Outdoor Arts
These projects are currently in the portfolio which means that, if you are an audience member, they might turn up somewhere near you looking for an audience (hooray!). Or, if you are responsible for booking a venue, festival or event, you can book one of them – browse our Outdoor Arts Quick Look brochure (below), and then get in touch…
The Whale
A giant metal Whale which swallows audiences whole, to enjoy a charming, playful and submersive theatre experience inside. “My daughter was absolutely mesmerized by the [actor’s] performance… he was fascinating to watch and funny” (Audience comment)
“The Whale is a fantastic adventure for children and their grown ups. Really accessible and adaptable for those who might be a little hesitant at stepping into the mouth of a giant tin whale.” (Promoter, Cultrapedia Rural Touring/Spot On Lancashire)
Target audience: The Whale has genuine appeal for all ages, including a special version of the show for those under 6, and we find audiences leave with a grin, as well as their own miniature version of the Whale.
Picture Credits: The Whale at W(h)ales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, photo G. Morss; The Whale at Beside the Seaside, Hayling Island. Photo Lucy Agius
Come Bowl With Me
The gentle joy of Lawn Bowls meets high-octane comedy in a funny and interactive outdoor performance celebrating this popular and accessible sport. Audiences are invited to join Lorna Bowles, Dwayne Hardball and Roger Rinkwell who coach you through to the Strictly Come Bowling finale and duel on the green for the Glitter Bowl trophy. Originally commissioned by B’ham Festival 2022 as a playful complement to international Bowls competition.
“Never seen bowls so theatrical and fab-u-lous” (Audience member)
Target audience: Like the sport itself, this show appeals to all ages and abilities and comes with access enhancements built-in, as well as optional captioning via the Difference Engine. We hope people leave with a desire to try the game (as well as a special badge for taking part!)
Photo credits: Come Bowl With Me – Birmingham Festival 2022 – photos by Andrew Moore
The Cricketers
Enjoy some top-notch urban sporting activity from our pair of enthusiastic yet hapless players, who inevitably end up relying on the audience to bail them out. Expect Googlies and the odd LBW, possibly a Dibbly Dobbly and almost certainly a Sticky Wicket once the local Security Guard gets involved.
“Perfectly played with the right dose of silly” (Audience Member)
“The conceit is great for a piece of outdoor theatre… a programmer’s dream” (ACE Assessor’s Report)
Target audience: The show appeals to Cricket fans of all ages & novices/sports agnostics alike. While we aim that everyone will leave having been purely entertained by 20 minutes of unalloyed silliness, some folks will leave knowing a little more about cricket and its charmingly arcane rules.
Photo Credits: The Cricketers at Birmingham Hippodrome’s Summer in Southside, photo by Alan Van Wijgerden; The Cricketers in Burton on Trent, photo by Derek Nisbet
The OakMobile
The OakMobile – big sibling of our much-loved Whale – is a gentle, enticing theatre experience, housed in a giant silver acorn. Step inside & be transported to a woodland glade where the Storycollector regales you with tales of nature, with an environmental message. Winter/Festive version also available. “Wheelchair access for my son was good & the multisensory experience for an autistic child was great” (Visitor)
“When I stepped into the OakMobile I became 7½ years old” (Visitor, aged 53)
Target audience: Ideal for families and for events with an environmental/nature theme, as well as visitors to winter/Light Night festivals. We hope the audience will leave with a warm glow and a promise to be a guardian of nature!
Photo credits: inside The OakMobile at Nine Elms winter festival, photo by Robert Piwko; outside The OakMobile at Warwick Arts Centre Family Day, photo: Andrew Moore
The Q
The ideal way to manage festival/event queues whilst keeping queuers entertained and happy, or bring a surreal line of colour to the high street, the Q is a walkabout show whose mischievous yet purposeful orange-clad operatives find ever more inventive ways to enhance the queuing experience. “The Q is a surreal and funny outdoor performance which will appeal to anyone who has ever found themselves queuing up” (Promoter)
“Loved, loved, LOVED The Q. You must go and see it!” (Audience comment)
Target audience: The show is an convivial invitation to anybody who has ever queued up to join in. We hope audience/participants of all ages will leave with new love for queuing (and a special badge for taking part)
Photo credits: The Q at Shop Front Festival, Coventry, photos by Andrew Moore.
The Difference Engine
Talking Birds’ mobile access tool that allows audiences to receive captions via their mobile device – more details here.
talking birds 