the wonderful beast arts hub
bringing to life some of the oldest stories in the world
After two and a half decades of staging productions, touring nationally, staging our own festivals, producing community operas, running storytelling and outreach projects for all ages, Wonderful Beast has amassed a huge archive of material and experience.
As of 2023 Wonderful Beast has been transformed into an arts hub: a rich and invaluable resource for schools, arts organisations, individuals, writers, composers, and performers, as well as a facility for providing practitioners on request for specific projects. Click here for our artists and facilitators.
OUR HISTORY
Wonderful Beast theatre company was founded by Artistic Director Alys Kihl in 1997, with a group of artists (including the poet Adrian Mitchell and the actor, Roger Lloyd Pack) all passionate about bringing myths, legends, folk and fairy tales to audiences of all ages, in the belief that these stories are for everyone. The company relocated to Suffolk in 2005.
PERFORMANCE
Wonderful Beast has staged a wide-ranging variety of performances for all ages, including babies. Often taking place in unusual or site-specific venues, our actors, storytellers, musicians, singers and dancers contributed their gloriously diverse talents in bringing these universal stories to life. Its outreach work with schools and communities has been nationwide, focused most recently on East Suffolk.
Wonderful Beast has collaborated with a range of organisations and venues including The Rosemary Branch, Southwark Playhouse, Gate Theatre and the Almeida Theatre. We've toured the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and taken part in the Jaipur Festival. Wonderful Beast has collaborated with English Touring Opera Company, Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Council, Britten-Pears Arts, Suffolk Artlink, Pro Corda, Suffolk Libraries, Creative Futures London, HighTide Festival, the Association for Suffolk Museums, Thorington Theatre and many more.
Wonderful Beast has always believed in the power of participatory arts projects to transform lives, generate confidence, joy and well-being.
As of 2023 Wonderful Beast has been transformed into an arts hub: a rich and invaluable resource for schools, arts organisations, individuals, writers, composers, and performers, as well as a facility for providing practitioners on request for specific projects. Click here for our artists and facilitators.
OUR HISTORY
Wonderful Beast theatre company was founded by Artistic Director Alys Kihl in 1997, with a group of artists (including the poet Adrian Mitchell and the actor, Roger Lloyd Pack) all passionate about bringing myths, legends, folk and fairy tales to audiences of all ages, in the belief that these stories are for everyone. The company relocated to Suffolk in 2005.
PERFORMANCE
Wonderful Beast has staged a wide-ranging variety of performances for all ages, including babies. Often taking place in unusual or site-specific venues, our actors, storytellers, musicians, singers and dancers contributed their gloriously diverse talents in bringing these universal stories to life. Its outreach work with schools and communities has been nationwide, focused most recently on East Suffolk.
Wonderful Beast has collaborated with a range of organisations and venues including The Rosemary Branch, Southwark Playhouse, Gate Theatre and the Almeida Theatre. We've toured the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and taken part in the Jaipur Festival. Wonderful Beast has collaborated with English Touring Opera Company, Babergh & Mid Suffolk District Council, Britten-Pears Arts, Suffolk Artlink, Pro Corda, Suffolk Libraries, Creative Futures London, HighTide Festival, the Association for Suffolk Museums, Thorington Theatre and many more.
Wonderful Beast has always believed in the power of participatory arts projects to transform lives, generate confidence, joy and well-being.
core teamArtistic Director: Alys Kihl
Production Manager: Emma Close-Brooks artists and facilitators |
pAST PatronsSimon Callow CBE
Caryl Churchill Gemma Jones Miranda Raison Dame Marina Warner Dame Penelope Wilton |
recent board membersLucy Rowan-Robinson (Chair)
Beth Franklin Fernanda Herford Loesje Houghton Aly Tipping |
