Award-winning children’s theatre company Tessa Bide Productions have adapted their successful interactive live show, The Anarchist’s Mobile Library, into an interactive audio piece that families can join in from home, creating their own theatrical experiences. Like many who work in theatre across Bristol, Tessa Bide Productions have had shows cancelled due to the Covid-19, and had to adapt to new ways of creating work. The Anarchist’s Mobile Library- an audio adventure, is a unique audio experience that can be used on any internet device, where children select different story options, becoming their own protagonist and writing their own adventures. Now the project is embarking on a digital tour up and down the country for audiences to experience and listen to the audio project through their local venue.
Bristolians can join in with The Anarchist’s Mobile Library- an audio adventure, for the first time on Saturday 12 September at Knowle West Fest 2020, celebrating the talented and creative community of Knowle West. Audiences will be able to listen to the interactive audio piece from home, as well as other workshops, performances, and music. Everything will be free to access, and the event will go on all day.
Artistic Director Tessa Bide is excited for the project to start its digital tour. Since lockdown, Tessa Bide Productions have used the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to create innovative online content that is fun and entertaining for children and families, such as online workshops and streaming live shows.
“We are so excited to be presenting our new audio project, a new medium for us, meaning we have worked with new creatives and are getting to know new audiences. It’s a brilliant opportunity to reach people who are missing theatre or who may not have accessed theatre before, and want an interactive experience.”
Tessa Bide
In creating a fully interactive audio product at home, alongside other digital work, Tessa seeks to keep her audiences engaged with a new way of experiencing theatre from home which involves young people participating in something in an exciting and engaging way.
Previously Tessa Bide Productions has only made work for live audiences. Over the last eight years the award-winning company have produced eight Arts Council England funded shows. The most recent project, Bob was shown during Bristol Old Vic’s Ferment Fortnight, a show for young audiences exploring loss and grief. The company’s shows have toured both nationally and internationally, selling out to audiences in India, Europe, and around the UK. Often partnering with charities, Tessa’s unique work discusses topical issues and uses captivating puppetry, music, and bold scenery to engage children and family alike. Her shows perform in traditional theatre spaces, town halls, and even a retro pop-up caravan for The Anarchist’s Mobile Library, a show on wheels where you can step inside and create your own adventure from stories that have exploded from books.
Head to this link to register to access the audio adventure, https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-anarchists-mobile-library-at-knowle-west-fest-2020-tickets-119478646849
Find out more at: http://www.knowlewest.co.uk/kwfest2020/
You can donate to help Tessa Bide Productions to keep going so that the company can continue making great theatre for children and their families. Your donation will go towards supporting the creation of online theatre and entertainment. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tessabide