Our first early years arts festival
Ripple brought world-class early years arts to Great Yarmouth, including theatre, outdoor performance, interactive exhibitions, sensory play, and professional workshops.
The headline shows were Great Big Tiny World by Oily Cart, an immersive theatre experience exploring biodiversity, and Counting Sheep by The Herd, a gentle interactive show for under threes.
We also developed ‘Time & Space’, a project offering two theatre companies a package of support including mentoring, rehearsal space, and technical support, culminating in the creation of two new multi-disciplinary works: When Squishy Goes in the Washing Machine by Luminous Tales, and After Party by Hurly Burly.
Ripple Festival was supported with public funding from Arts Council England
The programme
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RIPPLE EARLY YEARS ARTS SYMPOSIUM
13 September, St George’s Theatre
Join artists, educators, researchers, policymakers, funders, and arts organisations for conversations, practical sessions, and extravagant ideas about creative collaboration with children under three. -
PlayTech – Magic Acorns
12-14 SEPTEMBER, MAGIC ACORNS HQ
An interactive exhibition for babies and young children to explore the sensory world of audio technology, making sounds and having fun. -
COUNTING SHEEPS – THE HERD
14 SEPTEMBER, ST GEORGE’S THEATRE
A gentle, musical adventure for 0-3 year olds and their grown-ups by The Herd. Observer tickets available for Symposium attendees. -
Workshop: Takeshi Matsumoto – Playful Bodies
Sunday 14 September, PRIMEYARC
A professional development workshop for artists, dancers, educators and early years practitioners to explore the “ingredients” for creating dance performances for children and young audiences. -
Workshop: Dr Charlotte Arculus – Deep listening – Deep play
Sunday 14 September, 26 South Quay
A workshop for artists, musicians, educators and early years practitioners to tune into sonic worlds that are all around us through deep listening practices, and reimagine how young children experience sound. -
Sensory Play On Tour – Magic Acorns
16 September, John Grant School
Two closed play sessions for children at John Grant School in Great Yarmouth. -
When SQUISHY goes in the Washing Machine
16 & 19 SEPTEMBER, NORTH DENES PRIMARY SCHOOL & Little Squirrels Play Forest
A journey into the world of laundry and help us imagine the best bedtime story. Brand new immersive installation for children attending North Denes Primary School and Little Squirrels Play Forest at Priory, created by Luminous Tales and supported by Magic Acorns. -
WHAT IF?
11-4pm, 18-21 SEPTEMBER, BAKEHOUSE
A free exhibition celebrating the communities of families, babies, children, artists and supporters involved with Magic Acorns. We invite you to ask what if? – and to imagine a future where we listen, learn, and research with babies and young children, so that ideas may grow with empathy, curiosity, and unhurried time.Visit Bakehouse -
On the way up – Mafê Toledo
18 September, Magic Acorns HQ
A unique, sensory performance for non-walking babies and their carers. Join us in a calm, sensory-rich environment to explore how babies respond to movement and share reflections on early parenting across cultures.Book your free ticket -
WAVELENGTH – MAGIC ACORNS
18 & 19 SEPTEMBER, NORTH DENES BEACH
An outdoor performance for children under 3 and their families to listen, move, play, and make noise together amongst the sand dunes.Book your free ticket -
AFTER PARTY – HURLY BURLY
19 SEPTEMBER, GREAT YARMOUTH LIBRARY
A work in progress sharing of a brand new theatre show for 0-2s created by HurlyBurly Theatre, where babies are free to be themselves and parents have a chance to relax and let go. Families will be enveloped in beautiful transformative music and invited to move, rest, or simply just be in the space. Sold out. -
GREAT BIG TINY WORLD – OILY CART
20 & 21 SEPTEMBER, OUT THERE ARTS – THE DRILLHOUSE
An immersive theatre experience created especially for babies and their carers, by Oily Cart theatre company.Book tickets – from £10
Ripple Festival is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
