Behind the Curtain: Platform 3’s first Christmas show was a huge success!

Thanks to support from Arts Council England, we were thrilled to present the first Platform 3 Christmas show last December, a perfect introduction to theatre for our younger audience. 

Hare and Tortoise was an interactive, accessible, musical play that travelled through the seasons, providing a welcome reminder that life should be cherished and taken at a pace instead of being rushed through. 

Over one thousand audience members joined us at the Pavilion Arts Centre for public performances, where the audience were closely involved with the show, participating throughout and strumming their very own air guitars, clapping to the songs and counting along with the characters. 

The production also presented thirteen additional performances as part of it’s schools tour, consisting of another one thousand audience members across the High Peak, Derbyshire Dales and Cheshire. Marching, exercising, hide and seek and water pistols filled school halls with cheering and excitement.

Whilst the support for the Hare and Tortoise characters differentiated between each performance, the enthusiasm to get involved remained consistent. “Come again next year,” shouted an enthusiastic student as the company were taking their bow. The teachers were equally impressed, describing the experience as ‘magical.’

The Hare and Tortoise company also visited the Gables Residential Home and Haddon Hall Care Home, receiving a warm welcome at both venues.

‘Charming,’ ‘engaging,’ and ‘genius’ were just a few of the words our older audience members used to describe the performance as they left the theatre. The children meanwhile showed their praise, as they stayed behind to get a photo and high five from the Hare and Tortoise!

We’d like to offer a huge thank you to our welcoming schools, care homes and lovely audiences we encountered across the Christmas season. Keep your eyes peeled for information on next year’s show.