Following 5 weeks of research workshops undertaken with children aged 18 months to 4 years and their families in Staines Library, Ruislip Manor Library, and The Hive Guildford, we are thrilled to have started rehearsal for our newest dance piece for libraries called SEED.
The children in our workshops have taught us so much about what they love in nature and the world around them, and we're so thankful to the families who took part for sharing with us the stories that they love and the games they enjoy playing, amongst many other things.
The SEED Project came about as a result of the wonderful time we have had touring The Story Detectives to libraries across the country so far and our desire to work more in this context, but also because of the invaluable time we have spent with sustainability consultant Danielle Pipe over the past 2 years, developing our Environmental Policy and Action Plan. In particular, we are keen to begin finding ways that we can contribute to a hopeful narrative of change in the face of the global climate crisis. We want to use the platform we have as a dance company working collaboratively with partners such as museums and libraries – equitable spaces which can invite curiosity, questioning and a broad audience, including children and young people - to give people an opportunity to reflect on their role in, and their relationship with the world around them.
We've got lots more to learn about our story for the SEED performance over the next weeks of rehearsal, but what we know so far is that out of nowhere, a mysterious and rather large new seed specimen will arrive in your local library. Two characters named Kid and Pinto (played by Megan Griffiths and Deepraj Singh) arrive to investigate, and follow the seed's journey through the seasons.
With design from Hannah Green and Edel Izquierdo, writing by Anna Selby, music by Dougie Evans and costume design by Chloe Mead, we are very excited to see the piece come together and to share our first test performances with children and families in Surrey, Kent and Northamptonshire in June. Watch this space for more information!
You can read more about the work we have done with Danielle Pipe in our Environmental Policy and Action Plan. This is a working document which we are committed to learning about and adding to over time.
The SEED project is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, co-commissioned by Surrey Libraries and Active Surrey. Pilot performances will be supported by Surrey Libraries, Medway Libraries/Applause Touring and Northamptonshire Libraries/Library Plus. Our research for the project was also supported by The Hive in Guildford and Ruislip Manor Library (Hillingdon Libraries).