Primary school children took inspiration from the mighty All Blacks during clapping workshops for the May Merrie.

Themed the ‘Day of Play’, the event will convert the town centre into a giant games table on Monday.

Kerplunk on Eden Street and magnetic fishing on Eagle Brewery Wharf will join maypole dancing, circus workshops, music and markets.

Earlier this month the organisers drummed up interest by creating a fictional mythical chess piece linked to anglo-saxon kings.

This year’s event has seen organisers visiting schools across the borough to teach children about old-time play and making music.

Charlotte Robson, speaking for the organisers, said: “We have harked back to a lot of traditional games, and one of the games that all of the organisers remembered were clapping games.”

They used the All Blacks Hakka and Polynesian voice rhythms to teach children about different forms of music.

It will lead up to a big clapping game at the May Merrie, where the students will perform.

They visited their first school, Corpus Christi Catholic School, on Friday, and will be visiting St John’s, St Andrew’s and St Mark’s this week.

Miss Robson said: “The children had a really great time. We have got lots of people looking forward to it.”

The event has appeared in Time Out London’s top ten family friendly events over the bank-holiday weekend this year.

It will take place in Kingston town centre from 12pm on Monday.

Programme highlights (from Kingston First):

Old London Road: Local musical talent will be intermittently busking throughout the day including confirmed Glastonbury acts, Green Rock River Band and Tankus The Henge.

Click on the image to enlarge the full programme

From 2:45pm a number of dance workshops will take place in Kingston’s Working Men’s Club including a Jump and Jive dance class.

Eagle Brewery Wharf: Go fishing and enjoy playing a giant magnetic fishing game and be entertained by brilliant local creative talent such as EDDance and Beau Bow Belles.

Market House and Square: Throughout the day become amazed by circus and trapeze performances from Circus Suburbia, and if that isn’t enough you can learn the skills from the performers themselves from 3:45pm. Inside the market house enjoy a chance to “make a birdie” with The Craft Inn in preparation for this summer’s International Youth Arts
Festival.

Rose Theatre, Culture Café: Throughout the day there will be story telling workshops as well as toy making workshops the Museum of Kingston.

Eden Walk: Play the great game of Kerplunk on a giant scale and meet Molly and Myrtle.

At 2:30pm the Kingston Youth Concert Bing Band will take to the stage.
Kingston United Reform Church (Eden Street) will be opening their doors and welcoming one and all to enjoy a cup of tea, a mug of coffee and perhaps a tasty cake. Doors open 11am-2pm.

Bentalls Centre: From 2:30 experience the traditional May Day dance, performed by Kingston Spring Grove Morris Dancers.

All Saints Church: Outside the church The Gym will be running long jump and rowing competitions. Inside you can find a craft fair as well as performances from Jazz, Folk and Classical Musicians.

Memorial Gardens: Visit the Mill Cottage Farm in central Kingston for one day only.