Chickenshed has been making groundbreaking and entertaining theatre for children and adults for over 40 years, and we offer a huge range of productions and activities across the whole year. Our theatre is located right on the border of Enfield and Barnet, and we’d love to welcome you soon!
We are a friendly and creative space for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, with an absolutely unique inclusive way of working, and we are proud to present over 350 shows a year in our various performance spaces – starting from playful sensory shows for our very youngest audiences (aged just 0-3!), to our long-running show Tales from the Shed (for ages 0-6) and with an amazing array of other family shows and dramas.
We also run weekly sessions allowing children and young people to be part of Chickenshed by becoming members of our Children’s and Youth Theatre groups (and to perform in our shows), plus there are regular drop-in sessions on Saturdays and activities during school holidays (all of which feature the Chickenshed trademarks of performance, singing, dance, drama, movement and more.)
But that’s not all – we’re also an educational establishment, with over 200 students! We offer a unique opportunity to learn and perform in a working theatre. We provide three nationally accredited education courses at Foundation Degree, Level 3 and BA level – and we are rated ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED and in partnership with Middlesex University.
And there are plenty of opportunities for adults too – we run adult theatre workshops and a weekly fun community choir, and we have literally hundreds of volunteers!
Check out our website for more details, and see what Chickenshed could be for you…
What’s On:
Waiting for the Ship to Sail
12 – 28 Mar
Rayne Theatre
Chickenshed presents an artistic response to the urgent and pressing questions of global migration, and investigates the concepts of national and personal identity.
We find ourselves in a world where the building of walls – both in reality and figuratively – places ever more barriers between people who have more in common than it might at first appear. This powerful new musical and dance production will offer new perspectives on the forces driving both individual and mass migration, as well as telling the story of families directly affected. Thrillingly told with the urgency of youthful voices, this promises to be an unforgettable piece, very much in the style of What’s On Stage Offie award-winning ‘Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow’.
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/waiting-for-the-ship-to-sail
Monolog 3
Tue 11 – Sat 22 Feb
Studio Theatre
Chickenshed’s season of theatrical monologues returns to our Studio Theatre.
Drawn from a diverse range of people and voices, expect the unexpected as we again present a uniquely varied programme, demonstrating the versatility of this most simple and yet versatile theatrical form.
4**** The Stage (monolog 2, 2019)
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/monolog3
Tales from the Shed – Spring Season
24 Jan – 14 Mar
Tickets: Adults & Children £6 | Free to babies under 6mths
Tales from the Shed are vibrant, interactive theatre shows that are perfect for young children.
They are informal, lively and amazingly engaging as the performers and audience share the same space – children are always encouraged to make a lot of noise and to make the story happen. We guarantee that every show will be fun, really silly and that there will be plenty of colourful puppets and live songs.
Every week we present different stories featuring the same much loved characters – from Can-Can the beautiful bird to laid back Lion Down and The Thing That Goes Blurgh
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/tales-spring20
Planet Play – Spring Season
Every Friday – 24 Jan – 13 Mar
Tickets: Adults & Children £6 | Free to babies under 6mths
Welcome to Planet Play our magical world of sensory learning, wonder and exploration, for babies and toddlers aged 0-3 years. These 45 minute sessions will encourage young children to develop and explore the world around them through song, music, movement and a truly sensory experience.
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/planet-play-spring20-season
Tales from the Round Table
14 Apr – 19 Apr
Come and attend to our Arthurian Tales – with dragons!
Meet Guinevere, Merlin, King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Morgan Le Fay, the Lady in the Lake and the legendary sword Excalibur – as you’ve never seen them before! Each tale has been created by a different writer or artist, and these will combine to deliver a fantastically fun and unforgettable take on some of the best known stories from history and fable.
Using a wide range of storytelling techniques, with music, puppetry and movement, this will be a magical treat for children and adults to enjoy together!
Dates: Tue 14 – Sun 19 Apr
Times: Tue – Fri 11.30am & 1pm | Sat & Sun 10am, 11.30am & 1pm
Running Time: 60 mins
Ages: 3-7 years
Tickets: Adults & Children £7 | Free to babies under 6mths
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/tales-round-table
Baby Broadway
2 Apr
We are delighted to be welcoming back our Baby Broadway friends.
Enjoy well-known musical numbers from your favourite shows and films, all performed by amazing West End singers. You can also expect bubbles, puppetry, dance moves and lots of audience interaction – join in as much or as little as you want to!
