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Celebrate the life and work of the influential poet Benjamin Zephaniah with this engaging and educational play script, designed for primary school assemblies. This 20-minute script explores Zephaniah’s journey, highlighting themes of using poetry for social commentary, celebrating identity, and viewing dyslexia as a different way of thinking.

Key Features:

Inspirational Storyline: The script follows Benjamin Zephaniah’s life from his childhood in Handsworth, Birmingham, his struggles with dyslexia, his rise as a Dub Poet, and his powerful social commentary through poetry.

Key Scenes:

Scene 1: A Boy from Handsworth: Introduces Young Benjamin and his early love for poetry and music.

Scene 2: Words in His Head: Depicts Benjamin’s challenges with dyslexia and the support he receives to write down his poems.

Scene 3: London Calling and Dub Poetry: Shows Benjamin’s move to London and his innovative fusion of poetry and reggae music.

Scene 4: “I Am Not De Problem” – Poetry for Change: Presents Benjamin’s powerful poems addressing racism and injustice.

Scene 5: Speaking for Animals – “Talking Turkeys”: Highlights Benjamin’s veganism and his engaging poems about animal rights.

Scene 6: Standing Firm – Rejecting the OBE: Explores Benjamin’s decision to reject an award due to its association with the British Empire.

Scene 7: We Are British! – Celebrating Everyone: Celebrates the diversity of Britain through Benjamin’s poem “The British.”

Scene 8: A Different Way of Thinking & His Legacy: Emphasizes Benjamin’s perspective on dyslexia as a strength and his lasting impact.

Scene 9: The People’s Poet – An Unsilenced Echo: Concludes by celebrating Benjamin’s legacy as a poet who gave voice to the people.

Large Cast: With 30 characters, the script provides ample opportunity for student involvement.

Exploration of Important Themes: The script tackles significant themes such as social justice, cultural identity, and overcoming learning challenges.

Incorporated Poetry: The script includes excerpts from Benjamin Zephaniah’s notable poems, allowing students to engage with his powerful words.

YouTube Song Link: The script provides a YouTube link to Benjamin Zephaniah’s “Talking Turkeys,” encouraging a musical performance element.

Detailed Props List: The script includes a comprehensive prop list to aid in staging the performance.

This play script is a valuable resource for educators looking to introduce students to Benjamin Zephaniah’s work, promote social awareness, and celebrate the power of poetry.