WATER SHOWS
In 1997, Tim created the first Oily Cart water show: Bubbles. He has since written and directed seven such shows, the most recent being Splish Splash in collaboration with the National Theatre of Wales in 2018. All have been very well received.
Big Splash 1999. Marigold, played by Yasmine Maya, welcomes participants to the pool. An Oily Cart production.
Photo: Don McPhee.
Dreams and Secrets 2000
“The responses were wonderful, in fact many of the staff were moved to tears by the way the pupils responded. All were totally engaged throughout – a very difficult thing to achieve with learners with such complex needs.
Powys School, Wrexham.
Waving 2001 An Oily Cart production.
Photo: Justin Leighton
Waving 2001
“Just superb. I wish you could have heard the staff next day from all the groups talking about the experience with such pleasure as to what the children got from it and they as staff did. It was a truly shared learning experience.”
Bleasdale House School, Lancashire.
Pool Piece 2009 by Oily Cart in collaboration with Theatre Is… and Apples & Snakes. The cast, participants and carers explore the watery delights in the pool. (Sam Alty, Jumoke Oke, Mark Foster)
Photo: J.Gamon
Pool Piece 2008
“Song and gamelan instruments create a soundscape and the lapping of warm water against skin is matched by other sensory diversions: simple splashing; waterfalls falling from huge colanders. Most importantly in these unique performances it is the audience that leads the way; the performers interact intensively with each child on a one-to-one basis, but always take their cue from the child. Those working in other areas of theatre might glean much from this, because too often theatre treats audiences as an irritation rather than the most important component of the performance.
Watching the children's responses to Pool Piece, it is clear that Oily Cart's work is testament to the fact that theatre created with a strong aesthetic and high artistic values can also have tangible other benefits. A silent, unresponsive child suddenly whoops with delight; another moves her eyes to follow both sound and light.”
Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
All Sorts of Shows for All Sorts of Kids
