Lyth Arts Centre builds bridges for younger audiences with ‘Splore’ initiative
Lyth Arts Centre (LAC) has announced it is part of a new consortium of venues and organisations across northern Scotland aiming to build relationships with families and young audiences.
The consortium, called ‘Splore’, aims to do this through programming high-quality children’s theatre and dance, with wraparound activities, additional marketing resources and meaningful, tailored accessibility. The project will also explore more ecologically sustainable and regenerative touring models.
With support from Creative Scotland’s touring fund for theatre and dance, the first pilot tour will hit the road in autumn 2025 and continue in spring 2026. Following an open call, writer and theatre-maker Hazel Darwin-Clements was selected with a double bill of Maya and the Whale and Ideas Jukebox.
Maya and the Whale is the story of a young climate activist on the run who finds herself face to face with a dying whale. For audiences age 10+, this is a funny, provocative show about smallness facing up to hugeness.
Designed for younger audiences, Ideas Jukebox is a brand-new interactive performance.
With puppetry and live music, the Ideas Jukebox will inspire all ages to express their wacky and wonderful ideas.
As well as Hazel, the creative team includes Fay Guiffo, Mamoru Iriguchi, Nik Paget-Tomlinson, Andy Cannon and Lewis Hetherington. Both productions are presented by Independent Arts Projects.
LAC’s Charlotte Mountford, who is leading the consortium, said: “This project has been a long time in development and was really born from a huge desire of colleagues across the north of Scotland to improve and increase access to high-quality theatre and dance for our babies, children and young people.
“It’s been great working in partnership with these diverse venues and organisations to develop this ambition. As a consortium, we were really excited by Hazel’s work and particularly the environmental themes. We expect there to be lots of learning for all involved and for the wider sector.”
To find out more, see tour dates and book tickets, please visit www.lytharts.org.uk/splore
Contact LAC by phone at: 01955 601428 or by emailing: info@lytharts.org.uk