A spongy new half term adventure for 0 -4 years comes to The Atkinson on Wednesday 26 October.

Sponge is about all things spongy: a child’s ability to soak things up like a sponge, a nice piece of cake or the squashy, squishy texture that fascinates children and adults alike.

Sponge is a fabulously kitsch adventure into the 1970’s set to a score with interludes from composers such as Henry Mancini.

The show will embrace Turned on its Heads love of performance infused with audience participation and improvisation, multi-sensory experiences and happy hearted inclusivity.

“Absolutely brilliant! It is so good for children to get up and get involved. This is how they like to learn to love the theatre for the rest of their lives. Thank you so much!” – Arts Depot

Sponge can be seen at The Atkinson on Wednesday 26 October at 2.30pm.

Don’t miss the FREE spongey themed Art & Craft Workshop before the show at 1pm – 2.15pm. The activity takes place in the Linaker Children’s Centre (within the Children’s Library)

This a brand new commission for 2016 from Big Imaginations – a network of 15 venues all obsessed with bringing the very best in children’s theatre to the North West.  This time it’s an adventure with Sponge and pushes the boundaries of creative play.

“Utterly charming, delightful and captivated the children and families. So deceptively simple and beautifully crafted!” – Polka Theatre

Co-produced in association with The Spark Arts for Children. Produced with thanks to Attenborough Arts, Curve and Sydney Heath. Commissioned and produced by Big Imaginations.  Co-commissioned by Spark Arts for children. Running Time: 45 – 50 mins

Tickets for Sponge are £8 / £6 children / £24 family. Performances take place at 11.30am and 2.30pm. To book please visit theatkinson.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01704 533 333.

ENDS/

Notes for Editors

• For interviews images or further information, please contact Lloyd@Sefton.gov.uk or call 0151 934 2129
• Big Imaginations is a region-wide group of venues and promoters dedicated to bringing brilliant children’s theatre to the North West. From grand auditoriums to rural village halls and everything in between, our mission is to spark the imagination of children aged 0-12 with the wonder of theatre.
• Big Imaginations headed up by Z-arts has brought together 15 venues to make the North West’s children’s theatre offer bigger, better and more affordable. For a full list of venues involved and work programmed visit. bigimaginations.co.uk
• Big Imaginations is supported by Arts Council England through a 3 year Strategic Touring Grant. Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives.
• Turned on Its Head was created to push the boundaries of performance for children under 5 and their families. Creating the company was also a direct response to my many frustrations of taking my own non-hearing son to theatre performances for young children and him not understanding that he couldn’t access the performance in a kinaesthetic way. For him, and for most children, I felt that theatre needed to be a close up, personal, invitational and above all, inclusive.
• Liz Clark has been nominated for an Arts Foundation Fellowship, a national award which supports artists who are considered to be making new and innovative work before they reach the stage of being well established.
• Commissioned and produced by Big Imaginations. Co-commissioned by Spark Arts for children
• Produced with thanks to Attenborough Arts, Curve and Sydney Heath.

________________________________________________________________

LISTING INFORMATION

Turned on its Head
Sponge
Wednesday 26 October
2.30pm
£8 (£6 concessions / £24 family)

Please be advised that there is a £1 per ticket booking fee for telephone and online sales and a 2% fee for credit cards at the Box Office.

-ENDS-________________________________________________________________

About The Atkinson

The Atkinson is Southport’s beautiful new home for music, theatre, art, poetry, literature and history, right in the middle of Lord Street in Southport. Significant investment has been made in refurbishing the stunning 19th century buildings, to create a really welcoming multi art-form venue with a strong contemporary feel.

The Atkinson offers an exciting and varied destination for families, cultural tourists and arts enthusiasts alike, with a full day and night time offer. Wile the day away visiting the new shop, that sells gifts and contemporary crafts from regional makers and then relax in the Bakery, choosing from a selection of artisan bread sandwiches, cakes and sharing platters. You can even take little bit of The Atkinson home with you from the delicatessen. Wander through the major exhibitions and see performances from some of the UK’s foremost musicians, actors, performers and companies, films, family activities and much more.

The new Museum is now open. Sefton Between Land & Sea tells the story of Southport and Sefton as well as the area’s dramatic maritime history. While Discover Ancient Egypt – the new Egyptology Gallery is the home of the  Goodison Egyptology Collection, a remarkable collection of archaeology that has not been seen for over 40 years.

Posted on 17 October 2016 under General news