TES Connect 2026 Summer

Cover Story

Creative Learning

FOBISIA Junior Drama Festival 2026: Leaping into Motion By Ms Rachel Jackson, Head of Theatre, BSHS

As a FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) member school, Taipei European School (ESC) was very proud and excited to host the FOBISIA Junior Drama Festival from the 9th to 12th March, 2026. This event was everything it promised to be, providing a range of creative and unique learning experiences for its 125 middle school participants from various FOBI SIA schools. The festival, themed Leaping into Motion, was supported by three visiting artists from Red Leap Theatre in Aotearoa, New Zealand, whose highly visual, movement-driven style provided the initial inspiration for this event. Stimuli were also drawn from particular landscapes and animals in Shaun Tan’s 2018 book Tales from the Inner City, which were used to reflect on the nature of humans and animals and on our urban co existence. BSHS was also very lucky to have Red Leap book-end the festival, leading theatre masterclasses with all Year 7 and 8 students, focusing on physical ap proaches to themes within theatre, and puppetry.

The festival literally started with a bang, with some dy namic Taiwanese Drumming! Held at Mellow Fields Ho tel in Tianmu, the Opening Ceremony began with two stunning performances from Song Kun Traditional Arts and our very own award-winning TES Dance Group. This was also an opportunity for all the participants to meet, and where they started to unpack their given landscape and animal in their companies

SUMMER 2026 | 12