Objectives and Activities
The Company Objects
TO PROMOTE FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, PRIMARILY BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND, THE PERFORMING ARTS, IN PARTICULAR THE ARTS OF DRAMA AND PUPPETRY, THROUGH THE CREATION OF LIVE THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES, EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS - TO PROMOTE, MAINTAIN, IMPROVE, AND ADVANCE EDUCATION IN, AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF, THE ARTS TO FACILITATE CREATIVITY.
Overview
Libellule Theatre became a registered not for profit company limited in 2022 in response to the company winning a two year festive commission with Leeds Libraries. Our 2022 show was hugely successful however we were unable to secure ACE funding for 2023. However, with the full support of Leeds Libraries, we have deferred the second year of our residency. As such, the company has stayed small and we are approaching development at a manageable pace to reflect this.
This years operational running costs and organisational development work have been supported by money generated from HMRC Theatre Tax Relief - this was accounted for in last years accounts as a credit to the taxation position.
Company Directors, with a vast knowledge and experience in different sectors of arts and education, were appointed to support and guide the company through its earliest stages. All Company Directors have stayed with the company during this financial year.
Activities
Elswyth’s Shed
Libellule Theatre applied for and won a ‘Little Wonders’ commission with Theatre Hullabaloo, Darlington to develop an interactive audio installation for children and families to experience as part of the theatre's ‘Hullabaloo in the Park’ event in July 2023. We also created a short live outdoor performance adaptation offering the opportunity to meet Elswyth Eri and learn more about her quest and her shed. The piece was very popular and well received. We feel it is a unique offer and a fresh approach to family arts experiences which we are keen to pursue further.
The piece is ripe for development as either/both an installation and/or an outdoor/studio performance. We hope to address these possibilities and develop the piece in 24-25 so it will become a source of income for the company in the future.
Leeds Libraries Workshops
We were part of the Leeds Healthy Holidays provision during the summer holidays offering arts and sports activities to children from lower income families along with hot meals. We provided 10 days of drama and visual arts workshops across the city. We were also part of the British Library’s ‘Fantasy’ themed national celebrations in November 2023 at Leeds Central Library offering a day of interactive drama workshops for children and families.
People
We were able to continue relationships with creatives who joined us in 2022 to work on ‘The Storymaker’s Apprentice’ for Elswyth’s Shed this year.
Simone Lewis - Performer & Devisor
Lee Affen - Composer & Sound Designer
Cathy Cross - Designer
Matt Sykes-Hooban - Set Builder & technician
Louise Clark - Writer & Director
For Leeds Libraries Workshops we were able to work with a mixture of known artists we have strong relationships with, whilst also cultivating new relationships with artists from the local area.
Deborah Pakkar-Hull - Lead/Drama Artist
Rheanna Atkinson - Lead/Drama Artist
Anthony Haddon - Drama Artist
Amta Tul Waheed - Visual Artist
India Martin - Visual Artist
Looking Ahead
With support from Leeds Libraries we re-applied for ACE funding to allow us to complete the second year of our Festive Residency in Room 700, a pop up venue within Leeds Central Library, in 2024. We were successful in securing this funding and so plans are underway for ‘The Stolen Stories of Winterlight’ which will see the return of Tan and follow her adventures into the world beyond the Bibliopole. The piece will bring back together many of the creatives who contributed to the success of ‘The Storymaker’s Apprentice’ and will once again be co-created with children and families including those with visual impairments as we focus on developing the company's access for all.
We have also been successful in securing a commission with Stockton Libraries for a creative project to increase and encourage reading in families with children Under 5, ‘Swimming in Books’. We will be delivering a series of interactive storytelling workshops and be part of a large celebration event at Stockton Central Library.