Shortlisted for 2022 Awards
30 Stories of Family Arts:
Taking Flight Theatre Company / LAStheatre
Do you know the Department of Strange Events? If you do, you’ll know you can solve puzzles, find clues, and adventure in the great outdoors through their app. Taking Flight Theatre Company and LAStheatre knew that not all family audiences would immediately feel safe inside a theatre once they reopened post the pandemic, so it was important to them to offer an engaging, cultural experience that was also inclusive. So last year they co-created their first app-based hybrid piece ‘The Curious Case of Aberlliw’ under the banner of ‘The Department of Strange Events’.
The app helps families re-engage with each other and nature, using tech in a positive way to stimulate family interaction. This year the project has developed further, the easing of covid restrictions allowed for the integration of a live opening show with actors on site interacting with families throughout their experience.
Alongside their touring work, Taking Flight nurture the next generation of disabled talent, both on stage & behind the scenes. They’ve done this through running inclusive professional training courses & mentoring schemes for people who identify as Deaf or disabled and are looking for the next step into a career in theatre, or to develop existing skills & build confidence.
LAStheatre’s practice centres around participatory performance, working alongside communities to playfully develop a vocabulary to ignite and stimulate important conversations. The word LAS is from the Irish language and means to ignite, turn on or set alight.
Taking Flight Theatre Company and LAStheatre have been shortlisted for Best Family Arts Activity in the 2022 Fantastic for Families Awards. Winners will be announced on 16 November 2022 in the free online awards ceremony.
You can discover all 30 Stories of Family Arts here. If you’d like to discover more fantastic organisations that meet our Family Arts Standards or Age-Friendly Standards explore the Fantastic for Families Directory.
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30 Stories of Family Arts
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