You are here: Projects
A Friend Like You
Suitable for years 3 - 5
Teddybear Tom belongs to Sophie. He is her oldest and wisest friend, given to her when she was born by her father – the father who has since left. Sophie has now grown up and is about to start university. While she is packing she finds her toy box in the loft. Opening it brings back many memories – some good, some bad; some happy, some sad. The drama takes place in Sophie’s bedroom when the toys that she played with as a child take us through issues such as jealousy, worry, affirmation, friendship, bullying and stealing. With the benefit of hindsight, Sophie reflects on her life so far and looks forward to the future.
Teddybear Tom was Sophie’s first toy. Her father gave him to her when she was born and at the beginning of the story he becomes very jealous when another toy, Pip the pink rabbit, is given to her by for Easter by an aunt. The issue is resolved when Tom realises that Sophie has enough love for both of them, in fact she has enough love for all of her toys. This opening scene concludes with the introduction of Raggyanne. She has been found in the street by Sophie’s mum and her arrival opens the issue of rejection, sadness and ultimately acceptance and affirmation when she is ‘adopted’ by her new family.
During this opening scene memories of the day that her father left come flooding back. She recalls how upset her mother was, how she said that she and Tom would look after her.
Humpty is upset because he feels he does not conform – he is different, he is fat and clumsy. He longs to be someone else, to look and behave differently and he wants to be popular and well liked. Teddybear Tom, Pip and some of the other toys convince him that it is OK to be yourself. They love him for who he is – an egg! Also in this scene, Raggyanne becomes increasingly upset by the fact that her ‘real’ family have not come to take her home.
Sophie recalls she often felt alone, but when she needed her mum she was always there for her.
Gloria is a fashion-conscious doll. She has lots of designer clothes and she is always showing off. She is not very popular with the other toys, especially Raggyanne, who secretly envies her beautiful clothes. Things come to a head when she openly ridicules Raggyanne about her tatty clothes. Raggyanne retaliates and insults Gloria. Can the conflict between the two of them be resolved?
Sophie recalls how she as a child, resented not being able to have designer clothes because her mum couldn’t afford them. She and her mum fall out about it but make up again when Sophie realises that it doesn’t matter what people look like on the outside, it’s what they’re like inside that counts.
Co-co is a clown and everyone knows that clowns are always happy – or are they? Co-co is not happy because Pat the dog is teasing him. Pat thinks it’s just a bit of fun until he finds out just how upset Co-co is. Just because Co-co appears outwardly to be happy all the time, it is not always the case – the same goes for everyone else. Just because they look happy, you don’t know how they are feeling inside.
Sophie’s mum realises that she hasn’t given Sophie as much attention as perhaps she might. Sophie has become unhappy and withdrawn – a result of being teased at school because her dad has left home. The two talk about the problem and Sophie learns that perhaps her mum isn’t very happy either?
Stealing is always wrong – or is it? Does it depend on the reason? Pip steals ribbons from all the other toys – because she wants some attention. Is this the right thing to do? The toys are shocked to discover that she is the ribbon thief but when they find out are they angry? Not really – but they do tell Pip that instead of stealing she could have told them how she was feeling – no, stealing is never the right thing to do. Raggyanne is still waiting for her family to come and take her home. Tom and Pip try to convince her that they are her family now and that she has a new home. But is she listening?
Sophie is worried because her best friend has stolen someone else’s pencil case – the reason? Because she feels left out since the birth of her brother. How does Sophie solve this problem? She knows that what her friend has done is wrong, but the fact that she is her friend makes it complicated. How does she do the right thing? How does it test their friendship?
Raggyanne is desperate to go home. She will do anything to get there – even take the risk of going outside. Tom is very worried about her, as are the other toys. She ignores his advice and gets outside only to be threatened by next-door’s cat. Luckily for her she is rescued by Sophie’s mum and returned to the bedroom. Raggyanne realises that she had a narrow escape and that her ‘new’ family loves her. She is happy to live with her new family she promises them that she will never try to leave them again.
Sophie also takes a risk – she tries to find her dad by herself. Her mum is very upset by her daughter’s actions and questions her about her need to see her dad so urgently. Sophie accepts that it was a dangerous thing to do and ask her mum not to tell her dad what she did. When she does see him at the weekend, he gives her a locket with his and her photograph inside. Why does she need that? She sees him every two week doesn’t she? Then she remembers the letter that he asked her to give to her mum. It is just the two of them from now on – but they will look after each other, won’t they?
Sophie is now grown up and about to leave home for the first time, taking Tom with her but she or Tom will come back, one day.
< Back to projects
Click Image To Enlarge
Click Image To Enlarge