Made for ages: 2–4 years old and the adults who care for them.
Grandma and Lucy are up in the attic where all the memories are stored. Who knows what might happen when the sleepy attic comes to life?
Grandma and Lucy are up in the attic where all the memories are stored. Hidden in dusty containers at the top of the house, they have been waiting a long time to come out and play. Come up the stairs, blow away the cobwebs and peep into the boxes. Who knows what might happen when the sleepy attic comes to life?
Set to a live, original piano score, two characters discover a magical place filled with hidden treasures. The precious remainders of past generations are woven into new memories as Lucy entices her grandmother to enter her imaginary world. Little ones and their carers are invited to watch and then join in an extravagant tea party under the stars.
Created and performed by Hazel Darwin-Clements
Performed by Gowan Calder, David Paul Jones and Keith McLeish (2017/8)
Performed by Vari Sylvester (2012)
Directed by Heather Fulton
Music by David Paul Jones
Designed by Karen Tennant
Lighting Design by Craig Fleming (2017)
Lighting Designer Bee George (2012)
Production Manager: Carrie Taylor
Marketing: Sophie Ochojna
I like the calm approach to these performances, the intimate nature and scope of imaginative initiation
It was truly magical My daughter felt confident enough to get up and try things – she responded to the performance very well and wanted to participate
The Attic was originally created by Hazel Darwin-Clements during the Inspire Project at the Byre Theatre, Saint Andrews. It first toured in 2011 and 2012 throughout Scotland. In 2017 Starcatchers secured funding from Creative Scotland to tour the production to Carnegie Hall, Fife in December 2017 and The Studio at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh in January 2018, with a Scottish Tour in April/May 2018. The tour also visited nurseries across Scotland as part of Theatre in Schools Scotland (TiSS).
For touring availability and requirements, please contact us at info@starcatchers.org.uk
Performed through some gentle clowning, and accompanied by a dusty coated David Paul Jones at the piano playing sounds whose mood chimes beautifully with each scene, like the crescendo of surprises as the tower of tiered boxes reveals their contents, The Attic is an innocent, intergenerational delight that encourages looking out and up and forward no matter what age.
Grown ups will probably realise that the attic is like the inside of Granny’s head – and the unfinished knitting is an echo of the random wool-gathering that is occasioned by advancing years. Wee ones – and this Starcatchers production has 2 to 5 year olds especially in mind – will simply latch on to the attic as an adventure playground full of merry surprises, with Granny the best kind of fun-loving friend in games of make-believe.
Set to a live and original piano score, The Attic will entertain little ones and their adults, welcoming them into the creative world of theatre.
Associate Artist
Hazel works on the Creative Skills programme. She has also made several shows for Starcatchers, including Hup and The Attic, and was one of the artists who took part in the Inspire Project.
Associate Artist
Heather is a theatre director and arts facilitator based in Moray in the North East of Scotland.
Hazel is the creator of The Attic, and performs the role of Lucy in the show as she did during its first tour in 2011/12. Now, as the company work towards the opening shows on Wednesday at Carnegie Hall in Fife, Hazel shares some of the discoveries they’ve made as a team so far.
Starcatchers and Hazel Darwin-Clements present new production of The Attic for 2 – 4 year olds and their adults, playing in Fife and Edinburgh over Christmas 2017/18, with a full Scottish Tour in Spring 2018.
A ground-breaking project to introduce more children to high quality theatre by taking productions into school gym halls and other community settings across Scotland is reaching pre-school children as young as 2 for the first time.
