During the summer of 2022, Applause proudly collaborated with Theatre 31 and The Place – London Contemporary Dance School. Together, we brought two fantastic dance shows directly to school playgrounds in Medway, Kent, igniting inspiration and entertainment amongst the kids.
The innovative playground project transformed two school playgrounds into open-air theatres for the day.
The 2022 tour comprised of two short pieces in a 40-minute double-bill: “How To Build A Universe” by Extended Play and “Deva” by Urja Desai Thakore! These shows were tailored specifically for primary-aged young people and were fully accessible, ensuring that as many pupils as possible could enjoy the performances.
Following the success of our 2022 shows, we were excited to continue our partnership with The Place in 2023, bringing two brand new shows to schools located in Chatham, Kent, and Eastbourne, East Sussex.
The award-winning BirdGang Ltd presented an impactful, interactive performance featuring a blend of hip-hop, contemporary dance, and storytelling. Additionally, “Look Mum, No Hands!” by Mimbre Acrobats, a female-led circus and acrobatics theatre company, was co-produced with Daryl and Co, a disabled-led theatre company. “Look Mum, No Hands!” is a tender tale of friendship and growing up. Together, they explore freedom, taking risks, and independence.
‘The children thoroughly enjoyed the performance which kept the children engaged for the duration of the performance. It was incredibly beneficial for the children to experience something that they wouldn’t usually.’ Chatham School Teacher 2023
‘Thank you so much for the show yesterday. The whole school really enjoyed it!’ – Eastbourne School Teacher, 2023
Photo Credits: DONUTS by Extended Play, presented by The Place. Photo by Genevieve Reeves. Deva by Pagrav Dance. Photo by Chris Nash.
Cover image photo by Camilla Greenwell.
