All aboard Train of FORT. Clocks at the ready, this week, we’re finding ways to embrace the dark. After all, shorter days just mean more interesting evenings!
Ask
When’s your favourite time of day?
The soft glow of early morning? The buzz of the afternoon? Or that sudden, magical shift when the streetlights flick on?
Chat about what makes it feel so special. Is it who you’re with, where you are, or the feeling of what comes next?
Explore
As the days draw in, there’s nothing quite like sinking into a cozy cinema. And if there’s ever a film worthy of the big screen, it’s LAIKA’s latest stop-motion epic, Wildwood.
An atmospheric, handcrafted spectacle, and a brilliant reminder of the importance of childlike wonder.
"You think you outgrew magic... but magic didn't outgrow you."
Make
Card, cardboard tube, clingfilm, rubber band, torch
Too cold for stargazing? Light up the walls!
Start by stretching clingfilm tightly over one end of a cardboard tube and secure it in place with a rubber band.
Next, cut a shape out of card. It could be anything. Animal, vegetable, machine. Whatever it is (or should be) stick directly onto the centre of the clingfilm.
Disco light optional advised
Hit the lights, shine a torch through the open end of the tube, and see your cutouts come to life!
Play
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a... dragon?!
Just before dark, take a walk around the block with a difference. Instead of squinting at familiar sights, study the bold shapes created by the trees, chimneys and rooflines silhouetted against the early evening sky.
Can you spot a giant robot, castle tower, or pirate ship?
Reflect
As the clocks wind back, it can feel like pressure to rush through your evening routine. But it’s also a natural invitation to shift down a gear.
Instead of fighting the darkness, try treating it as a reset button for family habits. An opportunity to embrace slower, warmer rituals before bed time.
Next Tuesday is National Tell a Story Day i.e. the perfect chance to put your shadow play through its paces! But whether you stage a production, find rooftop robots or just fill up on popcorn, we hope you make the most of the extra evening hour.
Join us next time for our first spooky special. Can’t wait? Follow FORT on Instagram for picky bits.
Psst! Share this issue with someone who falls asleep in the cinema.