Big Imaginations

🚨Artist Imagination Fund Applications are now open🚨 Another year of Big Imaginations Artist Imagination Fund, funding is upon us! And we’re so excited to hear from you about the idea(s) that you have for performance work for children and families. Do you have: 🎭 An idea you need to get out your head, play with and explore? 🎭 A project that needs some space and timet research and develop it? 🎭 A show that’s ready to be made and you need match funding? 🎭 Or something a little bit in between these! If so, we want to hear from you about your idea! The application form, plus some addiontal resources to support you with your application can be found on our LinkTree, which is in our bio. #Funding #ChildrenAndFamilyTheatre #Arts #NorthWestArts #TheatreMakers @bolton_library_museum @burnleyyouththeatre @cheshiretouring @creativescenewy @tamesidecouncil @horseandbamboo @kirkgatearts @manchester.culture @oldham_libraries @shakespearenorthplayhouse @sheffieldtheatres @spotonlancashire @metbury @theoldelectric @stockr__m @whitakermuseum @theatreporto @unity_theatre @_wildrumpus @wonderarts.nw @touchstones_rochdale @z.artsmcr

🚨 Artist Imagination Fund Applications are now open! 🚨 Another year of Big Imaginations Artist Imagination Fund, funding is upon us! And we’re so excited to hear from you about the idea(s) that you have for performance work for children and families. We’re excited to announce our AIF support package for 2026/27. This package exists to support artists who have an idea that they want to explore. This might be: An initial idea you want to play around with Something you want to take into an R&D process. An idea you plan to apply to Arts Council England for and want match funding. So if you have an idea, we want to hear from you! #Funding #ChildrenAndFamilyTheatre #Arts #NorthWestArts #TheatreMakers @bolton_library_museum @burnleyyouththeatre @cheshiretouring @creativescenewy @tamesidecouncil @horseandbamboo @kirkgatearts @manchester.culture @oldham_libraries @shakespearenorthplayhouse @sheffieldtheatres @spotonlancashire @metbury @theoldelectric @stockr__m @whitakermuseum @theatreporto @unity_theatre @_wildrumpus @wonderarts.nw @touchstones_rochdale @z.artsmcr

Take a look at Footy Fairy Tales in our new trailer! 📽️ Come and meet all your favourite fairy tale characters, but with a unique footy twist! With engaging storytelling, catchy live music and opportunities to join in - it's the perfect family show for children aged 5-11. 📆 Sat 25 April, 10.30am FREE performance and workshop at Wombourne Library @staffslibraries 📆 Sat 9 May, 11am Performance at @whitakermuseum 🎬 by Grant Archer #familytheatre #childrenstheatre #familyshow #theatreforchildren #theatre #theatretour #theatrelife #football #fairytales #fairytale #storytelling

What a joy to welcome audiences to the very first public performances of ‘The Dinosaurs are Back!’ Presented by @makesomenoise_dommyb this one man adventure with poetry, rap, dance… and lots of dinosaurs has delighted families at @haighwoodlandpark Supported by @bigimaginationsnw and developed with schools across the North West.

Thank you to our brilliant audiences for your feedback so far! 💬 "Kept my very active 6 year old grandson engrossed" "Wonderful storytelling experience" "Best show I've seen for such little money in a long time" There are just three more opportunities to see Footy Fairy Tales on this tour! ⬇️ Sat 18 April, 3pm at @dentonwestlibrary Sat 25 April, 10:30am at Wombourne Library @staffslibraries Sat 9 May, 11am at @whitakermuseum Don't miss it ⚽️🏟️ 📸 by @jenharpers #familytheatre #childrenstheatre #familyshow #theatreforchildren #theatre #theatretour #theatrelife #football #fairytales #fairytale #storytelling

Thank you Park Community Academy for a brilliant afternoon imagining our own very Dream Park with @edyhurst 🎢✨ We’re supporting Edy with some research and development through the incredible @bigimaginationsnw as he creates a brand new piece of children’s theatre 🎭 #newwriting #childrenstheatre #creativeblackpool #R&D #bigimaginations