All ages are welcome – babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and even grandparents!
To find out more about Baby Broadway, visit their website
Dates: Thu 2 Apr
Performance times: 10am & 11.15am
Running time: 45mins
Tickets £6 | Free to babies under 6mths
Ages 0-6yrs
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/baby-broadway-apr20
MUSIC:
Paul Jones and Dave Kelly Sing the Blues
25 Jan – 7.30pm
Tickets: From £20
Paul Jones & Dave Kelly – A harmonica, a guitar, two authentic Blues voices and a repertoire of songs and stories from a life in the Blues Business!
In UK popular culture dynamic duo’s loom large – Sam and Dave, Wallace and Gromit, Batman and Robin, Chas and Dave, Morecombe and Wise, Lennon and McCartney… and The Hairy Bikers! The list is long and impressive. But, when it comes to the Blues, Paul Jones and Dave Kelly reign supreme. The Blues is more popular today than it has ever been. Young musicians ‘cut their teeth’ on its enticing appeal, but its real rewards – true virtuosity, poise and knowledge – only come with age!
A live acoustic show by this dynamic duo is pure joy, and a must for every true fan of the Blues.
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/paul-jones-and-dave-kelly-sing-the-blues
Some Kinda Wonderful – Celebrating the Music of Stevie Wonder
8 Mar – 7.30pm
Tickets: From £20
Mesmerising vocalist Noel McCalla and award-winning saxophonist Derek Nash – with a stunning band of world-class instrumentalists – bring new life to Stevie Wonder’s most popular hits and the very best of the maestro’s lesser known songs.
“Nash is breathtaking” The Times
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/some-kinda-wonderful-a-tribute-to-stevie-wonder
Bowie PR – Paul Roberts sings David Bowie
22 Mar – 7.30pm
Tickets: £20
Celebrating the incredible music of David Bowie, the late, great and unique master of modern pop culture.
From Space Oddity and smash hit Let’s Dance to the wonderful The Next Day, internationally-acclaimed British rock performer Paul Roberts and his band deliver songs from a dozen of Bowie’s classic albums.
Paul was the front man of The Stranglers between 1990 and 2006, appearing on and co-writing their studio albums Stranglers in the Night, About Time, Written in Red, Coup de Grace and Norfolk Coast. Famed for his high-energy performances, Paul now brings Bowie’s fabulous and inimitable songs to life with his band of leading musicians, moving seamlessly from one era to the other.
‘A fantastic evening. Brilliant show. Love it. Paul’s voice is superb and the whole band rocks.’
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/bowiepr-paul-roberts-sings-david-bowie
COMEDY:
Chickenshed comedy nights continue to deliver laughs, with some of the most exciting names around joining the line-ups!
Thurs 30 Jan – 8pm
LINE UP: MC Joe Bor
Nigel NG
Nigel Ng is a Malaysian stand-up comedian based in London. He made his TV debut in 2018 on Comedy Central in Rob Delaney’s Stand Up Central, shortly followed by Roast Battle. He had an incredible debut run at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival with his sell out show Culture Shocked, and to top it off, was nominated for the prestigious Best Newcomer award. He also makes content for Instagram and YouTube. Check them out and follow/subscribe!
“Holds the stage with smiling ease and impressive skill” – The Times
Mark O’Sullivan
Mark O’Sullivan is a fantastic comedian and actor. His most recent credit is as the leading role and writer for popular and laugh-out-loud Channel 4 show ‘Lee and Dean’.
“One of the funniest shows on TV” – Guardian
Paul F Taylor
The award winning Paul F Taylor is a one of the UK’s most original and distinctive stand-up performers. His unique brand of humour fuses quirky offbeat one liners with surreal and observational flights of fancy to fantastical effect.
“Wildly entertaining and absolutely funny” – Chortle
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/comedy-shed-14
Thurs 27 Feb – 8pm
LINE UP: MC TBC
Funmbi Omatayo
Funmbi Omotayo’s friendly, instantly likeable style won him the award for Best Newcomer at the Black Entertainment Comedy Awards. He has since gone on to win the prestigious Leicester Square New Act of the Year competition in 2012; shortly after becoming joint winner of Amused Moose’s Laugh Off Competition in the same year.
