Learning / Education
Travelling Light Theatre Company turns 40
In the heart of winter, a community-driven project across Bristol is bringing warmth, creativity, and connection to families across the city.
Igloo, a non-verbal theatre performance created by the Travelling Light Theatre Company, offered a sensory, immersive experience designed for young children and their families.
The production aimed to foster emotional literacy, spark imaginative play, and strengthen community ties.
is needed now More than ever
Igloo followed two siblings as they navigate their emotions during the winter months, exploring themes like joy, connection, and the comfort of family.
Igloo performances and play sessions
What sets the performance apart is its ability to extend beyond the stage, offering interactive ‘stay and play’ sessions where children and families can explore the story’s themes through hands-on activities.
This commitment to accessibility is central to the project, as the show is designed to break down barriers that often prevent families from engaging with the arts, particularly those with young children.
Artistic director Lizzy Stephens and the team behind Igloo recognise the challenges families face when it comes to attending theatre performances.
The high cost of tickets, transportation and the difficulty of navigating large venues can alienate many families, especially those in lower-income areas.
To address this, Igloo toured small, local venues within walking distance of nurseries and family centres, ensuring that the performance is accessible to those who might otherwise miss out on cultural experiences.
Volunteers and facilitators aid the children’s imaginative play
The production was staged in the round, with various seating options – cushions, benches, and even space to move – ensuring a comfortable, inclusive environment.
The performance relied on visual elements like bright colours, sounds and textures to tell the story, making it accessible to children of all abilities and backgrounds, including those with language barriers or additional needs.
This focus on sensory engagement helps keep children involved and allowed them to follow along without needing to understand spoken language.
“We are always here to kind of support artists as best we can,” says Lizzy
An innovative aspect of Igloo is the integration of stay and play sessions, which invited families to interact with the performance’s themes in a creative, hands-on way.
These sessions allowed children to express themselves through imaginative play and emotional exploration, deepening the connection to the performance while fostering emotional literacy and creativity.
As Lizzy puts it: “The stay and play element allows families to engage with the work in their own way, with the freedom to explore, create and reflect together. It’s all about nurturing joy and creativity in a supportive environment.”
View this post on Instagram
The show also included a wordless storybook, visually depicting the Igloo experience. Given to families after the performance, the book serves as a tool for continued creative play at home.
Feedback from parents and caregivers suggests that this resource has encouraged children to reenact scenes from the show, helping them explore their emotions and imagination through play.
One of the core strengths of Igloo is its focus on emotional development. For young children, learning how to identify and express emotions is a critical developmental milestone.
By using non-verbal storytelling to convey feelings like joy, excitement and longing, Igloo offers a gentle way for children to connect with these emotions without feeling overwhelmed.
This approach resonated particularly with those in early developmental stages, where language skills and emotional understanding are still forming.
Beyond its impact on children, Igloo has also fostered a sense of community among families. Through partnerships with local early years settings, the production has created a space where parents can meet, share experiences and support each other.
Many have found that attending the performance has not only opened new ways to engage with their children but also helped them connect with other families facing similar challenges.
The impact of Igloo has been widely recognised. The show recently won an award at the Fantastic for Families Awards, which highlights outstanding cultural experiences for families.
This recognition underscores the importance of making such creative experiences available to families from all walks of life.
“For Winter Lights, we’re now ready for them to come back in January and then rehearse, rehearse, rehearse”
Looking ahead, the Barton Hill-based company is building on the success of Igloo with new projects that continue to prioritize community engagement, early years education, and accessibility.
Upcoming initiatives like Winter Lights, a community festival celebrating joy and togetherness, showcase the company’s ongoing commitment to creating meaningful experiences for families.
As the company celebrates 40 years of creative work, its approach to theatre for young audiences remains grounded in collaboration, creativity and care for the community.
Through projects like Igloo, Travelling Light is helping to build a brighter, more connected future for families in Bristol and beyond
All photos: Travelling Light Theatre Company
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
