THE TALKING HORSE

 
A NEW OUTDOOR THEATRE EXPERIENCE!

Theatre from a travelling horse-box…

Townsend Theatre Productions’ unveil their plans to make safe touring-theatre possible.
The horse-box transforms into the Talking Horse venue: a fully functioning, self-contained outdoor theatre space that will bring top quality professional performances to your doorstep!
the Talking Horse venue can pitch up and set up at any accessible outdoor space: gardens, car parks, playing fields, village greens, care homes and open up with additional portable staging, battery or silent generator-powered lighting & sound, with a covered ‘auditorium’ made up of large 5.5 M high red & yellow hexagonal big top tent with comfortable canvas chairs in a socially distanced set-up to safely seat an audience of thirty.
The horse-box itself will accommodate a box office/reception and a counter for refreshments, if necessary - coffee, soft drinks, cake, snacks, confectionary, etc.
the Talking Horse venue will be home to Townsend Theatre Productions’ specially created shows for outdoor performance, preserving the company’s engaging and interactive theatre style, making them accessible for all audiences, particularly for D/deaf and disabled audiences through signed performances and the addition of a portable hearing loop system.
the Talking Horse venue is also available for organisations to use where they see the potential benefit of reaching new audiences through staging professional and community performances at outdoor venues in their area. This could be achieved either in association with Townsend Theatre Productions or simple straightforward hire.

COVID-Secure Performances
The safety of our audiences, performers and practitioners is of paramount importance for Townsend Theatre Productions. For this reason, the company has been at the forefront of establishing Covid-safe performance protocols to develop guidance for safe practice for small-scale touring and has been involved in the first professional performance in a village hall since the beginning of the pandemic; a ‘pilot’ with Live & Local rural touring scheme, which was informed by the then-current government legislation relating to performing arts and community venues. The aim has been to test the viability of safe rural touring, to mitigate risk and to advise, provide assurance and instil confidence for audiences, promoters, volunteers, companies and the arts sector to participate in artistic activity.
the Talking Horse venue is guided, developed and operated using safe practice, adhering to current government guidance and legislation. Each performance is risk assessed and will maintain social distancing, sanitisation, enhanced cleaning, test and trace, clear signage, face coverings, ventilation, and so forth. Detailed information including full risk assessments and control measures are available on Townsend Theatre Productions’ website www.townsendproductions.org.uk, or on request by contacting the company’s own Health and Safety Officer at townsendproductions@hotmail.co.uk or 07949635910.

Health & Safety document