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Award-winning Theatre-Rites is a field leader in the creation of experimental theatre for children. Acclaimed nationally and internationally, our touring productions and site responsive works stir the imagination and stimulate thought. We specifically promote understanding and enjoyment of ‘object-led’ theatre and celebrate the power of visuals, puppetry and animation.

Theatre-Rites core team is Sue Buckmaster (Artistic Director), Claire Templeton (Executive Producer), John Johnston (Project Manager), Sophie Huggins (Project Coordinator) and Lukas Angelini (Bookkeeper). See below for details about the team.

Since 1995 we have pioneered cross-artform theatre for children and family audiences, revolutionising original, non-adaptive theatre for the under 5s and improving production standards in theatre for 5 – 11-year-olds. We offer a unique programme of development, training, mentoring and co-creation activities.

Led by our Artistic Director, world-renowned puppetry expert Dr Sue Buckmaster, we specifically promote understanding and enjoyment of ‘object-led’ theatre and celebrate the power of visuals, puppetry and animation by working in genuine collaboration with artists across all artforms, and with experts from outside of the arts world eg. neuroscientists, economists and psychologists.

We have created 21 stage productions and 11 site-specific experiences as well as 4 exhibitions and installations. The company’s work has been commissioned by UK and international venues and festivals including Sadler’s Wells, the Unicorn, the Young Vic, the Barbican, Manchester International Festival, Polka Theatre, the Vienna Festival, Burgtheater Vienna, Schauspielhaus Bochum, Theater der Welt, the Ruhrtriennale and the Salzburg Festivals.

We believe children should be offered theatrical experiences that are challenging and inspirational and we work hard to create theatre with the same high quality production values and integrity of content as the best adult theatre.

Theatre-Rites is a registered charity and an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.

The Team

Sue Buckmaster

Artistic Director

Executive Producer

Project Manager

Bookkeeper

“ Theatre-Rites, a company of genuine originality and flair ”

The Guardian

The Board

Chair

Trustee

Trustee

Trustee

Trustee

Trustee

Trustee

Trustee

Trustee

The Associates

Associate Director

Associate Director

Associate Artist

Associate Artist from 1998 to 2008

Puppeteer

Associate Director

The Advisors

Advisor

Advisor

The Founder

Founder

our audience

We embrace both the adult and the child in the same audience and therefore our work is highly suitable for parents and children, or teachers and pupils to experience together.

Whilst we primarily create work for children and their adults, no one is excluded; young children, grandparents, single adults, audience members of all ages or cultural identity are welcome – we create work for anyone who wants to come and see it.

Finally, our work is not language driven and therefore works on different levels, removing the limits of age and language.

OUR BOOK

This book draws on original research, including five years of in-depth interviews between its authors, images from Theatre-Rites’ archive and Sue Buckmaster’s private collection, detailed observations from the company’s professional training workshops and personal reflections on past productions.

A timely and compelling advocacy for the importance of high-quality experimental arts provision for young audiences is made, distilling learning from decades of the company’s professional activities to motivate and empower the next generation of object-led theatre-makers.

THEATRE-RITES AND SUSTAINABILITY

Theatre-Rites’ operates a programme of Recycling, Reusing and Reinventing Existing Work. We monitor our productions and tours using the theatre green book baseline criteria.

Theatre-Rites is committed to creating work that encourages our audience to explore the world around them and consider complex issues. We do not create theatre that provides answers, rather entertaining provocations that will encourage the children and adults who experience our work to discuss and debate issues. The Environment has been a significant focus of our work since 2013 and we have created 4 productions with environmental sustainability at their heart: Rubbish, Recycled Rubbish, Bank On It and Zoe’s Peculiar Journey Through Time.

In 2023 we committed to making a contribution to Ecologi for each of our projects. If you would like to make a contribution please visit www.ecologi.com/theatre-rites

Sue Buckmaster

Sue Buckmaster's practice, heritage and consultancy offers

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In the background, a performer looks over the top of a large green circular object. His head and one hand are visible. He looks down at another performer who sits in the middle of a large circular wooden shape holding a small circular shape in front of their head.

Who we work with

Every production is created thanks to a number of commissioners, co-producing partners and funders

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“ Theatre-Rites, a company of genuine originality and flair ”

The Guardian

“ Who says that theatre for the very young can’t be great art? Not me, and certainly not Theatre-Rites, who have been creating shows as good as anything made for adult audiences for more than 20 years ”

Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

“ Why does children’s theatre have such a bad name? One reason could be that not enough people know the work of Theatre-Rites. Their new touring show is one of the best times I’ve had in a theatre all year. ”

The Times on Mischief

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