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Cahoots NI has lead the way in the arts and health sector with a brand new and unique community outreach project – The Bumblebee Orchestra - which has just completed a tour of Respite Care Units for disabled children and hospices for terminally ill children throughout Northern Ireland.
The Bumblebee Orchestra - The participation and closeness of interaction seemed highly effective, as did the fact that the children were able to enjoy the performance.
'The Bumblebee Orchestra' features giant, musical bumblebees, who are keen to find some new recruits for their orchestra. The wonderfully funny and entertaining performance is brought to life by four performers, who engage the young audiences through puppetry, live music, magical illusion, song, dance and comedy. It is a highly interactive piece enjoyed by small groups of children in common rooms at the hospices and day centres.
The project created an atmosphere of fun and a little bit of magic within the facilities it visited, bringing light relief and a distraction from the often difficult conditions that the children face on a daily basis. Performances also developed a shared experience with other patients, medical staff and visitors.
The Bumblebee Orchestra has sprung from the success of Cahoots NI’s ongoing Bedside Theatre project, recently nominated along with only nine other projects across the UK in the Best Health category of the National Lottery Awards 2007. Bedside Theatre completed its fifth tour to hospitals in Northern Ireland alongside The Bumblebee Orchestra tour this October.
This follows the international success of Bedside Theatre, which showcased at the first conference on arts and health care in Malta, the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Centre – the largest children’s cancer ward in the USA and the Children’s Hospital in Washington DC as part of the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme of events.
Paul McEneaney, Artistic Director of Cahoots NI explains.
"I am delighted that Cahoots NI is able to continue its work with children in hospices and respite units. There has been an overwhelming response to this aspect of the company’s work and it really does make a difference to the patients and their carers.
The company is committed to providing high quality theatre experiences for children."
Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said,
"Art has a significant role to make today’s healthcare facilities as welcoming as possible and can play a real part in better patient outcomes. Following on from Cahoots NI’s success of Bedside Theatre the Arts Council is delighted with the introduction of The Bumblebee Orchestra.
"I have no doubt that their unique performances will continue to lift the spirits of children and families inhealthcare environments and offer a rewarding experience for everyone involved."
Response from Beechfield Children’s Respite Unit, Bangor said:
"The project was extremely positive for all the children and staff due to all the interaction involved. All the children were very animated, captivated and enthralled throughout, particularly one child who we did not expect to react positively to the experience.
"The participation and closeness of interaction seemed highly effective, as did the fact that the children were able to enjoy the performance. Amazing, brilliant, fantastic!"
Cahoots NI plan to tour The Bumblebee Orchestra extensively over the next few years in a rolling programme that seeks to deliver its very own magic medicine with a massive dose of laughter.
For further information, please contact Cahoots NI on (028) 90 43 43 49
Cahoots NI is a professional touring children’s theatre company based in Belfast whose target audience is young children accompanied by parents/carers. The company aims to inspire young imaginations through theatre; to generate new, young audiences; to enthuse children from across the social sphere about the arts and to nurture the creative potential of children. All Cahoots NI productions are supported by an extensive education and outreach programme comprising workshops and various resources.
Since its formation in 2001 the company’s touring productions have met with considerable critical acclaim both nationally and internationally. Cahoots NI’s most recent production, ‘The Flea Pit’ was part of the Belfast Festival at Queens staged in The Little Pavilion in Botanic Gardens and was a huge success. Previous productions include ‘Cuchulain: The Hound of Ulster’ which was a world premiere of the adventures of Ireland’s first super-hero. It toured Ireland and travelled to Washington DC, USA in Mar/Apr 2007. ‘Only Beelieve’ was a sell-out success and performed at Belfast Festival at Queen’s in October 2006 and as part of the Celebrate Belfast 2006 programme.
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