Award-winning production company Spun Glass Theatre will bring their unique approach to early-years performance, storytelling and play in their first dedicated venue this September. Play Place in St Leonards, East Sussex, will provide space for parents and babies alike to experience live performance, sensory music, movement activities and creative workshops in a supportive, restorative environment.
Inspiring and stimulating workshops for children aged 0-5 are at the heart of the programme. Spun Glass Theatre’s own carer and baby group, First, will give families the chance to create and play in workshops especially designed to focus on the needs of caregivers as much as those of the babies. Other highlights include a free workshop from Soundcastle, who specialise in building early leadership and creativity skills, Musical Beacons!, which will be a fun-filled session of family music making and play. For those in search of some much-needed tranquillity, Wise Mamas mobile massage service will provide parents with the space to relax and recoup while babies play in the café.
Alongside these, the Play Place Pop Up promises a dynamic programme of performances during their three-day mini theatre festival from 29th September – 1st October. Filkist Theatre bring sensory visuals and interactive fun in their uplifting Wonder Gigs, which will see live musician Susannah Austin playing acoustic versions of popular songs. Tiny Pickles present their puppetry show Iz Du Tak?
To celebrate the launch of the inaugural pop-up, community members are invited to enjoy a free ice cream giveaway at the Bubbas, Bubbles and Ice Cream theme launch event on 10th September. Combining a free to access drop-in play place, with workshops and performances at a range of price points, the project aims to serve new parents, many of whom were badly affected by Covid-19, and who often feel isolated. By bringing parents together to relax and play with their children in a collaborative environment they hope to inspire creative ways to tackle these issues head on.
Creative Director Ross Drury comments, Spun Glass Theatre is absolutely delighted to be working with Introduced to bring a pop up venue for little ones and their grown ups to St Leonards for a whole month! We are working with leading artists and practitioners who make work for the youngest audiences, and we are genuinely excited just to provide a free place where local parents can drop in, play and have coffee. Looking forward to meeting many new faces over a free ice cream at our launch event!
The Play Place includes the opportunity for local artists to book two different development events: free 20 minute 1-2-1 sessions to learn more about applying to Arts Council Project Grants and Working Mums Networking – BYOB(aby) to this free event for local artists to meet and discuss creative projects. Spun Glass Theatre’s Artistic and Executive Director Jessica Cheetham is an experienced fundraiser and lends valuable advice on the funding application process. Cheetham will facilitate both events, herself a mother to two young children.
Spun Glass Theatre have been running First parent and baby workshops since May 2021 in Hastings and St Leonards. One parent commented, “Thought I didn’t need ‘mum’ friends but met so many lovely mothers who made me realise I did need that support”.
Established in 2010, Spun Glass Theatre is an award-winning creative arts and theatre company based in Hastings, East Sussex. Their aim is to encourage participation in arts from an early age and to improve wellbeing through community led artistic activities. They want Spun Glass Theatre to be part of a child’s creative journey through life, from 0 onwards. The company is embedded in the South East arts community, supporting emerging companies and artists to access funding and broker venue partnerships.
Long term, the company is looking to raise investment for the Spun Glass Theatre, a touring pop-up venue co-created with parents and babies to bring innovative early-years’ work to families across the country.
