A Ticket To Thrive From Stickyback Theatre
Welcome to our #TicketToThrive campaign. We believe wholeheartedly that doing something creative with your child will benefit you both. We’ve asked some other people who believe in the power of creativity to talk a little about a benefit they have seen when families get creative, and to suggest a simple activity that you can do at home. Today, we hear from Lee White, from Stickyback Theatre.
Tell Us About Stickyback Theatre: Stickyback theatre are a completely independent theatre group. We champion comedy and physical play. This stems form Commedia Dell’arte and a deep respect for trusting personal narratives. We produce work that we create ourselves. If we can’t do it why should others do it for us? Our philosophy is work hard, play hard and have a lot of fun with the process of both.
Personally, Theatre began at home. Watching Mum and Dad enact stories with pants on their head. Dad wearing a blue tutu granting wishes to all. Mum sang Barry White classics whilst ballroom dancing with the dog. This gave me a firm grounding in classical theatre. I’m now able to enjoy the cheer in Chekhov, the breeziness of Brecht, the poetic power of Paw patrol and perplexing political plight of the power puff girls.
#TicketToThrive is all about encouraging families to do creative activities together. What do families and children gain from coming to your shows? Sunshine promotes play and encourages curiosity at the same time continuing to understand and develop our environments and relationships. Laughing is a communal activity. Parents and children laughing together at the same understanding is a bonding activity. A shared understanding of what works and what does not in our relationships. What’s even more fun is when the adults encourage little ones to push the boundaries of the show itself. What a confidence builder! The show is famous for its child stage invasions now and they continue getting bigger — a perfect blend of fun, confidence and laughter.
How can families get the same benefits at home? We like playing games. In all things there should be play. Like Einstein learning his algebra. We turn even the simplest of things into creative pleasures. Like cleaning the house. We give our pieces of equipment names. At its heart its storytelling. We all love telling stories. Turn activities that sometimes appear disinteresting into opportunities to create together. Stories continue to be our favourite past time and way of communicating. A good story never grows old.
Stickyback Theatre’s ‘Sunshine’ is currently performing at Edinburgh Fringe until 25th August at 11am at the Delhi Belly, Underbelly, Cowgate. Tickets cost £6.50 — £10 and are available here. To learn more about Stickyback Theatre, please visit their website, or follow them on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
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