Theatr Iolo celebrate the success of two new outdoor productions in 2020 and share their learning with the creative community.
Mum and young boy play with bubbles during an outdoor performance of Baby, Bird & Bee
Kitsch & Sync perform in Hoof! in Theatr Iolo’s new travelling theatre
In a year that saw theatres close their doors, touring companies such as Theatr Iolo have been forced to rethink the way in which they reach audiences. Although many theatre companies have chosen to focus on creating online work, the children and young people’s theatre company have continued to create live theatre despite the challenging circumstances.
"A few months after the start of the pandemic, it became apparent that families both wanted and needed live theatrical experiences. There is nothing quite like the magic of live performance, especially when you're a child! We also realised that it was challenging to create meaningful and engaging digital work for our very youngest audience members. It is very difficult to make an online theatre performance work for a 6 month old in the same way it can for an adult.”
Lee Lyford, Artistic Director
In September 2020, Theatr Iolo worked with theatre makers Sarah Argent and Kevin Lewis to create a new production for babies, many of which had been born during lockdown, called Baby, Bird & Bee. The production was performed outside Chapter in Cardiff and welcomed over 363 babies and adults during the run.
Following the success of Baby, Bird & Bee, Theatr Iolo created another new outdoor show for Christmas, thanks to a capital grant from the Arts Council of Wales’ cultural recovery fund. The grant allowed them to buy a second-hand exhibition trailer which they transformed into a travelling theatre.
"We were determined to find a way to make live theatre despite the pandemic and do it safely in a way that our audiences could trust. The grant we received from the Arts Council of Wales has enabled us to create a travelling theatre that we will be able to use for many years to come. We can now create fully staged, albeit small scale, outdoor productions that audiences can enjoy in the open air, at a safe distance from others.”
Hoof!, the first production to be performed in the travelling theatre, was created in collaboration with Kitsch & Sync, a company most well known for their walk-about performances at festivals. The production took place prior to Christmas outside Chapter and at Llanrumney Hall in Cardiff and welcomed 212 children and adults. Unfortunately, the final few performances at Llanrumney Hall had to be cancelled due to a change in Covid-19 restrictions in Wales.
With restrictions still in place, Theatr Iolo aren’t yet sure when they’ll be ‘back on the road’ but are making plans to return with a new version of Hoof! when the time is right.
"Feedback from audiences who came to see Baby, Bird & Bee and Hoof! showed us just how important it was for those families. Not just from an entertainment point of view, but as something that was vital for the wellbeing of the children. The travelling theatre allows us to perform to small, socially distanced audiences, outside and anywhere in the UK. It means we can return to making live theatre much sooner than if we had to wait until venues reopen."
In the meantime, Theatr Iolo have made their planning documents available to any arts venues or freelancers who are interested in learning more about the process of creating a production during the pandemic. The materials include risk assessments, audience guides and a short video that provides insight into the process. All the documents are open source, so can be repurposed by companies or individuals without charge or permission.
Hoof! open source documents: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5wec6wfa03yd9nw/AAA4S_IVLRQhncQS8bxTbUcya?dl=0
For updates on Theatr Iolo’s upcoming productions you can sign up to their e-newsletter at theatriolo.com or follow them on socials @theatriolo
