Rebel Sparks presents: Take Flight

A mother and baby bird go out and explore the world in a multi-sensory aerial theatre show supporting babies’ development

Directed by Ria Ashcroft

National Tour 9 May – 5 July  

PRESS NIGHT: Friday 5 June, 1pm, Half Moon Theatre London

“Fast moving and feisty”  The Stage (on Aidy the Awesome)

Instagram: @rebelsparkstheatre | www.reblesparks.com

A multi-sensory aerial theatre show for babies aged 0–2 and their adults, Take Flight is the uplifting story of a baby bird finding its wings and exploring the world. Two performers in bright feathers fly and swing on colourful silks accompanied by gentle, playful music. Developed in collaboration with developmental psychologist Dr Valentina Sclafani from Lincoln University, the show supports babies’ neurological and motor skills development while encouraging strong connection and bonding between babies and their grown-ups. As mother and baby bird set out to explore, the show navigates early independence, making friends, overcoming challenges and, eventually, being supported to leave the nest and take flight. 

The relaxed performances allow babies to make noise, fidget, be changed and fed during the show, and following the performance, the company hosts a stay-and-play session where they can touch, play and explore the set and props, including experiencing the aerial silks first-hand. Designed as a gentle, multi-sensory experience, Take Flight combines aerial performance with music, movement and visual storytelling to ignite curiosity and imagination in the very youngest audiences.

Director Ria Ashcroft said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be able to bring Take Flight to so many new audiences across the country. I’m really excited to be able to share this beautiful show with so many babies and their grownups. I worked with a superb team of with incredible creatives, feminists and academics to create the show. The whole show has been designed with babies at the heart of it, from the first seeds of the idea to co creating with babies in the rehearsal room. As a mother myself I wanted to create a show that feels like soft warm hug, a sanctuary for the babies and grownups, to create a moment of calm, comedy, silliness and bonding. The show reflects and captures the chaotic mayhem of the madness and beauty of this time.”

Rebel Sparks are a Nottingham-based company (formerly The Gramophones) making theatre that lights up audiences, fans the flames of change and sparks connection. Their shows burn the rulebook by centring female and non-binary characters and setting fire to audience expectations. Rebel Sparks are Curve Resident Associate Alumni, supported by their team to make work and programmed there regularly. They have previously been nominated for a Sustainable Theatre Award, a Scenesaver Award and a Fantastic for Families Award. Previous productions include Aidy the Awesome (2022), Tarzanna (2021) and Another Planet (2020). Their shows have toured the length and breadth of the country and they have been commissioned to make shows by Curve, Arts Depot, and Lakeside Arts and Creative Arts East.

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Running Time: 60 mins | Suitable for all ages 

Company information

Director Ria Ashcroft                            Producer and Associate Director Hannah Stone          

Associate Producer Vicki Rolley           Designer Hannah Boothman                 

Music and Lyrics Darren Clark             Additional Music and Lyrics Inês Sampaio Figueiredo

Lighting Designer Arnim Friess            Dramaturg Tilly Branson           

Stage Manager Aliya Edwards              Choreographer Sarah Butler                

Aerial Consultant Sarah Bebe Holmes              Early years Consultant Sarah Argent

R&D Designer Gemma Caseley-Kirk                 Environmental Producer Talie Smith

Outreach Producer Bronte Appleby                  Outreach Practitioners Sophie Utting and Chloe Senior

Cast

TBC

Social media

Instagram         @rebelsparkstheatre

Facebook         www.facebook.com/RebelSparksTheatre

#TakeFlight #RebelSparks

Listings information

9 – 10 May: Nottingham Lakeside Arts University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RDTimes and prices TBC lakesidearts.org.uk | 0115 846 7777

14 May:  Arts Centre, Washington Biddick Lane, Washington, Tyne and Wear NE38 8AB 11:00 am, 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm | £8.00 - £4.00 artscentrewashington.co.uk | 0191 219 3455

15 May: The Junction, Goole Paradise Place, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire DN14 5DL 11:00 am, 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm | £7.00 - £4.00 junctiongoole.co.uk | 01405 763652

16 May: Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester University of Leicester, Lancaster Road, Leicester LE1 7HA 11:00 am, 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm | £20.00 - £5.00 attenborougharts.com | 0116 252 2455

17 May:  The Hub, Lichfield The Hub at St Mary’s, Market Square, Lichfield WS13 6LG11:00 am & 2:30 pm| £9.00 - £7.00 thehubstmarys.co.uk | 01543 256611  

21 May: Poplar Union, London 2 Cotall St, London E14 6TL Times and prices TBC poplarunion.com | 020 3039 3333 

23 – 24 May: Z Arts, Manchester 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, Manchester M15 5ZA 11:00 am & 2:00 pm | £10.00 z-arts.org | 0161 226 1912

27 May: Corn Exchange Newbury Market Pl, Newbury, West Berkshire RG14 5BD Times and prices TBC cornexchangenew.com | 0845 5218 218

28 May: Farnham Maltings, Surrey Bridge Sq, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QR Times and Prices TBC farnhammaltings.com | 01252 745444

31 May: Front Room Theatre Front Room Weston-Super-Mare, Weston-Super-Mare, BS23 1FF11:00 am, 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm | £10.00 - £8.00 frontroomwsm.com  

2 June: Theatre Royal Winchester Jewry Street, Winchester, SO23 8SB Times and prices TBC www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk | 01962 840440

5 – 6 June:  Half Moon Theatre, London Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, London E1 0ND 11:00 am, 1:00 pm & 3:00 pm | £18.00           halfmoon.org.uk | 020 7709 8900

7 – 8 June: Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge WellsTrinity Theatre, Church Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1JP Times and prices TBC trinitytheatre.net | 01892 678 678

13 June:  Grand Junction, London Rowington Close, London W2 5TF  9:30 am, 11:30 am & 1:30 pm | £10.00 - £4.00 grandjunction.org.uk | 020 7266 8258

14 June:  BEAM, Hertford BEAM, The Wash, Hertford SG14 1PS 11:00 am, 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm | £20.00 - £8.00 beamhertford.co.uk 

19 – 20 June: Hullabaloo, Darlington Borough Road, Darlington, County Durham DL1 1SG Times and prices TBC theatrehullabaloo.org.uk | 01325 405 405

22 June: Sheffield Playhouse Norfolk Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S1 2LA 11:00 am, 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm | £8.00 sheffieldtheatres.co.uk | 0114 249 6000

24 June: New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Civic Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2AS

11:00 am, 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm | £20.00 wolseytheatre.co.uk | 01473 295 900

27 June: Shakespeare North Playhouse Prospero Place, Prescot L34 3AB 11:00 am & 1:30 pm | £30.00 - £5.00 shakespearenorthplayhouse.co.uk | 0151 433 7156

1 – 5 July : Polka Theatre, London 240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SB Times and prices vary see website  polkatheatre.com | 020 8543 4888

Take Flight has been supported by Arts Council England, Circus Hub, Curve and Lakeside Arts