CHILDREN at a Downend primary school returned in triumph from a Latin competition.
The Year 4 team from St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School took their version of Echo and Narcissus to Bristol Classical Association’s annual Festival of Latin Drama at the end of June.
It was the first time the competition for primary schools had been held since the pandemic.
Despite being the youngest team at the event, held at Bristol University’s Victoria Rooms, the St Augustine’s team took home the first prize.
Year 4 teacher and language lead Rachael Swonnell said: “The six children performing had all joined the Latin after-school drama club.
“Over the term, they worked hard on researching and understanding the Greek myth, making appropriate props and learning to perform the story in Latin.
“The children performed on a grand stage in front of Latin experts including Bristolian Barbara Bell, who wrote the Minimus Latin course for primary children.
“Although the youngest competing this year, the children were not put off at all by a full theatre, although they said that they had loads of nerves and butterflies crashing in their tummies.
“I was so proud of them, and was extremely impressed with their first prize.
“The competition was of such a high quality.
“Well done to everyone from the Latin drama club, who worked so hard to create such an energetic and exciting piece of theatre.”