"You don't stop playing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw

At HandMade Theatre we believe that play and creativity are vital components of everyone’s life, and everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy them, no matter what their financial, physical, psychological or societal situation.

Play supports healthy intellectual, emotional and social development in children and young people. Creativity helps to free the mind in ways that allows the mind to absorb information more easily, enabling the learning process and alternative ways of thinking. It helps create empathy, problem-solving and can unblock old patterns of habits of thinking. Both can nurture our confidence, curiosity and connections with others. They can give people a voice and allow the expression of ideas, thoughts and visions about the world. They are also really good fun!

“Play in all its rich variety is one of the highest achievements of the human species, alongside language, culture and technology. Indeed, without play, none of these other achievements would be possible.” David Whitbread