SPLAT! A colourful, physical comedy about art and creativity for kids and their families comes to Keswick

Playful, vibrant and language free children’s theatre show SPLAT! Is delighted to be coming to the Theatre by The Lake on Wednesday 28^th May 2025. SPLAT! is a high-energy physical comedy about art, creativity and collaboration and it’s heading to 25 destinations across the country in 2025.

Created for children aged 3 to 7 (and their grown-ups), this playful and engaging production was devised in collaboration with award winning deaf artist, filmmaker and performer Brian Duffy who co-created ‘Small World’ the first sitcom in British Sign Language. It is completely accessible for deaf audiences, non-English speaking audiences and small children who are yet to get to grips with words as no language is spoken throughout.

SPLAT! takes place inside a vibrant artist’s studio where two aspiring painters – one neat, precise, and serious, the other chaotic, messy, and full of mischief – must learn to work together. As they navigate their artistic differences, they take the audience on a journey through the history of art from ancient cave paintings to modern masterpieces.

This journey is full of clowning, movement and slapstick comedy, creating an interactive and sensory-rich experience and a stage that starts pristine and ends in a glorious explosion of colour and mess. Young audiences are invited to engage, explore, and celebrate their own creative instincts and to enquire about the vibrant, messy world that has been created before their eyes.

SPLAT! explores themes of collaboration, play and spontaneity, all through a wordless, visually striking performance packed with colour, music, and surprises. The show embraces the philosophy behind Picasso’s famous words:

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

SPLAT!’s two characters are designed to reflect the two opposite hemispheres of the brain; one logical and ordered, the other free-spirited and unpredictable. Bringing to life the ever-changing world of art, the two heroes move between chaotic creativity and structured order, reflecting how artistic movements have evolved throughout history. From the Renaissance to Romanticism to Impressionism to Surrealism, all the way through to Pop Art and Graffiti, children can learn about the history of these movements and discover iconic images from artists such as Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Banksy.

SPLAT! was developed in response to the global conversations about children’s education that emerged during the 2020 pandemic. This production champions the belief and research[i] that shows alongside typical curriculum-based education, children need creative freedom, playfulness, and joyful exploration. Studies show that children are born to learn through play[ii] and that doing so improves cognitive, social, emotional and physical development, reduces stress and builds self-esteem and confidence[iii]. Child mental-health experts emphasised the importance of play in children’s development, urging schools to prioritise it over academic progress. At the time, Dr Jenny Gibson from the University of Cambridge, said: “It’s easy to dismiss play as unimportant, but for children, playing with friends and classmates has a very significant impact on their social development.”

On bringing the show to Keswick director and lead creative Jack Kelly says:

“My partner worked in Keswick at the theatre just before our first child was born so I spent some time there meaning Keswick is particularly special for me. I used to go for runs around the lake, and I dream of doing that when we are in town. Alongside that, it’s one of the most beautiful places in the whole country. The landscape around Keswick has inspired loads of artists, William Wordsworth for one. For me, creativity and play take inspiration from the natural world so bringing SPLAT! to Keswick feels brilliant as we will have all three. A fun playful show about being creative and beautiful scenery all around us. I can’t wait to bring SPLAT! to Keswick.”

Production and Creative Team:

Director/Lead Creative: Jack Kelly

Devisers/Performers: Althea Burey, Will Bliss, Joey Timmins, Elf Lyons, Joey Robinson Holden, Matt Willis, Johnny Macaulay, Jock Maitland, Karina Garnett, Luke Pitman

Movement Directors: Brian Duffy, Justyna Janisewska & Georgia Tegou

Technical Manager and Lighting Designer: Berta Pibernat Trias

Ages 3-7 (and their adults)

No spoken language

Run time: 55 mins

For more information: https://www.ofthejackel.co.uk/splat

Cast Info:

Director and lead creative Jack Kelly trained at the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris, has performed internationally with arts charity The Flying Seagull Project, working with children in isolated communities and marginalised groups. His solo show ‘Withered Optimism’ opened the London Clown Festival in 2022, received critical acclaim and was a finalist for Best Show at the Off West End Awards.

Performer Jock Maitland co-founded children’s theatre company Trunk & Egg, touring shows and workshops to schools across Norway. He currently works at the National Theatre in the learning department.

Performer Luke Pitman has performed international in shows such as Treasure Island, King Arthur and Arabian Nights. He is a long-time collaborator with OftheJackel and is helping develop their latest show Plant.

SPLAT!
Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick, CA12 5DJ
Wednesday 28^th May (11am and 2pm)

https://www.theatrebythelake.com/event/splat/

Full 2025 UK Tour Dates

May

24^th – Everyman Theatre, CHELTENHAM

26^th – The Quay Theatre, SUDBURY

27^th – Chipping Norton Theatre, CHIPPING NORTON

28^th – Theatre By The Lake, KESWICK

30^th – Chelmsford Theatre, CHELMSFORD

June

1^st – Lakeside Theatre, NOTTINGHAM

7^th – Pegasus Theatre, OXFORD