With the support of house, four theatre shows will tour to over 30 independent theatre venues in the South-East and East of England this autumn.

The autumn season packs a punch; offering families two shows; BOXVILLE and Curious Investigators. Both are filled with opportunities to join the actors and take part in STEM based challenges and games. The fun doesn’t stop when the shows finish; with stay and play and crafting opportunities for children to continue at home.

Award-winning dance-theatre company Lost Dog will present Paradise Lost (lies unopened beside me), are-telling of the story of the beginning of everything, inspired by Milton’s epic poem, told through words, music and dance. Inspired by stand-up comedian Jonathan Mayor’s real life, Varnish is a blistering new play from Janet Taylor presented by Doubletake Theatre, exploring transracial adoption and the struggle for identity.

Lost Dog and house present:
Paradise Lost (lies unopened beside me)

There is a possibility that God made everything because he was terrified of doing nothing. Here is a re-telling of the story of the beginning of everything inspired by Milton's Paradise Lost - told through words, music and the easily misunderstood medium of dance. A show for anyone who has created anything (child, garden, paper aeroplane) and then watched it spiral out of control.

Lost Dog is an award-winning dance/theatre company based in rural East Sussex and led by director/choreographer Ben Duke. The company aims to create and tour excellent shows widely and well - with consideration for the planet, care for our staff and performers and generosity towards their audiences. They treasure and celebrate the temporary community that is created when people share time, space and air in a theatre - whether that theatre is a village hall or a major metropolitan opera house.

Doubletake Theatre and house present:
Varnish a new play by Janet Taylor

In an explosion of sequins and songs, our prince of stage and screen is every inch the superstar. Inspired by stand-up comedian Jonathan Mayor’s real life, Varnish is a blistering new play from Janet Taylor, exploring transracial adoption and the struggle for identity. Join Jonathan's live, star-studded audience and buckle up for belly laughs in this darkly flamboyant, varnished version of the truth.

Doubletake Theatre is a new collaborative theatre company created by Ella Pound and Molly Byrne, focusing on the development of new writing. The company prioritises work which takes a second glance at familiar narratives and structures, offering a ‘double-take’. Doubletake is always conscious of its relationship with an audience, playful with form, and compelled by theatre which acknowledges what it is. Doubletake Theatre love work which is curious, witty, queer, and genre-bending.

Cardboard Adventures and house present:
BOXVILLE

Cardboard Adventures’ family show BOXVILLE offers an interactive, theatre experience. Children and their grown-ups will be invited to take on STEM based problems solving skills, meeting paper dragons, corrugated pirates and cardboard space robots along the way.

Cardboard Adventure's Artistic Director Sam Wilde is a theatre and puppetry designer, maker and cardboard enthusiast. Since 2012 he has been making things out of cardboard, first for my work and later for his children.

One Tenth Human and house present:
Curious Investigators

Curious Investigators from One Tenth Human, offers a cracking new adventure for three- to seven-year-olds and a chance to become scientists and engineers.

One Tenth Human is on a mission to empower children with better stories about their own potential. The company explode myth and expectation particularly when it comes to science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths (STEAM): because we know that these subjects come with powerful and dangerous cultural baggage; and that many children reach adulthood believing these subjects are not for “people like them”.