You can understand why the Primary 5 pupils in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, enjoyed the drama sessions of their Japan 2001 expressive arts project, which is part of the nationwide Japanese cultural festival that runs until March. At the start of each session with drama specialist Claire, the nine-year-olds got to run around their school assembly hall to warm up. Then, at the end, the whole group gathered into a circle and Claire told them to jump up and make a loud noise. “Louder!” she said. “I want to hear a big scream!” About 25 P5s at Edinbarnet Primary and 25 P5-P6s at St Joseph’s Primary were taking part in the project. Claire was going to the two schools for two hours twice a week over a four-week period. At each school, the class had been broken into groups of five or six. They were introduced to traditional Japanese folk tales and asked to choose one to act out. Each group was then helped to package the tale into a six-minute playlet to be performed in front of both schools at Glasgow University’s Gilmorehill Theatre.

The project was devised by Monica Callahan, the education officer at Glasgow University’s Hunterian Art Gallery, and has been sponsored by the Japan 2001 Festival Fund. The festival’s aim has been to celebrate and expand the links between Japan and the UK and to introduce Japanese culture to a wider audience. The Hunterian Art Gallery has many prints by Japanese artists but is best known for its collections of work by Mackintosh and Whistler, who were both influenced by Japanese culture. This month, both primary classes will visit the gallery and the Mackintosh House to see that for themselves.

A week before the performances, things were not looking too promising at Edinbarnet Primary. The groups seemed to be milling about rather aimlessly and one boy was lolloping around on all fours. However, it became clear at the rehearsals, during the second half of the session, that the children had, in fact, been hard at work on their performances. (The boy on all fours was actually practising his part as a horse.) The pupils used a lot of mime and minimal dialogue to act out tales involving magic cloaks, talking sparrows and evil demons, all set against Japanese-style backdrops that the Hunterian project team have created for the playlets. On the day of the performances, Japanese music was added and, although costumes were not worn, the children were made-up like traditional Japanese actors.

Scott, James, Kieran, Connor, Ryan and Liam were really enjoying the project. “It’s excellent!” they chorused. “We wish it could carry on for the whole year.”

The boys had chosen to act out the tale of a poor, homeless lad whose luck changes when he meets a goddess and he finally gets a home of his own. In the original tale he also gets married, but none of the boys wanted to play the part of the girl so that ending was scrapped.

Eddie McCann, the Edinbarnet P5s’ class teacher, said it had been a very worthwhile activity which everyone enjoyed. It had touched on several areas of the curriculum, including talking, listening and language work.

“We’re fortunate at this school to have a proper stage,” he said, “so we already do a lot of drama, which is a great confidence booster for many children and can also be an area where the less academic ones can shine. Unfortunately, drama tends to get squeezed out as the curriculum becomes more crowded.”

Ann Mackay, headteacher of St Joseph’s Primary, said the school had been “very, very happy” to be involved in the Japan 2001 project. This was not only because of the expressive arts activity but also because it fitted into the school’s involvement with Glasgow University’s Greater Opportunities of Access and Learning with Schools (GOALS) initiative, which is encouraging pupils from P6 to S6 to regard tertiary education as an achievable goal, she explained.

For further information about GOALS, tel 0141 330 3160Hunterian Art Gallery, Glasgow University, tel 0141 330 2375www.japan2001.org.uklist_map