GEORGE NEWS - A talking tree, a little magic and plenty of music are helping George primary school learners discover why protecting the environment matters.

Plettenberg Bay-based Lunchbox Theatre is visiting ten local primary schools this week with The Tree Show, an interactive educational production that combines drama, song and dance with an important environmental message.

The tour, which runs from 9 to 13 November, is funded by the National Lotteries Commission.

Schools visited this week include New Dawn Primary, Mzoxolo, Herolds Bay Primary, Franken VGK Primary, Rosemoor Primary, Kretzenshoop Primary, Pacaltsdorp Primary and Parkdene Primary. 

The final performances will take place tomorrow, Friday 13 November, at Conville Primary and Thembalethu Primary.

Learners of Parkdene Primary learn more about trees, through theatre.

The production tells the story of a peaceful village where residents are preparing for a wedding. Their celebrations are disrupted when greedy developers arrive and begin cutting down trees to make way for construction.

Mother Nature intervenes through a magical old man who is also a tree, challenging the developers to reconsider their actions before it is too late.

Through humour, music and audience participation, learners discover the importance of indigenous trees and the impact of unsustainable development.

Pacaltsdorp Primary is hooked on theatre.

But the experience does not end when the performance is over. After each show, learners help plant an indigenous tree on their school grounds, creating a lasting reminder of their responsibility towards the environment.

Lunchbox Theatre founder Stuart Palmer said the organisation has planted close to 200 trees and educated more than 35 000 learners through the programme.

"Each tree is a symbol of the care that nature, our environment and our society needs to prosper. The show's message is that we are custodians of the planet and should work with nature, not against her."

Tree planting at Mzoxolo Primary.

Lunchbox Theatre recently visited four schools in Heidelberg with another educational production, A Dog's Life, which teaches children about animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.

Founded in Plettenberg Bay in 2007, the non-profit organisation uses professional live theatre to address environmental and social issues, particularly in rural and under-resourced communities.

Since 2008, Lunchbox Theatre has staged more than 1 200 performances for over 250 000 learners.

For more information, visit www.lunchbox.org.za

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