Led by an enthusiastic chief caretaker, the team demonstrate their cleaning abilities to the audience with singing and dancing. But one of the caretakers is rebellious and causes a stir by finding a pink rubber glove amongst the yellow ones. This discovery sets off a celebration of mess which delights the rest of the crew but shocks the chief. The mess gets so big that it consumes the chief and transforms them into a multi-coloured messy creature. They are delighted! A carnival begins. Everyone celebrates the fun that unexpected, messy situations can bring.
produced by
MESS
a bold, playful and emotionally engaging theatre performance. Made for young audiences (age 5-18) with complex additional support needs, and their families.
MESS
tells the story of how an ordinary day in the life of a team of caretakers turns unpredictable when, for the first time ever, they attempt to clean a space which has people in it.
MESS
features comedy, surprise, celebration and mild peril!
MESS
has a running time of 35 minutes
Synopsis
Tour
Since 2019 MESS has toured to SEN schools and families’ gardens across Scotland, and to North Edinburgh Arts, Beacon Arts Centre, Macrobert, Platform, Eden Court, and Glasgow International Comedy Festival.
Information for MESS audiences
MESS is a highly sensory, stimulating experience with socially-distanced audience interaction throughout. There are frequent moments of stillness and silence to allow the audience time to process, engage and respond in their own ways. We celebrate and include any and all responses.
Before you arrive
We suggest you listen to the short music clip below. Early in the performance, each audience member will be invited to control the caretakers’ singing by pressing a big mack button which plays this music. If you have a big mack button at home you could record this clip onto your button to listen at home and familiarise yourself with the sound.
We suggest you watch these films which introduce the world of MESS
Shows will begin at the times advertised.
Please feel free to arrive early if you need to get settled, use the bathroom or see the space before the show begins. For outdoor performances, please come prepared for the Scottish weather! We will provide umbrellas if it rains. Please bring your own blankets if you feel it might get cold.
When you arrive
Head for the MESS muster point. There you’ll be greeted by the Chief. He’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.
We want to ensure our audience are safe and comfortable. We will check in with families prior to the performance to learn about specific children’s needs which may affect our interactions with them. Audience members are absolutely free to come and go during the show if they need to. For example, if a young person becomes over-stimulated or unsure.
Objects
Press to find out what's inside
The Chief will give each family a bucket of objects. You keep these with you during the performance.
In the bucket you will find:
- A Big Mack button
- A pink rubber glove
- A sponge
During the show
At points during the show our caretakers will invite you to use each object at specific points during the performance. Our caretakers will clearly indicate when it’s time to use them. If you or your child does not want to use the objects, that’s absolutely fine. There is no "right" way to interact with these objects and our caretakers will help you to explore them.
SHOW CONTENT
- non-verbal
- amplified sound
- lighting effects: mirrors and LEDS. No flashing lights
- harmony singing
- objects for the audience to touch: big mack button, rubber glove, vibrating speaker
After the show
We encourage you to take the pink glove home with you as a memento and a playful opportunity to keep exploring MESS together!
Covid-secure performances
Where?
MESS is performed outside and in theatre spaces across Scotland
Social Distancing
Performances will be socially distanced with performers maintaining a distance of 2m from the audience.
Audience bubbles
Shows have a maximum capacity of 3 families. You will be seated together.
Keeping our audiences and creative team safe
Covid safety officer - Mickey Graham
All sites are fully risk assessed. The cast and creative team are socially distanced when not performing. Cast and creative team wear masks when not performing. There is no prop sharing between cast members. Performers have masks ready should an audience member approach them directly. Cast members are temp checked daily and lateral flow checked weekly before indoor performances
Comments
What people are saying about MESS
“The best show ever”
Audience Scotland Tour 2021
“Such a simple but effective way to allow a child to shine”
Audience Scotland Tour 2021
“It was wonderful. There’s nothing else like that for her”
Audience Scotland Tour 2021
"I cannot overstate how highly my pupils and staff team would recommend Tenterhooks for a fully inclusive drama visit. I’ve never seen such a phenomenal performance. Blown away today."
Langlands Primary, Glasgow
"A captivating performance for the adults and children. Great interaction with individual children. Engaging children who are normally apprehensive in that environment."
Castleview School, Stirling
"Kinetic musical nonsense! (In a really good way!)"
Parklands School, Helensburgh
"This is the first theatre experience that has really and truly met the needs of our pupils with more complex needs. Please come back and visit us again soon"
Carrongrange High School, Grangemouth
MESS Creative Team
MESS was originally conceived by Ben Winger and developed by the creative team in collaboration with pupils and staff at Mavisbank School, Airdrie
Produced by
Scottish Theatre Producers
Devisers/Performers
Ben Winger, Diane Thornton, Suzie Ferguson, Kerry Cleland, Ronan McMahon, Carmen Pieraccini, Lucy McGreal
Designer/Maker
Fergus Dunnet
Composer
John Kielty
Outside Eye
Anna Newell
Creative Consultants
The pupils and staff of Oaklands School, Edinburgh
MESS 2021 Tour Production Stage Manager
Mickey Graham
MESS-adapted Sound Design
Bal Cooke
MESS-adapted Lighting Design
James Johnson
MESS 2021 Tour photographs by
Eoin Carey
2019-20 SEN schools tour photographs by
Mihaela Bodlovic
2019-20 SEN schools tour filming by
Twin City Pictures
Covid-secure performances were developed in consultation with families from Mavisbank School, Airdrie; Riverbrae School, Linwood; and Hazelwood School, Glasgow.
Thanks to National Theatre of Scotland, Southside Studios Glasgow, Surge Scotland, Beacon Arts Centre, MacRobert, Platform, NEA, Eden Court, GTAC.