Artist Imagination Fund This year, Big Imaginations was able to support multiple different artists with different levels of funding to help support them to create new and exciting theatre for children and families. We’re writing this post to celebrate the amazing year of funding and creativity that Big Imaginations has been able to support across the 9 different artist. The fund we were able to give out were split into three categories, which were: 🎉 Seed Funding – 2 posts of £500 to support an artist to do some initial exploration and playing with an idea they have. 🎉Artist Imagination Funding – 3 pots of Funding up to £2,500 to support artists to research and develop an idea they have for a piece of children and family theatre. 🎉 Development Funding – 4 pots of money between £300 and £1000 to support artists to do further development on an already existing piece of theatre they have. The artists who received these funds are as follows: Seed Fund: 🎭 Paul Barnhill (Goofus Theatre) 🎭 Simone Lewis Artist Imagination Fund: 🎭 Edy Hurst 🎭 Herd Theatre Company (Janice Ho and Elsie Shepard) 🎭 Natasha Kim Chapman Development Funding: 🎭 Adam Blake (Adventure Arts) 🎭 Coalesce Dance Theatre 🎭 Gemma Bond 🎭 Knotted Hawk Productions #Funding #ChildrenAndFamilyTheatre #ChildrensTheatre #ArtsFunding #TheatreMakers @bolton_library_museum @burnleyyouththeatre @cheshiretouring @creativescenewy @tamesidecouncil @horseandbamboo @kirkgatearts @manchester.culture @oldham_libraries @shakespearenorthplayhouse @sheffieldtheatres @spotonlancashire @metbury @theoldelectric @stockr__m @whitakermuseum @theatreporto @unity_theatre @_wildrumpus @wonderarts.nw @touchstones_rochdale @z.artsmcr

Footy Fairy Tales is officially ON TOUR 🧳 Take a look at these fantastic new photos taken from our performance at @dentonwestlibrary . The beautiful game has something for everyone - and so does this show! Expect catchy songs, your favourite fairy tale characters, and a whole lot of imagination. See our pinned post for tour dates! 📸 @jenharpers #theatre #theatrelove #theatrelife #familytheatre #childrenstheatre #familyshow #theatreforchildren #theatre #theatretour #theatrelife #football #fairytales #fairytale #storytelling #library #libraries @bigimaginationsnw @otleycourthouse

Your first look at Footy Fairy Tales! ⚽️🧚 If you like what you see here, come and join us on tour this Spring and find out what happens when football and fairytales collide! … You can also find out how many characters @sophiahatfield can play within 1 hour 🤭 @greenhill_library @tamesidecouncil @tamesidecreativenetwork @spotonlancashire @otleycourthouse @dentonwestlibrary @bigimaginationsnw #theatre #storytelling #theatrelife #familytheatre #yarnbirdarts

Some lucky audience members at @dentonwestlibrary had an exclusive preview of Footy Fairy Tales - and here's what they thought! ⚽️ Thank you to all of our wonderful interviewees! Find out more about the show at yarnbird.co.uk @greenhill_library @tamesidecouncil @tamesidecreativenetwork @spotonlancashire @otleycourthouse @bigimaginationsnw #familytheatre #childrenstheatre #familyshow #theatreforchildren #theatre #theatretour #theatrelife #football #fairytales #fairytale #storytelling

Setting up for our Big Imaginations Away day at @z.artsmcr 🤩🤩🤩 @bolton_library_museum @burnleyyouththeatre @cheshiretouring @creativescenewy @tamesidecouncil @horseandbamboo @kirkgatearts @manchester.culture @oldham_libraries @shakespearenorthplayhouse @sheffieldtheatres @spotonlancashire @metbury @theoldelectric @stockr__m @whitakermuseum @theatreporto @unity_theatre @_wildrumpus @wonderarts.nw @touchstones_rochdale @z.artsmcr #ChildrenAndFamilyTheatre #Theatre #ArtsAndCulture #NetworkDay #AwayDay

Big announcement 📣 Yarnbird Arts are going on a tour with Footy Fairy Tales this Spring! ⚽️ A family performance aimed at children aged 5-11 which asks: what happens when football and fairy tales collide? The show, created in partnership with @dentonwestlibrary and @bigimaginationsnw , will tour to libraries and community spaces across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and the West Midlands. With live music, super songs and fabulous characters, this engaging storytelling show combines the excitement of the football stadium with the magic of a good story! Visit yarnbird.co.uk to find out more. Illustrations by @kiddakinsey . Full creative team announcement coming soon! #familytheatre #childrenstheatre #familyshow #theatreforchildren #theatre #theatretour #theatrelife #football #fairytales #fairytale #storytelling