Based in Wimbledon, London, Polka theatre is the UK’s first theatre designed for children up to age 12. After its two and a half-year closure, the renovated venue will now deliver family theatre and creative learning activities to its local community.
The new theatre is set to include an indoor play space; a sensory garden; a playground with a bespoke treehouse and climbing frame; a large and airy café; a rehearsal community space called The Nest. Accessibility is paramount in Polka Theatre’s new construction, and the eco-friendly building will house two auditoriums.
In addition to these features, inside the new Clore Learning Studio there will also be an interactive sensory suite for children with sensory and special education needs.
Polka have also announced the first production to take over the redeveloped venue, which is a physical storytelling promenade adventure title RED, which will be performed with British Sign Language. Directed by Hannah Quigley, the set and costume designer on the production is award-winning Rachana Jadhav, and the associate designer is Ben Glover.
Two new winter productions will also be performed in the venue: Cinderella: The AWESOME truth, and a fantastical reimagining of the Christmas Eve poem The Night Before Christmas.
Polka’s artistic director Peter Glanville said: ‘The past 18 months have been particularly challenging for children and their families, so we are delighted to be able to reopen Polka, not only with a beautifully redeveloped building, but with a season of new productions designed to create memorable and inspirational experiences.’
Polka Theatre will reopen to the public on 16 August, and offer a selection of free activities for young children. For more information visit their website.