BBC Radio London Interviews PQA Bromley About Award-Winning Film, The Land That Children Forgot.

At PQA, students are encouraged to discover their true selves through the performing arts, building confidence, self-belief, and essential life skills. The Land That Children Forgot embodies these values, showcasing how creativity and storytelling can inspire young minds. The film tackles the pressing issue of children drifting away from books and the magic of reading. During the interview, Jim Davis highlighted a concerning statistic: the number of children who say they love reading has dropped to its lowest level in 20 years.

Inspired by The NeverEnding Story, Principal Rajere explained how the script was shaped by the realization that students were unfamiliar with classic nursery rhymes. The story follows a young girl on a mission to save beloved nursery rhyme characters from disappearing. To do so, she must venture into the modern world and remind people of their existence.

Henri, a member of PQA’s Green Group (ages 4–10), played the Duke of York in the film. Reflecting on his love for books, he described reading as “magical” and “a portal into a world where you can explore anything, as long as you have the page in front of you.” He shared that he knew the staging techniques and that everyone was good at memorising lines. More importantly, he emphasised that the film was fun to shoot.

Beyond musical theatre, PQA provides a variety of activities and experiences within a skills-based framework, helping students grow both artistically and personally. Through projects like The Land That Children Forgot, young performers develop essential storytelling skills while celebrating their individuality.

Henri hopes the film will encourage children to rediscover the joy of reading as an alternative to screens. When asked for book recommendations, he suggested Harry Potter for those considering a novel. For something silly and comic, he recommended Dog Man, his costume choice for World Book Day. He summed up the magic of storytelling, saying, “It’s your own imagination.”

The Land That Children Forgot is now available to watch on YouTube - The Land That Children Forgot - PQA Bromley - Film Festival 2024 - PQATV Film of the Month Mar 25