It was a bold experiment to place children in a position of responsibility where they would make big decisions on behalf of professional artists. It was even more audacious to do this with children who have little direct experience of live theatre.

Such an experimental process called for a spirit of adventure from everyone involved, requiring them to go on a journey of discovery and be active partners in an unknown venture.

The presence of industry professionals allowed teachers to be in a co-learner relationship with their pupils, complementing their usual role as experts by giving them an opportunity to make new discoveries at the same time as the Young Producers.

A sense of immense pride from parents, teachers and families was overwhelmingly evident. For the children, this will undoubtedly be one of the memories of school and childhood that will remain with them – a sense of having made a contribution to something rare and special for their school and community at an extraordinary level of accomplishment.

Kate Organ
Independent Evaluator for Young Producers

2015
For Little Earthquake
In partnership with
Black Country Touring

With support from
Arts Connect West Midlands
Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
Funded by
Arts Council England

Greg’s an ordinary boy, much like any other. At least, he was… Until this morning.

When he wakes up with clacking pincers on his head, a huge heavy shell on his back and six spindly legs with a mind of their own, life’s about to get a whole lot trickier.

How will he get dressed? Eat his breakfast? Go to the loo? What will his family do when he scuttles out of his bedroom? And how will the rest of the world react to this creepy crawly crisis?

When the villainous Beetle Buster shows up with his Verminator machine, Greg must choose between hiding in the shadows or embracing his new life as a great big mini-beast, supported by his plucky little sister and a perky puppet dog.

With live music, a sprinkling of songs, riotous action and thrilling transformations, The Boy Who Became A Beetle is a funny, messy and moving new show for everyone who knows what it’s like to feel different.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Boy Who Became A Beetle was created as part of Little Earthquake and Black Country Touring’s year-long Young Producers project.

Over the 2014-2015 academic year, 100 pupils in five Black Country primary schools became Little Earthquake’s producers, working with us to commission and create a brand-new piece of theatre for family audiences.

The Young Producers were involved in every element of the theatre-making process: from choosing the show idea and developing the story, through to recruiting the cast and creative team, and contributing ideas for the design and music.

Finally, they took charge of marketing, box office, front-of-house, and stage management when the production visited their schools as part of its initial tour.

When we started, we knew almost nothing about what the show would be, who would make it or how it would turn out. After more than 80 hours of contact sessions with the groups, and many hundreds of hours of work by the whole team on top of that, The Boy Who Became A Beetle premiered at a special gala performance for our Young Producers at the Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton, complete with red carpet, photographers, VIP passes and cupcakes.

CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CAST (in order of appearance)

Si O’Nyde / Zayn Puppeteer | Daniel Moseley
Mum | Helen Belbin
Vic | Niamh McGowan
Greg | Alex Ranahan

With special appearances by Lee Comley, Therese Collins, Sarah Hamilton Baker and Jack Trow

CREATIVE TEAM

FOR THE YOUNG PRODUCERS PROJECT

Project Leaders | Gareth J. Nicholls and Philip Holyman
Black Country Touring’s Young Promoter Coordinator | Natalie Kidman
Independent Evaluator | Kate Organ

FOR LITTLE EARTHQUAKE

Co-Directors | Gareth J. Nicholls and Philip Holyman
Advisory Producer | Louisa Davies-Foley

Little Earthquake would like to thank the following people and organisations, without whom this project would not have been possible:

