Superhero Michael touches down in schools around East Cambridgeshire to teach pupils all about recycling

A superhero is flying around schools in East Cambridgeshire this week to teach children about recycling.

Michael, the recycling champion for East Cambridgeshire District Council, forms the central role in an interactive performance workshop being delivered to primary school children.

He was designed by nine-year-old Brooke Smith, a year four pupil at Littleport Community Primary School and is being brought to life alongside a host of other characters by third year drama students from Anglia Ruskin University.

The script was written by Matthew Townshend whose production company, mtp, has expertise in educational theatre and learning.

He said: “This educational workshop is designed to encourage children to use their imaginations, identify problems and find solutions.

“It’s engaging, exciting and involves a green-clad superhero who needs the help of his friends in the audience to become a real recycling star.”

Michael is at the forefront of a council-run campaign to improve recycling rates and was designed to demonstrate how to recycle, what you can recycle and bring to life the concept of reusing waste and acting like a responsible citizen.

Dr Heather Lilley, senior lecturer for drama at Anglia Ruskin University, said: “This is a wonderful project that our students have been very keen to get involved in.

“Our team of actors alongside a production crew have brought the script to life adding lighting and sound effects and we are thrilled that they are getting some hands-on experience while delivering an important message to young people about recycling.”

Michael will work with school groups all week and will return to run another series of workshops in next month.