Bridport children produce Three Little Pigs theatre show

For nearly two years, three children from St Mary’s School have been part of a multi-school collaboration with Bridport-based theatre production company Stuff and Nonsense.

The play is touring up and down the country, which also included input from children in Plymouth and Poole. 

Productions by the company are described to have a ‘rich visual language that is entertaining,’ according to artistic director Niki McCretton, who was also blown away by the creativity of the pupils from St Mary’s.

Niki McCretton has been working in theatre productions for 30 years (Image: Ray Burmiston)

She said: “They were very creative children. They had to learn the craft of how theatre works, doing a little bit of everything from directing to influencing the set design.

“It’s an adaptation of the Three Little Pigs, so the children had creative licence and there is a bit of a different ending.

“St Mary’s were phenomenal, they were so creative and they really drove us. We had to work fast to get all their ideas in.”

Children were keen to give notes to the actors and puppeteers throughout the process (Image: Elliot Millson)

Each child brought their own particular skill set to the production, with some interested in writing scripts and directing, whilst another was more interested in the music.

Niki added: “The children came into this and slotted right in and were completely comfortable pitching in.

“It is just brilliant for them to be with us. A great opportunity for them, we just brought them in as part of our normal process.

“One of the children would riff with the story, like a melodic rap, a kind of long narrative song to get their head around the story.

“It’s really different and brilliant to hear ideas from their points of view.”

The children have spent nearly two years working on the project and were invited to the National Theatre in London in the summer to take part in some workshops and get a chance to see how their hard work looked at the prestigious venue.

Natasha Wiscombe is a special educational needs coordinator at St Mary’s school and helped to facilitate the children’s involvement in the project.

She said: “When the children went to London, they were good at identifying their skill sets – they all found their bit they could slot into.

“They got to look backstage at the National Theatre to see how their props were being used. It opened their eyes quite a bit.”

Rehearsals at the National Theatre in London gave the children from each school an opportunity to meet for the first time (Image: Elliot Millson)

Headteacher at St Mary’s, Kate Batorska was also delighted at how the production process has helped the children's development.

She said: “It’s a life changing opportunity to have their eyes opened to the world of production, art and theatre – you can’t recreate that in a school setting.

“It has helped with their confidence and self-esteem and their ability to lead others.

“It also helps them to understand what other careers there are and aspire them to work in these which is great.”

The production has already opened its doors in other areas of the country, but is set to hit the stage at Poole Lighthouse from December 5 until December 24.

To book tickets visit www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/the-three-little-pigs/