Our Work > Events and Performance > Production Club

The Rowan Arts Production Club gave children the chance to work alongside arts professionals to plan, design and take part in an interactive drama, performed during the Holloway Arts Festival's Big Day Out in Whittington Park. During the process the children, aged 9 to 11, learned about creating storyline, characters and script, prop making, set design, performance and production skills.

The Club started in 2006, when designer Rosa Maggiora and partner organisation Eudemonic worked with children to create the Whittington Grand – a surreal and comical hotel in which visitors to Holloway Arts Festival found themselves in a surreal hotel and on a mystical treasure trail towards an all-knowing ‘guru’.

Continuing the theme, Mystery at the Whittington Grand was created and performed in 2007. The workshops were led by designer Lili Barcroft, with sessions by other arts professionals from different fields. This year, the hotel was the venue for a conference of private detectives, and the audience got involved in unravelling a kidnapping case!

In 2008, children worked with director Ed Bartram and designer Lili Barcroft on The Whittington Park Mysteries, a story with a ghostly theme which included giant puppets made by the children.

"I liked meeting people and my favourite part was the actual performance. I liked being able to get the chance to act in front of an audience"
- Elsa, aged 10

Supported by the Big Lottery Fund.