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Little Meerkat's Big Panic

by Collar and Cuffs Co

theatre, children-and-family

Multi award winning multi-sensory musical adventure for very young children & SEN exploring anxiety and how to handle it.

about the production

Based on the storybook by trauma parenting expert Jane Evans, the production has been developed by experts in early years education, special educational needs and children's mental health. Through a gentle adventure in the Kalahari, audiences meet the three areas of the brain responsible for emotional reactions, each characterised as a different animal. With original songs inspired by the traditional music of the San Bushmen, and with props and puppets sourced from Botswana, the flavour of the Kalahari desert in brought to life through every sense. Community Project of the Year 2016, Luton and Bedfordshire Community Awards.

about the artist

Multi award-winning, Collar & Cuffs Co were established in 2016, and principally develop work for early years children and those with complex needs. The company works in a multi-sensory way, and much of their work centres on exploring aspects of children's brain development, emotional well-being and mental health. Using low cost/no cost and recycled materials wherever possible, the company models ways to use sensory approaches to storytelling that are affordable, inspirational, and inclusive. The company has performed all over the UK in schools, nurseries, festivals, theatres, historic properties and gardens, shopping centres..and even in someone's living room!

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stage dimensions

width: 4 metres

height: 2 metres

depth: 4 metres

Self-contained: no lights or audio equipment needed. Access to plug socket for mini smoke machine deploying scented smoke and three key points during the performance.

Set comprises of 3.5m x 3.5m canvas floor cloth, 1 large drum, a step ladder, and a range of small handheld props.

Audience sits on three side of the floor cloth on cushions made of traditional Katana fabric; additional rows of audience can sit behind if working with large groups.

Cast undertake all get in/get out activity; set can be installed within 30 minutes, and removed in fifteen.

Children aged 0 - 7 years, their parents/carers and the professionals that work with them. May also be relevant to young people and adults with severe learning disabilities. We have also performed for adults with mental health conditions, especially anxiety. Our youngest audience member to date was just 3 weeks old, and our eldest was 97!

This is a beautiful piece of children's theatre with harmonious & evocative singing, tactile fabrics and clever characters, all of which combine to engage little people in a delightful story, complete with signing. More than merely entertaining, this exceptional, amazing (rightly) award-winning show has been on the road for two years and has brought both delight and hugely valuable lessons...It was remarkable to see how the young people instantly recognised the characters' feelings beneath their behaviour and realised how ineffective panicking is - all revealed through the delightfully acted story.

Katie Barrett, Buxton Fringe Festival; winner of Best Family Show 2018

Powerful stuff

Deborah Caulfield, Disability Arts Online

What an amazing play you have created for children to learn about anxious feelings and how to access calmness. Thank you

Jane Evans, author of source storybook

Fully accessible - Makaton signed, and all elements specifically designed to widen access to audiences with complex needs including emotional, social and behavioural difficulties (relaxed performances available - and we will perform for groups as small as 1 child with 1 supporting adult if needed), and sensory integration difficulties/impairments. We can deliver 'slow down' performances for audiences with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD).

Following each performance, we can offer up to 30 minutes of sensory play to embed key messages from the show and to enable the audience to get hands on with our puppets and drums; there is no extra cost for this. During the play session we can provide adults with narrative around the neuroscience behind the show. For an additional charge, we can run a full day's training for professionals or parents/carers on embedding triune brain theory in their primary school/early years setting to support emotional and social development for all children, including those specifically affected by trauma.

The show is not-for-profit and we work to a daily rate of £450; we can perform an unlimited amount of performances per day, and we are happy to move between locations too. For multiple days we can reduce price for subsequent days to £300 per day.