Things that we’ve done………

Visual Storytelling

We have for many years specialised in our own unique style of visual storytelling with live music and songs. This has involved us in devising touring theatre shows that have become very popular with schools and festivals at community centres and village halls. These shows have included: The Dream Tent A magical environment using simple props, puppets and live music to tell traditional and modern tales The Magic Postman A friendly character who delivers songs and stories using letters and parcels collected from his post box in the wall. The Musical Garden A musical journey through the seasons in a garden with puppets and songs. See Books and CD’s Tale Traders Our latest production with two comic characters performing stories and songs using musical instruments, puppets and props from a magical market stall. Book now

Moonraking procession 2005, photo by Rob Cox

Slaithwaite Moonraking Lantern Festival
This community festival was the first local celebratory event that we designed and co-ordinated in 1985 and it has grown and thrived to become a traditional annual celebration. A series of lantern and other ‘theme’ related workshops take place during the February half term culminating in a grand raking of a giant lantern moon from the canal, a procession of lanterns round the village and a knees-up at the local Leisure Centre. The festival celebrates an old legend of smugglers hiding their illicit liquor in the canal and when caught by the militia, saying they were ‘raking out the moon’. A book, 'arking back, charting the festival from it's beginning, is now available from our books and CDs page. The festival is now organised by a committee of local people who meet regularly. To find out more: slaithwaitemoonraking.org

School children rehearsing at the Watershed, photo by Adam Strickson

Creative Heights June 2006
In the summer term 2006 Satellite Arts worked with four village schools in The Colne Valley to create a joint theatrical performance with original music and songs. Creative Heights involved teachers and children in writing, drama, singing, dance and design workshops.

The local history source material was collected by Kim Strickson from Kirklees Community History Service and scripted by Adam Strickson with original songs and music by Andy Burton and direction by Gill Bond and Sky Burton. The show was a great success and performed to a full auditorium at Lawrence Batley theatre in July 2006.




Fear Brigade performance, photo from Global Village 2006

Global Village July 2007
In July/August 2006 we worked with writer and poet Adrian Mitchell, designer Miriam Nabarro and director/composer Andrew Dickson to realise a world premiere of Adrian’s new epic play ‘The Fear Brigade’. The show was produced with Global Village at their international woodcraft camp for 5,000 young people at the Kent Showground in August 2006. It was a large scale outdoor spectacular in which Satellite Arts were contracted to deliver performance, lantern making, singing and music workshops with young people from many different cultures. Andy also took on the role of Sid Mudgeon the mystery tramp in the play.

The play deals with young peoples fears in a troubled world and overcomes them by setting up a ‘Fear Brigade’ of children led by a runaway teenager and a chocolate Labrador who with a mystery tramp create a fantastic Beano style Fear Engine. With this and some wonderful songs they find ingenious ways to collectively overcome their fears including monsters, death and war.

Watershed Workshops
Watershed Workshops is a new building base for three participatory arts organisations and a resourced arts facility in the community. Satellite Arts are one of three resident organisations based there. There is also Shabang Theatre Adventures and Impossible Theatre.

In addition there are other users: Xylosound music group, The Moonraking Lantern Festival, A Family Samba Band, Colne Valley High School music dept, Colne Valley River project and local bands Pinstripe, FEB and Soul Seven who book in for rehearsals.

The building has been refurbished and architecturally designed as an especially adapted arts mill (architect Bill Holgate). It was previously used as a mill weaving works and before that as the offices for the Colne Valley Guardian. It is owned and run by Watershed Workshops Trust who with the leadership of the three resident organisations have managed to fund raise to realise this exciting building base.



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What we Do
We have been Satellite Arts for 25 years, creating wonderful participatory arts projects, shows and events for people of all ages and abilities.

"It was just right, and the adults enjoyed it just as much as the kids"
Loca, Family Story Festival

"Participants loved the workshop, you broke down quite a few barriers in one hour."
Common Purpose, Bradford

"The show was a great combination of music, drama and participation, which captured the imagination. The children were really living the experience."
Museum officer, Kirklees

"I think that was the best day I ever had in school."
A primary school teacher, Draycott

Being in the Dream Tent was a deep and magical experience for all of us.
Class teacher, Bradford