the staffroom

 

Running Time:

45 mins approx.

 

Age Group:

Y 1 – 3

 

Numbers:

One year group per session or 90 pupils max.

 

Sessions:

Maximum of two with a lunch break in between.

 

Venue:

Hall – use of school stage with curtains is even better.

 

Equipment required:

1. Place to hide 6ft alien eg: behind stage curtains/walk-in cupboard/ 3-sided screen (make sure pupils can’t see under or round it!)
2. Stool for Xargle to sit on behind screen.
2. Six basic instruments such as recorders/harmonicas/percussion. Possibly piano.
3. One volunteer teacher to take the egg and escort Xargle out of the room.

 

Fee:

Single session: £300 plus vat.
Double session with hour break: £375 plus vat.

N.B: Dr Xargle only available within 20 mile radius of London/max one hour drive as costume is too heavy to take by train/commitments of assistant.

Whole Day (3 x sessions) £300 plus vat/travel expenses
Half Day: (2 sessions) £250 plus vat/travel expenses
Please note that an early start outside the London area will require modest hotel accommodation the night before to be arranged by you and included in the fee.

N.B. Neither tax nor NI should be deducted from author’s fee.