Will Barnett is writer and director of two productions at Central London’s first ever children’s theatre festival, opening this summer in Coram’s Fields, Bloomsbury.
The six-week festival includes four musicals, including two original productions and opens on 28 and 29 July, with previews from 22 July and running until 28 August. More information can be found here.
The line-up includes, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Lost The Plot Theatrical’s smash hit musical adventure for 2-7-year-olds. For 3-8-year-olds, Elephant and Piggie’s “We are in a play!” will be staged, based on Mo Willems book Elephant and Piggie, and directed by Steve Elias. Following this, Perform’s brand-new Caribbean adventure titled Mermaids & Pirates, will be presented for ages 4-11. Finally, for ages 7-14 Perform have produced another original show, The Dream, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, rebooted for a new generation.
Perform in the Park will be launching this summer, what can you tell us about the festival?
Perform in the Park is London’s first ever festival of children’s theatre. We’re building a 500 seat air-conditioned theatre in Coram’s Fields, Bloomsbury and showing live performances all day every day from 22nd July – 28th August.
There are four fantastic children’s shows to see plus wood-fired pizzas, ice-creams and the playgrounds, sandpits and paddling pool of Coram’s Fields so you can make a day of it.
What inspired this six-week children’s theatre festival?
Having done a couple of West End shows last year (Jungle Rumble and Magical Merlin) at the Fortune Theatre, we felt the cramped and uninspiring surrounding of old theatres are not ideal for children.
For Perform in the park, we wanted to build our own theatre in a park, with space and greenery around, so children could have a runaround before the show then watch the show in a purpose-built auditorium especially designed with children in mind. Afterwards, they could sit at picnic tables in a lovely safe environment and enjoy fresh wood-fired pizzas and ice-creams before even more fun in the sand-pits and paddling pool of Coram’s fields. We just wanted it to be a lovely summer’s day out.
Why do you think it’s so important young audiences are catered to in this way?
Theatres are not very child-centred places. At Perform, our mission is to create child-centred classes and experiences rather than children having to fit into an adult-oriented space. For many children, Perform in the Park might be their first time watching professional theatre so we wanted it to be an inspiring and exciting experience.
How did you go about curating the festival?
Each of the 4 shows caters to a slightly different audience. Our pre-school show, The Three Billy Goat’s Gruff came from another very experienced theatre company used to touring their shows.
Elephant & Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” (for 3-8s) is the European premiere of this show which has been hugely popular in new York and is based on Mo Willem’s wonderful books which my children all grew up with.
Mermaids & Pirates (4-11s) and The Dream (7-14s) are extended version of shows which the children at Perform have been rehearsing this term so, although they will still be very entertaining and enjoyable for any child who has never been to Perform, they’re going top be a real treat for perform children as they will know so many of the songs and dances.
Then our Executive Producer, Julian Bird OBE, ex-SOLT CEO has put together a great series of guest stars called Evenings in the park with… which is aimed at children aimed 12+ and includes guests like Jason Manford, Rob Madge and Dr Ranj.
And what’s been the biggest challenge so far?
All the operational things that you have to think about when building a theatre from scratch in the middle of a park. Luckily, my business partner Lucy Quick is dealing with most of that!
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming along to Perform in the Park?
Bring some friends – it should be a lovely day out whatever the weather!
