About

Our vision

A world where every child’s imagination is inspired by theatre.

Our mission

Travelling Light creates theatre with and for children and young people, lighting up imaginations and sparking creativity.

Our core values

Valuing children and young people: we listen to and champion children’s voices and enable them to shape, create and define the work that we make.

The rights of the child: we believe that every child is entitled to opportunities to create, imagine and experience great stories told through theatre.

Because of this we actively aim to reach children, young people and families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access theatre and creative opportunities.

Our artistic programme

Our artistic programme enables thousands of children each year to experience the joy of great stories told through theatre, as both creators and audiences.

Read more about our ethos and artistic practice here.

You can read more about our projects and latest stories here.

Shows

We ‘travel light’ taking theatre to where children are, especially aiming to reach children, young people and families who would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience theatre.

Our award-winning productions inspire the imaginations of children and their families, and are often children’s first experience of theatre.

Through our engagement with children and young people we create the best stories told through theatre, that inspire, engage and create moments of shared joy. Read more about our current and past shows.

Creative learning in schools, early years and education settings

We create theatre with and for children and young people in schools and early years settings, supporting the cultural entitlement of hundreds of pupils per year.

Our wide-ranging programme includes whole year group projects, bespoke workshops, creative play for early years and touring professional theatre into schools and early years settings.

Find out more about our creative learning projects.

Community

We create theatre with and for children and young people in our local community from our studio in Barton Hill, Bristol.

Our projects include our Youth Theatre and Louder than Words groups, a school holiday programme and community events.

Read more about our Youth Theatre, Louder Than Words and Community Programme.

Inspiring children’s imaginations since 1984

Travelling Light is 40 this year and we’ve been inspiring imaginations and sparking the creative journeys of over a million children and young people since 1984.

Read more about our birthday plans.

Awards: our work has won a range of accolades over the years, including OFFIE’s for Boing! (2017) and Cinderella: A Fairy Tale (2014), an Olivier nomination (2013), and International Theatre Critics awards (for Into the West and Clown). Read more about our history.

Our impact

Read our latest impact report for 2023-24 here.

“I’ve never seen anything like that before. That was amazing”. Year 1 child who had not seen any theatre previously, after seeing When the Birds Sang.

“This is the first club I have ever felt I fitted in.” Member of Louder Than Words.

"During lockdown my confidence went and I wasn't very confident when I came back to school. Travelling Light made a real difference to my confidence and I feel very confident again." Pupil taking part in our Light Up School Learning project.

“We live in a high-rise block of flats and we don’t have any garden. If St Luke’s and Travelling Light weren’t running this holiday club, he wouldn’t have space to run and play. He gets to be a child, he has freedom to be himself, it’s what every child needs." Parent

“It’s amazing and makes me feel great! I come to Travelling Light because I feel free when I act!" Member of 7-10s youth theatre.

You can read our Impact Reports from previous years via these links:
2022-23 | 2021-22 | 2020-21 | 2019-20

We are a registered charity and rely on our funders, donors, supporters and Friends to enable us to keep inspiring children and young people through theatre.

Find out how you can support us.

Our team

We have a small team of dedicated staff members who deliver our productions, participation activities and management of the company.

To get in touch with us visit the contact section of our website.

We are supported by many freelancers, casual employees and associate artists.

Visit our jobs and opportunities page for opportunities to join our team.

Our organisation is steered by a skilled and committed team of trustees.