Children at primary schools in West Devon are creating Christmas magic on stage within Covid restrictions in a drama project set up in memory of a local teacher.

Drama teacher Harriet Davis has been working with children at Lydford, Boasley Cross and Whitchurch schools as part of her new charity Show Up Now.

Harriet, from Tavistock, set up the charity in memory of her late husband Ed Davis, a drama teacher and special needs teacher at Okehampton College, who tragically took his own life in April 2018.

The charity aims to boost children’s self esteem through drama and the Christmas shows are Harriet’s first project with schools, funded by donations given in memory of Ed.

Last week she was working with children at Lydford and at Boasley Cross schools, who are performing the Nutcracker in front of a ‘green screen’ bought by the project. This is a special kind of backdrop on which scenery can be projected.

The children performing in year group bubbles are being filmed acting scenes by Okehampton College head of media studies Dom Carnell, whose services have been donated to the project by the Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust.

Harriet said: ‘We had to come up with a solution to the Covid situation and instead of spending money on sets we have spent it on a green screen so we can then produce a film. Each child will be given a Christmas card with a unique QR code for the parents can see it at home and in the final week of term we will screen the production for staff and the children to watch. It was our solution to the Covid situation and the schools have been so supportive.

She added: ‘It has been a very difficult process but an interesting one. The green screen allows you to superimpose whatever you want and the children perform different scenes and we change the backdrop.

‘It is like a great big jigsaw and Dom will magically put all the pieces together. Like all film, it is all about the editing.’

Costumes have been made by Irene Willcox from Plymouth. ‘Without her none of this would have happened, she is the most amazing costume designer,’ said Harriet. ‘Some of the children are meant to be rats, but they couldn’t look less scary if they tried. They look more than cute.’

To donate so the project can reach more schools, visit showupnow.co.uk

The Times is planning to publish picture spreads of nativities and plays in the December 24 edition so please send your school pictures to [email protected]