“A charming young comic…he’s got the jokes to back up his charm. Soon, he could be playing to thousands” – Time Out
Steve Best
Steve Best has been a stand-up comedian for over 20 years. Steve has performed all over the world including South Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bosnia, South Africa, Holland, Denmark, The Falkland Islands, and Southend-on-Sea. He plans to go further afield. He has been on huge nationwide tours with Frank Skinner, Craig Charles and Omid Djalili. He has been on TV (a few times).
“Rip-roaringly funny. See him!” – The Guardian
Nick Dixon
Nick Dixon is an exciting, unique and above all hilarious comedian. He recently smashed his second performance on the TV show Comedy Central at the Comedy Store. Nick was also chosen from his YouTube clip to write jokes on a new Disney movie with Hollywood superstar WILL SMITH!
“Hugely engaging” – The Times
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/comedy-shed-13
Thurs 2 Apr – 8pm
LINE UP: MC Joe Bor
Kae Kurd
Smart, sharp and brilliantly astute, Kae Kurd is a young British-Kurdish stand up making a serious name for himself. Passionate about making politics accessible to his peers, his comedy presents beautifully crafted slick routines with confident cutting edge flair.
“Soon to be a household name” Evening Standard
Maff Brown
Maff has been a support Act for Greg Davies, Andy Parsons, Terry Alderton, Michael Mcintyre, Jack Dee and Lucy Porter. He is a regular headliner and host of Comedy Store, Glees, Off the Kerb, Avalon, Highlights, Backyard, CKP Productions, CSE Military gigs as well as being the curator behind the award winning chain of Outside the Box Comedy Clubs.
“Want an all-out laugh-fest with gags-a-plenty? Maff is your man. A few months back I saw him tear the roof off, generating more joy, more laughter than any arena-selling comedian” – GQ Magazine
Lily Philips
Lily is one of the most exciting up and coming voices in comedy in the UK. She is a Funny Women 2018 finalist and has already filmed for Comedy Central online. A native Londoner, she originally trained and worked as a professional dancer and choreographer before finding that comedy was her preferred creative outlet.
‘Charming and moderately obscene’ – The Scotsman
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/comedy-shed-15
WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES – CHILDREN:
February Days
17 – 18 Feb
Over the course of an enjoyable day, through story-making, dancing, drama, singing and play, participants will work together to develop creative ideas.
“The children are looked after really well, the people who work with them are so happy and energetic. They just really enjoy themselves.” – Parent
Everyone is welcome regardless of experience. Participants will need to bring a packed lunch and snacks, and they will be supervised by Chickenshed staff during lunchtime and breaks. These workshops take place during February half term.
Tickets: £35 per day
Ages: 5-11yrs (from school Year 1 to Year 6) | Mon 17, Tue 18 Feb 10am – 4pm
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/february-days
Parent and Pre Schooler Yoga
14 Jan – 3 Apr
Connection and calm through yoga and mindfulness. No experience necessary, just a sense of fun! Poses can be adapted for different needs and abilities so everyone is welcome!
In these sessions, you and your children will be encouraged to explore your imaginations while learning new yoga poses on exciting adventures to the zoo, the farm, Africa, the rainforest, and even under the sea – the possibilities are endless!
Each session will incorporate fun breathing exercises and relaxation to teach children how they can regulate their own emotions, even at such a young age.
The aim is for everyone to leave feeling happy, calm and connected!
“Such a positive and empowering class. My daughter has benefited greatly from the sessions and looks forward to them each week. Bansi is a fantastic teacher and always comes up with new and interesting activities which engage the kids. We especially love the affirmations and have adopted them at home.”
Emma Gilbert
Dates: Tuesdays, 14, 21, 28 Jan | 4, 11, 18, 25 Feb | 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 March | Fridays, 17, 24, 31 Jan | 7, 14, 21, 28 Feb | 6, 13, 20, 27 March | 3 April
Time: 10am
Running time: 45mins
Tickets £6 (adults and children)
Recommended for children aged 2yrs to pre-school
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/parent-and-pre-schooler-yoga-fun
Splat! Exploring Art For Toddlers
16 Jan – 2 Apr
Your toddler can experiment with sensory art materials and have fun with different art processes in sessions led by artist Eden Silver-Myer.
Open-ended activities will be provided, allowing imagination and exploration to lead the way!
Each one of these fun sessions will feature a range of activities, including painting, drawing and modelling!
