Starcatchers excited to announce new commission with Shaper/Caper

Starcatchers announces exciting new commission with Shaper/Caper in a piece embracing the natural world for our youngest audiences.

Starcatchers and Shaper/Caper present ‘Teeny Weeny’, a pop-up performance all about bugs, mini-beasts and nature that celebrates the world around us.

In late 2020 Starcatchers released a call-out to artists in Scotland to create a short pop-up performance that can be performed for small groups of very young children aged birth -3 and their adults.

Starcatchers’ Chief Executive, Rhona Matheson said ,“We are very aware that many of Scotland’s youngest children will have missed out on any opportunity to see live performance over the past months”, making this commission crucial in ensuring an arts experience that is flexible and responds to the ever-changing environment we find ourselves living in.

‘Teeny Weeny’ explores the world under our feet and flying around our heads, designed to take place outdoors and inspired by the natural environment around us.  The work will feature two dancers and there is no speech in the work, keeping accessibility in these challenging times at the core of the piece.

“The work celebrates the beauty and variety of the insect world,” says Shaper/Caper’s Artistic Director, Thomas Small. “We will use the movements and behaviours of insects such as bees, butterflies and midges as a choreographic starting point and devise work that encourages children to play with their accompanying adults.”

Thomas, creator of the sell-out Paper Moon, commissioned by Cumbernauld Theatre imagines “the work as a blend of physical, athletic dance mixed with emotive, beautiful and visually arresting moments.”

Shaper/Caper is an independently led organisation based in Dundee developing the work of multi award-winning choreographer, BBC Radio 2 Artist in Residence, and Clore fellow, Thomas Small.  Creating excellent art that connects with real people drives both him and the company to want to ensure that as many people as possible, despite their socio-economic backgrounds, race, and/or gender, can access high-quality arts for free.

More information on Starcatchers and Shaper/Caper’s ‘Teeny Weeny’ will be released on our social media channels and website.