Norfolk Community Foundation Facilitates NPT’s New Production

Three Colours, opening 22 August, is the first work that Norwich Puppet Theatre has created specifically for Early Years audiences. This exciting and groundbreaking new show, produced in collaboration with Polka Theatre, places NPT at the forefront of creative invention in the development of work for this age-group and within the medium of puppetry.

Thanks to a grant from the Norfolk Community Foundation, we have been able to work closely with regional Children’s Centres in the development of the project, and to build partnerships with these centres, including North City Children’s Centre, The Priory Centre, and Seagull’s Day Nursery at Great Yarmouth Community Trust. This has meant we can extend access to our work in deprived areas and build community links with parents and preschools living in the local area and provide access to the arts for all. We believe it is vital for children’s development to introduce them to the arts at an early age, in order to encourage positive approaches to new experiences and to engage their natural exploratory impulses. We have worked with Cheryl Burge, manager at North City Children’s Centre and Karen Harvey, director of Children and Families at centres in Great Yarmouth, who have enabled us to identify areas with families with young children who will benefit most from increased access to NPT’s work.

Our work with these centres as part of the development and impact of Three Coloursisnotaone-off; NPT will continue to develop events for the Early Years sector and will develop the partnerships that this project has established. Our next season sees the continuation of our Little Tots Workshops, led by Sophie Fox, as well as the return of Three Colours (16, 17 September and 1, 2 and 4 October)and an Early Years performance by Tam Tam Theatre and Halfmoon Theatre: Circles in the Sand (30 November).

Bask in a world of colour this summer and enjoy a magical interactive show that gently draws you into vivid imaginary landscapes. Three Colours places the audience at the very centre of the experience, creating vibrant sensory worlds where you can swim with fish, hear the crackle of a fire, feel frogs nibble your toes, catch grasshoppers and listen to a gentle heartbeat… all magically created out of the colours of light. With the use of projection, light, puppets, music, movement and dance, this immersive performance will delight and tickle the imagination of the young.

Praise for Three Colours from its six-week run at Polka Theatre:

“… sensational in every sense of the word… a creative and dynamic experience that is sure to inspire any young mind” – Curious Mum
“The children are mesmerised and stirred for the totality of Norwich Puppet Theatre’s Three Colours” – Stella Willow, RemoteGoat