Theatre / Brave Bold Drama
Sleuthing subscription service brings creativity and code-cracking to budding detectives
Theatre makers Brave Bold Drama have launched a sleuthing subscription service for children in Bristol and beyond.
Aimed at children aged between six and 12 who enjoy creativity and code-cracking, the new venture is a monthly, sent through the post, creative missions.
The subscription service invites children into the world of the Company of International Artists, led by Creative Agents Dali and Kahlo, with help from office wizard Agent Lovelace.
is needed now More than ever
“The idea of the Company of International Artists was borne in March 2020,” says Gill Simmons, who plays Kahlo and is artistic director of Brave Bold Drama.
“I live in Withywood, and was very aware that some children in my local area and the neighbouring area of Hartcliffe were facing lockdown without access to any creative resources to help keep them occupied.
“The Company of International Artists was our response to this.”
Each month, children will receive printed creative missions, arts postcards and classified codes giving exclusive access to short films featuring Dali, Kahlo and Lovelace.
The missions encourage children to create in many different ways, including through arts and crafts, creative writing and music making.
Created by the Brave Bold Drama team, a theatre company making creative works such as Beside the Sea, a multi-sensory story for people living with dementia, The Butterfly Effect, a project exploring what resident of Hartcliffe enjoyed about natural spaces, and Cracking the Egg Conundrum, a week of creative writing experiences held at Parson Street Primary School.
Paul Lawless and Gill Simmons as Creative Agents Dali and Kahlo. Photo: Brave Bold Drama
“The Company of International Artists subscription service is an opportunity for children to feel a part of something exciting, quirky and eccentric,” says Gill.
“It’s a chance for them to create an alter ego for themselves, share the artwork they make under their secret agent name on our website gallery, and receive praise for their creativity with handwritten notes posted to them from creative agents Dali and Kahlo.”
Although currently a subscription service, Brave Bold Drama has secured funding to develop a pop-up Company of International Artists outdoor tour in 2021.
Main photo: Brave Bold Drama
Read more: New community mural painted in Withywood
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