“...extraordinary, glittering, singing presences who guided me and hundreds of others through wood, field and forest this weekend just gone, bringing all twenty of the spells from The Lost Words to life...
It was a special experience to see my words & @jackiemorrisartist’s paintings springing into being. I’ll not forget the incredible, swaggering “Raven”, and the writhingly supple dances of “Otter”. Even in blazing heat, the goldfinches charmed on.”
Preview on Northern Soul website.
Interview with director Collette Murray in Children’s Theatre Reviews.
Review of Timber Festival by Arifa Akbar in The Guardian.
Comments from the children...
“Your performance was truly amazing. Raven has the best moves I've ever seen. Owl had the most beautiful voice and Heron was so funny. Thank you.”
“I loved this amazing performance. It really brightened my day. I loved how it was so interactive. You guys are so talented.”
“That was the best morning ever and I'll never forget it! It's really emotional and interactive. I was blown away.”
“What an experience! I liked the fact that everyone interacted with us and I really felt like I was in a nest.”
“Thank you so much for an awesome morning. The play was amazing and it gave me so much information about the animals. “
“This was a wonderful play. I know a lot more about nature now. Thank you.”
“I loved the show. I loved the singing and dancing. It made my day and I want to see it again.”
“Thank you for such a magical, captivating performance.
The pupils and I had an amazing time. They talked about it all day and were asking to research ravens, wrens and goldfinches back at school. The performers were excellent and totally captivated us all. “
Y6 teacher (Bowker Vale School)
“The show was absolutely incredible today and the children were in awe of the whole experience. A lot of the children were open mouthed throughout the show! We cannot thank you enough for such an immersive and incredible experience. “
Abi (Y6 teacher, Moston Fields Primary)
“The children loved it!”
Mrs S Brackenridge (Headteacher St. Chad's RC Primary School)
“…an atmospheric and spine-tingling experience for all, very inclusive and dynamic.
The actors and leaders were all superb. The event’s success was in its multi-sensory design and so the involvement drawn out from the children through the oral, aural and haptic nature of the experience was striking. It will no doubt enrich their creative learning and experience of The Lost Words. Thank you for enabling this visit and for your part in facilitating this event for our children.”
Claire Law (Artist in Residence at St John’s RC PS and Barlow Hall PS, Chorlton)
“So magical and beautiful and relevant. Really talented performers with dance, lifts, characterisation and where contemporary projection and natural site specific come together. Go see it!!”
“Loved this show at Brockhole - the otters playing were particularly magical. ”
“Lovely to meet the cast (& audience) in this natural blend of dance, poetry, music & a woodland walk! Great way to reconnect with the wild at Windermere.”
“It was such a lovely experience! Thank you for a true moment of joy! You were all so inspiring and wonderful - as a teacher I will take it on into my classroom - so your message moves forward!”
“Inspiring for all ages - and great to be offered the @GretaThunberg book instead of a theatre programme! Well done - more please!”
“What a fantastic show! We’re very lucky to be able to host this at Brockhole.”
“What an incredible immersive experience...”
“A fantastic, magical & memorable interpretation of #TheLostWords. May you continue to bring the delight to many more...”
“If you hear of this being performed anywhere near you, go see it!”
“An adaptation of The Lost Words: Seek, Find, Speak was an interactive theatre production but wasn’t scary (the ‘I’ word generally sends me running in the other direction); rather a gentle midsummer trail aimed at children but magical for grown-ups too.”
“Its high point is a dance sequence performed by eight-year-old Gabriel Payne and the Nigerian dancer Edenamiuki Aiguobasinmwin, who slip, slide and entwine limbs to conjure the silky effect of an otter moving in water.”
“Beautiful live adaptation of @RobGMacfarlane’s Lost Words in the woods @LatitudeFest. Moving poetry brought to life in and amongst the audience, surrounded by @JackieMorrisArt’s lovely artwork.”
“How wonderful experiencing @RobGMacfarlane’s Lost Words brought to life! A book that is doing so much to highlight and address the lack of nature connection in children transformed into an immersive theatrical performance that captivated adults and children alike.”
“Just watching entrancing performance of @JackieMorrisArt & @RobGMacfarlane #TheLostWords by @seekfindspeak at @LatitudeFest. Packed woodland setting, active engagement, spellbinding wordery. Love it.
It was stunning. Had to compete with the noise elswhere in the park but did so being up close and personal. Clever and funny and active. Really nice.”
“We loved this at #TimberFestival today! Thank you. You were awesome!”
“If you haven’t already, you should definitely try and see Seek, Find, Speak. We saw it at @timber_festival and loved it. Adds an extra dimension to the book.”
