SPLAT! The colourful, physical comedy about art and creativity for kids and their families coming to four venues in Scotland
Playful, vibrant and language free children’s theatre show SPLAT! Is delighted to be coming to venues in Ayr, Dumfries, Greenock and Haddington this July. SPLAT! is a high-energy physical comedy about art, creativity and collaboration for children aged 3 to 7 (and their grown-ups).
SPLAT! - The playful and engaging production was devised in collaboration with award winning deaf artist, filmmaker and performer Brian Duffy who co-created ‘Small World’ the first sitcom in British Sign Language. It is completely accessible for deaf audiences, non-English speaking audiences and small children who are yet to get to grips with words as no language is spoken throughout.
SPLAT! takes place inside a vibrant artist’s studio where two aspiring painters - one neat, precise, and serious, the other chaotic, messy, and full of mischief - must learn to work together. As they navigate their artistic differences, they take the audience on a journey through the history of art from ancient cave paintings to modern masterpieces.
This journey is full of clowning, movement and slapstick comedy, creating an interactive and sensory-rich experience and a stage that starts pristine and ends in a glorious explosion of colour and mess. Young audiences are invited to engage, explore, and celebrate their own creative instincts and to enquire about the vibrant, messy world that has been created before their eyes.
SPLAT! explores themes of collaboration, play and spontaneity, all through a wordless, visually striking performance packed with colour, music, and surprises. The show embraces the philosophy behind Picasso’s famous words:
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
SPLAT!’s two characters are designed to reflect the two opposite hemispheres of the brain; one logical and ordered, the other free-spirited and unpredictable. Bringing to life the ever-changing world of art, the two heroes move between chaotic creativity and structured order, reflecting how artistic movements have evolved throughout history. From the Renaissance to Romanticism to Impressionism to Surrealism, all the way through to Pop Art and Graffiti, children can learn about the history of these movements and discover iconic images from artists such as Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Banksy.
SPLAT! was developed in response to the global conversations about children’s education that emerged during the 2020 pandemic. This production champions the belief and research [i] that shows alongside typical curriculum-based education, children need creative freedom, playfulness, and joyful exploration. Studies show that children are born to learn through play [ii] and that doing so improves cognitive, social, emotional and physical development, reduces stress and builds self-esteem and confidence [iii].
Child mental-health experts emphasised the importance of play in children’s development, urging schools to prioritise it over academic progress. At the time, Dr Jenny Gibson from the University of Cambridge, said: “It’s easy to dismiss play as unimportant, but for children, playing with friends and classmates has a very significant impact on their social development.”
On bringing the show to Scotland, director and lead creative Jack Kelly says: “We’ve performed at the Edinburgh Fringe before, but getting to explore more of Scotland on this tour feels really special. One of our cast, Jock – who plays Messy – is from Kirkcudbright, so this leg is a bit of a homecoming for him. It’s an area known for its artistic heritage, which makes it the perfect place to share a show all about creativity.
"Greenock’s got a fascinating cultural history too; from designer E. A. Taylor to singer Lena Zavaroni coming from there – and Ayr, with its stunning coastline and connection to the poet Robert Burns, feels like a must on any Scottish tour, especially with an artistic show like SPLAT! We’re all looking forward to soaking up the scenery, the stories, and, of course, a bit of Scottish hospitality!”
SPLAT! is coming to The Beacon Arts Centre on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July, Theatre Royal, Dumfries on Monday 7th July, The Gaiety Theatre, Ayr on Wednesday 9th July and The Corn Exchange, Haddington on Thursday 10th July 2025.
For tickets and more info, visit: https://www.ofthejackel.co.uk/splat-tour-025