26-04-2025
Colourful and messy comedy children's show coming to Gloucestershire
A COLOURFUL, physical comedy show for children is coming to Cheltenham.
SPLAT! will be showing at the Everyman Theatre on Saturday, May 24.
It is aimed at children aged three to seven and is designed to be accessible for deaf audiences, non-English speaking audiences, and children who have not yet learned to talk.
The show takes place in an artist's studio, where two painters, Tidy and Messy, must learn to work together.
Tidy and Messy are designed to reflect the two opposite hemispheres of the brain; one logical and ordered, the other free-spirited and unpredictable.
The audience is taken on a journey through the history of art, from ancient cave paintings to modern masterpieces.
Clowning, movement and slapstick comedy all combine to create an interactive and sensory-rich experience.
The stage starts pristine and ends in a colourful mess.
Themes of collaboration, play, and spontaneity are explored, all through a wordless, visually striking performance packed with colour, music, and surprises.
Children will learn about the history of various art movements, from the Renaissance to Surrealism, as well as discover iconic images from artists such as Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, and Banksy.
SPLAT! was developed in response to the global conversations about children's education that emerged during the 2020 pandemic.
The production champions the belief and research that shows alongside typical curriculum-based education, children need creative freedom, playfulness, and joyful exploration.
It was devised in collaboration with award-winning deaf artist, filmmaker, and performer Brian Duffy, who co-created Small World, the first sitcom in British Sign Language.
The production is completely language-free, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences.
It has a runtime of 55 minutes.
For more information and to book tickets, visit the Everyman Theatre's website.
