The Unexpected Gift
The Unexpected Gift celebrates the art of play and curiosity, taking ordinary objects and making them extraordinary and magical. Bursting with energy, acrobatic dance, textures, sounds and colour to create a multi-sensory wonderland from the left-over boxes, ribbons and wrapping.
This highly interactive and inclusive dance-theatre performance is made especially for and with children with complex needs ages 7-15 years. Playfulness within the work creates space for live response between the audience and performers, with its adaptable approach allowing the individuality of each child to be celebrated.
The Unexpected Gift is designed for a small audience to be able to accommodate and engage young people who experience the most barriers to access.
The Unexpected Gift is co-produced by Capital Theatres and Barrowland Ballet. The Unexpected Gift was inspired by Barrowland Ballet’s production The Gift, a co-commission by Aberdeen Performing Arts, Capital Theatres and Eden Court, Inverness funded through Creative Scotland’s Performing Arts Recovery Fund.
“Magical and moving... to see the children responding to the performance and to watch the interactions between the artists and the children. It was enchanting. The performers were so talented and attuned to the children.”
Audience Member
Creative Team
Creator and Choreographer Natasha Gilmore
Performers Joanne Pirre, Rander Martins, Alex McCabe
Creative Collaborators Class Iona, Jura, Whalsey, Shetland, Bute, Rasaay, Skye, Lewis and Harris from Isobel Mair School, Newton Mearns.
Composer and Sound Designer Davey Anderson
Adaptation Set Designer Ruben San Roman
Original 'The Gift' Set Designer Fred Pommerehn
Lighting Designer Alberto Santos Bellido
Costume Designer Alison Brown
Costume Assistant Rachael Gibb
Production Manager Alberto Santos Bellido
Producing Team Nicola Denman, Jo Walmsley