Exciting new project to announce!

 So we’ve not stopped. Honestly. The New Year has brought new plans and bubbling ideas.
Our most pressing announcement is that our next show has been taken on as part of a Leverhulme Scholarship attached to the egg. The Leverhulme Trust is one of the largest all subject research funders in the UK!
Scholars will be exposed to some of the best children’s theatre in the world, receive training from expert practitioners and be supported and mentored to develop their own work and find their own unique voice.
Here’s the link to the other brilliant scholars;
http://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/page/3515/Leverhulme%20Arts%20Scholarships
The aim of the programme is for talented artists to make original work for young audiences. To say we’re humbled by this is an understatement!

So here’s a little bit about what we’re going to do;
About the show
Yorick! is a show for 2 to 5 year olds that places an original spin on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Performed in a bell tent; Yorick! will be devised through a series of workshops which connect the fascinations of our young audience to images, objects and moments from Hamlet.
This piece starts with Hamlet’s Birthday Party. On entering the space we can’t find the Hamlet; so our quest is to find him with the help of the children, a character called Ophelia, a friendly Ghostie and of course Yorick! Through our ‘treasure hunt’ journey we might watch shadow puppetry on the walls of the tent, sing songs, play games and once Hamlet is found, celebrate with the eating of birthday cake.
Yorick! aims to create an wonderful experience and lasting memory for young people by placing them at the heart of its creation.
About the journey
The drive behind this piece is to make sure we’re taking the time to learn as much from young people as possible and in doing so making work that is rich in artistic ecology, originality and shared understanding.
The Leverhulme Scholarship will give me time to challenge some of my routine theatre making practices I have developed over time and will ensure that the elements of time, reflection and discussion, which are often limited or sacrificed, are respected and enjoyed.

So, onto the planning of Yorick!, some research and development time, a trip to a children’s theatre festival and the bringing together of some trusted and extraordinary people to make this show happen.
Bring on 2014 a year of Infinite jest, of most excellent fancy!
Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? Your gambols? Your songs? Your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar? (Hamlet, V.i)