Licketyspit
Early Years Theatre in and out of North Edinburgh Arts!
Under Artistic Director Virginia Radcliffe, Licketyspit has been developing and touring high quality theatre for early years children and their families and friends, touring to theatres, community venues and schools across Scotland for over ten years with shows: Molly Whuppie; Hare & Tortoise; Wee Witches; Quangle Wangle; Magic Spaghetti; Green Whale and Heelie-go-Leerie.
All our work is developed through practical consultation with children from 3-7. The company has also published two children’s books and audio CDs and all our shows have play and education resources for teachers and families.
LicketyLeap
In response to children, Director Virginia Radcliffe and colleagues were inspired to try to create a piece of completely interactive theatre – supported by a new work award from Inspiring Scotland. The result was a new show, LicketyLeap, which is completely interactive. Ten children, two adults, and two LicketyLeap Actors create a 90-minute drama in a specially designed immersive set. The initial response of children and teachers to this work was so remarkable that the company co-commissioned a Study – Leaping into Ourselves – by Applied Theatre academic and expert, Stephanie Knight (published Glasgow Life 2011) together with Brunton Theatre, East Lothian and Glasgow Life. This is the first study of its kind to completely analyse the artistic and pedagogical (learning) elements intrinsic to a piece of early years children’s theatre in this way.
The Scottish Government has been quick to embrace new research into the important benefits of ‘early intervention’ with their new Early Years Early Action Fund run by Inspiring Scotland. LicketyLeap is the first Arts project to benefit from this and Licketyspit are delivering it to over 800 children and their families and communities in North Edinburgh, Drumchapel and East Lothian from October 2011 for a year, (which may be extended.)
The best children’s theatre gives children a rich and many layered experience, which they remember in fine detail and can reflect on, play with, share and re-invent for years. Participation in Licketyleap is a highly potent experience, where even the shyest children find their voices and work together imagining, problem solving, sharing and inventing. Delivered over two two-hour sessions a week apart, the play is filmed and shown to families. All the children who take part in LicketyLeap are brilliant at it and
careful teacher evaluations are showing that the project is having a tremendously positive impact on the communities where it is taking place.
“ It’s absolutely brilliant!” “I’ve never seen him be so outgoing and confident’ ‘He told me he’d been up a mountain – I thought you must have taken him to Arthur’s Seat!’ - parents.
Licketyspit is delighted to be based in the downstairs office at North Edinburgh Arts where LicketyLeapers are welcome to display their pictures of LicketyLeap in the window and pop in to say hello! The company is building newsletters about local activities for families with early years children. We are always glad to hear what you think about our work. Licketyleap is offered free to nurseries. It’s hoped longer term we will be able to mount some public performances at North Edinburgh Arts together with our other popular theatre shows. In the meantime our Licketyspit books of Wee Witches & Molly Whuppie and cd’s with activity sheets can be bought from the office by North Edinburgh families for £3/each and for everyone else for £5/each.
http://www.licketyspit.com/productions
Who We Are
Virginia Radcliffe – Artistic Director/CEO
Beth Harvey – Outreach Associate
Amanda Liddle – General Manager
TO CONTACT US
Licketyspit
www.licketyspit.com