Using the Power of Theatre to Start Conversations: Partnership with The Knotted Project Theatre Company

"We are so excited by this new partnership with ISF. Together, we will create a space to explore futures in a new way, challenging traditional methods through using theatre and arts based practices. This collaboration has such huge potential!" Simon McElligott, Co-Founder at The Knotted Project."

In 2019, ISF established a programme of mutual support with local physical theatre company, The Knotted Project that extends to the end of 2020. Established and directed by Simon McElligott and Natalie Morrell, The Knotted Project delivers workshops and produces shows particularly aimed at inspiring young people and disadvantaged groups to imagine different and better worlds. In 2018, the company ran a successful series of shared workshops with ISF researchers and LU students on the topics of work and friendship, leading to the production of The Commuters. Now we are working together to explore new ways of developing research ideas, using creative techniques both to think differently about the research design process and to involve different stakeholders in our work. This is part of the Creative Futures toolkit led by Professor Rebecca Braun and Dr Emily Spiers.

More on The Knotted Project...

'The Knotted Project use the power of theatre to start conversations, inspire audiences and engage young people.'

The Knotted Project create intricate and original physical theatre about human stories in a changing world. They create with a dynamic and visual language described by British Theatre Guide as “slick choreography, Frantic Assembly-like contact improvisation and ensemble work”.

TKP have created theatre tours and festivals. They have worked in partnership internationally, supported by the British Council and Arts Council England. They made and toured their magical dance/theatre adventure for 3-8-year-olds 'The Chit Chat Chalk Show' to over 30 UK venues in partnership with Hawk Dance Theatre. Again in partnership, they will tour their new children’s production ‘Outside The Igloo’ to venues across the UK this Christmas 2019. In the last year, TKP, commissioned by The Lowry, devised a new physical theatre production ‘Time To Bloom’ that explored ‘Grief’ and the lives of Young Carers. The show premiered at The Lowry in March 2019 and was performed by a professional cast, young carers and young musicians.

Based in Cumbria, TKP was formed in 2013 by East 15 Physical Theatre graduates Natalie Morrell and Simon McElligott. The Company are well recognised for their approach to socially engaged arts practice and have a superb reputation across the North West for delivering high quality learning and engagement with a unique flair. TKP regularly engage with and are supported by leading northern organisations such as The Brewery Arts Centre, The Dukes, Big Imaginations and The Lowry.