A World with No Trees: A family interactive adventure
Travel forward 300 years in a time machine. When you step out, life is different. All humans now live on boats and you are tasked with the role of Earth Protectors. Get to your boat to hear your mission. You must find the last plant on Earth and take it back 300 years to 2023. But first you must solve a series of number codes, through mini-missions on boats and islands in this future world, but BEWARE OF A SHARK ATTACK!
A World with No Trees takes families with young children on an escape-room style adventure, solving clues, number puzzles and physical challenges, whilst avoiding the sharks. The journey’s steps take them through counting games, developing hand-to-eye coordination and balance, remembering, listening to clues, and using their imagination to unlock the last plant on earth.
This was beautifully prepared and very clever. Both myself and N loved it. He’s even been telling people how sad it is to cut trees down, but not to worry, we can find a Time Machine!!
Parent and son
Produced with Lewisham Children and Family Centres, we took over the family room at Evelyn Children and Family Centre for Summer 2022 and transformed it into another world. Once it was ready to launch, we trained the LCFC staff team to facilitate the space. The experience was topped-and-tailed by a foyer full of information on how to become more environmentally aware as a family, everyone leaving with their Earth Protector badge and a pack of seeds to grow.
This has enabled us to bring this exciting and innovative programme to our Evelyn Children and Family Centre.
By opening children’s eyes to the wonder of the world through this amazing and immersive play adventure, we can help to support their understanding of how important it is to protect our precious planet and its resources.
Val Pope, Early Years Alliance
We were funded by - and part of celebrating - Lewisham as London Borough of Culture 2022. This was the culmination of 4 years of TDLP (now Curious Families UK) and LCFC working together to provide families with creative and playful solutions to family everyday life, from Creative Chefs to Routine Rebels, from first moves with your baby to outdoor walks to find Trolls, we are proud to have reached thousands of families during lockdown and beyond, through online and face-to-face sessions, in partnership with LCFC.
Proud to have Lewisham born and bred social enterprise TDLP producing quality theatre and activity for Borough of Culture in this family adventure. It is especially important to celebrate young families and children as cultural participants and support this through providing top quality and engaging, original theatre.
This flourishing partnership between sectors, culture and children’s services, offers families the benefit of cross-sector specialist skills which result in quality, innovative products like World with No Trees. Finding a way to tackle such a complex and daunting subject as climate change with young children and parents is challenging.
Theatre and play are gentle ways to opening up minds and giving children a voice and choice over small steps to protecting their planet.
Andy Thomas , Head of Culture, Lewisham Council
To discuss booking World with No Trees for your venue or centre please contact Sally-Anne at sally@tdlp.co.uk
Find further information and the Impact report here.
Written and Produced by Sally-Anne Donaldson
Designed by Jay Harris
Music and Sound by Lucy Shaw and Stephen Large
Illustration and Design by Elena Juzulenaite and Francesca Grassi
With special thanks to Val, Dawn and Jo from Lewisham Family and Children Centre