THE seemingly simple tasks of talking and listening were the centre of a drama in Guisborough yesterday.

Four actors visited pupils and the town's Northgate Junior School and performed a play about the Muddle Family, who do not listen or talk to each other properly, and the Crystal Family, who communicate perfectly.

Teacher Fiona O'Reardon-Boyle said: "The children loved it. We have to teach communication skills as part of the national curriculum and we used this as part of that and it really brought the subject to life.

"It was an excellent performance by the actors and it was very educational.

"The children had great fun and learnt a lot without even realising it.

"It was all about how Father Muddle had accidentally flushed his child's homework down the toilet which the children thought was great fun.

"After the play we kept the nine to 11-year-olds and they suggested how the Muddles could talk to each other better. In the end the actors did just that.

"I would recommend the project to other schools."

The communication skills play is sponsored by BT and the actors tour schools across the country.