Imagination blooms at children’s theatre

A Darlington-based children’s theatre is expanding its outdoor play facilities for local families.

Theatre Hullabaloo is transforming an underused space at its Borough Road venue into Space to Imagine, a creative play area featuring wooden dens, blocks, natural resources and a mud-and-water kitchen. 

Bosses say the project encourages imaginative play and complements the theatre’s permanent indoor play space and temporary community installations delivered over the past two years.

Jacqui Nicholson, general manager at Theatre Hullabaloo, said: “The developmental benefits of creative play are widely recognised and we’re working to maximise the range of opportunities we provide for families to do this, both in the community and at the theatre.

“There’ll be lots of fantastic resources to inspire children’s play, with the space specifically designed to allow children to lead their parents in deciding how they’re going to play together.

“We do all we can to keep Theatre Hullabaloo as accessible as possible for everyone, with our outreach work we undertake being especially important in achieving that goal.

“Funding such as the generous grant we’ve received from the Banks Group for this project plays a crucial role in making this happen.

“It’s especially important to us to win the backing of North East businesses and organisations like Banks, as they can see the work that we do at first hand and are recognising the positive impact that it has on our communities through their support.”

Funding for the initiative came from a £1,988 grant from County Durham-based Banks Group, helping support the theatre’s ongoing mission to provide accessible, inspiring experiences for children and families.

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, added: “Theatre Hullabaloo holds a unique place in the North East’s cultural life and provides creative opportunities to thousands of local young children that might otherwise be out of reach.

“It’s an inspirational venue run by an amazing team, and as the only dedicated children’s theatre outside London, it’s somewhere of which the region can be hugely proud.

“Opening up this new outdoor play area will make it an even better place for families to visit and we’re proud to be helping bring this project to life.”

Hullabaloo, the only specialist children’s theatre outside London, welcomes around 25,000 visitors annually and offers a variety of theatre shows and themed community events, many of which are free.

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