Steve Johnstone, Frances Land, Natalie Kidman, Deb Justice, Sarah Watton and the board at Black Country Touring; Neil Reading, Andrew Jemmett, Sam Fleming and the team at the Arena Theatre; everyone at the Performance Hub, University of Wolverhampton (Walsall Campus); Rob Elkington and all at Arts Connect West Midlands; Nikki Ralston and Jill Brown at Arts Council England; Julie McKirdy and Fran Ellis at Thimblemill Library; Brian Bishop and all at Warwick Arts Centre; Tim Hodgson and all at Midlands Arts Centre; Justine Ranson, John Cocker and all at Telford Culture Zone; James Yarker, Craig Stephens and all at Stan’s Cafe; Jack Trow, Sam Frankie Fox and Sarah Hamilton Baker for their invaluable workshop contribution; Robin Stephens for being the face of the trailer beetle; Nicholas Nicholls and Patterns Derby for saving the day, again; Barbara Nicholls for the gala premiere cakes; Val and David Holyman for masses of things, as always; Richard Smith and all at Tuckey Print; Annie Brewer at Jerwood Space; Flints Theatrical Chandlers; Sue Gormley, former headteacher of Uplands Manor Primary School; Rupert Phelps; Michael Addison; Colm O’Brien; Geoff Foster & Daughter — and last but not least… our magnificent Young Producers, without whom there would be no show!

THE YOUNG PRODUCER GROUPS

Penn Hall School (Wolverhampton)
Headteacher: David Parry
Group leaders: Sarah Wilkinson and Stuart Morgan, with Dina Freeman, Viv Skidmore and Sue Taylor
Young Producers: Cameron Birch; Alex Brown; Ashleigh Green; Miloslav Holub; Lydia Jackson; Cameron Janagal; Ali Khan; Kaif Khan; Kara O’Connor; William Spencer

Queen Victoria Primary School (Dudley)
Headteacher: Wendy Rawlinson
Group leader: Kirsty Walker
Young Producers: Callum Archer; Alivea Bennett; Chloe Berry; Louise Broadley; Sally-Anne Clarke; Leah Clayton; Alfie Cole; Ben Cooper; Gemini Dennis; Carly-Leigh Harris; Isabella Hinton; Jarad Horton; Cory Howe; Rajwinder Kaur; Joseph Lowke; Callum Mason; Alarna Mehmi; Jake Morgan; Paris Narroway; Tyrell O’Sullivan; Keeley-Mai Price; Harriet Robinson; Unique Roy; Marni Simmonds; Asa Southall; Caitlin Taylor-Moloney; Joseph Turner; Callum Webb; Lily Worton; Jake Wright

St. Gregory’s Catholic Primary School (Sandwell)
Headteacher: Krystyna Bickley
Group leader: Simon Kettle
Young Producers: Andre Alicias; Sanjeo Benny; Matthew Brookes; Aidan Halliday; Elizabeth Healy; Alicia Kurasinska; Erin Lewis; Elise Malone; Jessica Marsh; Dylan Phillips

St. John’s CE Primary School (Walsall)
Headteacher: Andrew Mills
Group leader: Jane Perks
Young Producers: Benjamin Allsopp; Alex Baldwin; Luke Barber-Powis; Taylor Barley; Christian Burbridge; Eleanor Causier; Joshua Clarke; Kiera Cooper; Cian Daniel; Leon Edwards; Callum English; Ilisha Evans; Lewis Fletcher; Marshall Grainger; Jack Heath; Dylan Heydon-Matterface; Harriet Newell; Jack Robinson-Parr; Matthew Salt; Abigail Shutts; Chloe Smith; Millie Stringer; Nelo Sylvester; William Tutt; Clegg Wilkinson

Uplands Manor Primary School (Sandwell)
Headteacher: Paul Moore
Group leaders: Dawn Jordan with Jayne Davies
Young Producers: Aleena Ahmed; Joshua Armstrong; Hafsa Asad; Taite Brooks; Yasmin Giles; Jamie-Leigh Heaven; Telvin Jackson; Malayka Kouser; Kate Lloyd; Lilly Lomax; Charlie Melody; Sean Pearce; Saifullah Rana; Adam Rowley; Paige Smart; Alannah St Prix

EXPLORE WORK BY ROLE

Sound Designer & Composer

Writer

EXPLORE WORK BY CATEGORY