Dates: Thursdays: 16 Jan – 2 April
Time: 9:30am (50 mins)
Price: £8 per child
Age: 2-4yrs
Wear suitable clothes for messy play.
Toddlers must be supervised by a caregiver at all times.
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/splat-exploring-art-jan-20
Saturday Shift – Children’s Theatre Taster Workshop
25 Jan
Join us on Saturday 25 January for the Saturday Shift, brilliant afternoon sessions giving a flavour of Chickenshed’s Children’s Theatre through play, performance techniques and interactive workshop games, all run using Chickenshed’s unique inclusive methodology. Everyone, aged 5-8 or 9-12 is welcome regardless of experience.
Cost: £8 (subsidised places are available, please contact youngcompanyadmin@chickenshed.org.uk for more info)
Times:
- 1pm – 2.30pm (5-8yrs, from school Year 1)
- 3pm – 4.30pm (9-12yrs)
Suitable for: 5-8 year olds (from school Year 1) and 9-12 year olds.
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/saturday-shift-jan20
The Weekend Itch
8 Feb
Chickenshed practitioners are inviting young people age 12-17 who are interested in performing arts to spend an afternoon creating innovative theatre in our unique and inclusive environment.
Through a series of workshop games we will work together to create new pieces of theatre that draw upon your ideas. If you want to share and develop your passion for writing, performance, movement, music or simply have something to say and are ready to listen, then come along and get a flavour of what it’s like to be a member of our Youth Theatre here at Chickenshed.
I enjoyed working with new people and doing activities I hadn’t done before.
– Previous Itch Participant
Time: 1pm – 6pm
Tickets: £15
Age: 12-17 years
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/the-weekend-itch-feb-20
Easter Shed
6 – 9 Apr
Participants at this brilliant week-long event will explore and develop a wide range of performance skills through workshops that involve drama, dance, singing and story-making.
Parents and friends will be invited in on the final afternoon to see a performance that has been devised throughout the week.
Everyone is welcome regardless of experience. Participants will need to bring a packed lunch and snacks, and they will be supervised by Chickenshed staff during lunchtimes and breaks.
Date: Monday 6 April – Thursday 9 April 2020 | 10am – 4pm
Suitable for: 5-11 year olds (from Year 1)
Tickets: £120 | 25% discount for siblings
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/easter-shed3
WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES – ADULTS
Musical Theatre Marathon
15 Mar
Ever wanted to be up there yourself? The smell of the grease paint, the roar of the crowd, and your name up in lights? Now is your chance! Come and join us on stage and experience what it feels like to be in a big musical theatre number.
This fun and exhilarating afternoon will centre around re-creating a stage hit from a musical- you will experience the camaraderie of being in an ensemble cast whilst being directed through character workshops and then on to staging and choreographing the final song.
The Day:
12.30pm: Arrive for registration
1-2pm: Warm ups and introduction to song
2-5pm: Rehearsals
5-6pm: Performance and fundraising activities (public)
6-7pm: Bar open to celebrate
Price: £25
Ages: 18+
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/musical-theatre-marathon
Yoga With Alis
23 Jan – 2 Apr
Ages: 18+ (for 16+ contact the Box Office, Year 12 and 13 only.)
There are different aspects of yoga including the physical postures, meditation, breath work and aspects that become a way of being and of living. In her classes, Alis incorporates the physical postures with meditation and breathing techniques to ensure participants enjoy a holistic class that will leave them feeling a greater sense of well being and fitness.
Dates: Thursdays: 23 Jan – 2 April (excluding 20 Feb)
Time: 7.30pm (1hr)
Tickets: £100 per 10 week term – £12 drop in.
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/yoga-with-alis-20
Sound Healing and Chi Gung
14 Jan – 24 Mar
Lina Spyrou specialises in Sound, Breath and Movement medicine.
In this course you will discover the healing power of Sound and the Voice. Come and experience a relaxing Sound Healing Meditation and learn Therapeutic Voice-work and Singing exercises.
You will enjoy Elemental Chi Gung and Dance Movement exercises to music, replenishing your energy and relaxing both body and mind.
This class is fully inclusive and suitable for complete beginners.
Dates: Tuesdays 14 Jan – 24 Mar (exc 18 Feb)
Time: 7pm – 8.15pm
Cost: £100 for 10 weeks | Click BOOK NOW button below to book a whole term
Or book pay as you go for £12 per session.
https://www.chickenshed.org.uk/Event/sound-healing-and-chi-gung
