Chickenshed facts for kids

Chickenshed is a special British theatre company. It's based in Southgate, London. What makes Chickenshed unique is that it welcomes everyone, no matter their background or ability. They believe that theatre should be for all!

Chickenshed has many programs for young people. They run four Children's theatre groups and two Youth theatre groups for ages 5 to 21. They also have fun Saturday and holiday workshops for younger kids (5-12 years). Adults can join performance and singing workshops too. Plus, Chickenshed offers special courses in performing arts, from college-level (BTEC) up to university degrees (BA Hons). These courses teach people how to perform in an inclusive way.

Chickenshed was started in 1974 by a teacher named Mary Ward and two composers, Jo Collins and Anthony Filby. It all began in an old chicken barn in Barnet, which is how it got its name! Mary Ward discovered that children learned best through drama. She saw how kids who struggled in other subjects really shined when they could create their own work. At Chickenshed, the plays are made to fit the people performing, not the other way around.

Today, Chickenshed has a modern theatre building in Southgate. It has four different performance areas:

• The Rayne Theatre, which can seat 300 people.
• A smaller Studio Theatre.
• An Amphitheatre for outdoor shows.
• A Bar/restaurant that often hosts music and comedy nights.

Chickenshed also has a branch in Kensington and Chelsea. Since 2000, they have helped set up 19 other "Sheds" across the UK and two in Russia! These "Sheds" are trained by Chickenshed but then run on their own. They all share the same idea of inclusive theatre. Chickenshed is a registered charity. Its official name is The Chickenshed Theatre Trust.

In 1996, Mary Ward received a special award called the MBE for her work in the arts. In 1999, she got a Creative Britons Award for her 25 years with the theatre. Jo Collins, another co-founder, also received an MBE in 2001 for her contributions to music.

Chickenshed has performed at many big events. This includes Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee celebrations in 2002. In 2004, they put on a show about J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan at the Albery Theatre in London. This show helped raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, a famous children's hospital.

Lou Stein became the artistic director of Chickenshed on April 4, 2016. He helps guide the creative side of the theatre.

Music at Chickenshed

Music is a big part of Chickenshed. The first musical writers were Jo Collins and Anthony Filby. They formed a company called Colby Music and published many musicals that Chickenshed performed. Now, the music team has grown a lot!

In December 1997, Chickenshed released a song called "I Am In Love With The World." It was sung by children from the theatre. The song was even considered a possible Christmas number-one single in the UK! It reached #15 on the chart and stayed in the Top 75 for six weeks. This song was also included on Diana, Princess of Wales: Tribute, a charity album made after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Princess Diana was a royal patron of Chickenshed, meaning she supported them, and it was one of her favorite charities. Dame Judi Dench, a famous actress, is also a great supporter of Chickenshed.

In late 2003, Chickenshed released The Chicken Shed Album. This album celebrated the theatre company's 30th anniversary. Many famous supporters contributed to the album, including Cliff Richard, Emma Bunton, Bob Hoskins, and Kenneth Branagh. The album also featured three songs by Chickenshed itself. Jo Collins and Chickenshed later recorded another song, "Talk Through Me," for the 2007 show tunes album Over the Rainbow. This song helped raise money for The Association of Children's Hospices.

Chickenshed Music List

Here are some of the songs and albums released by or featuring Chickenshed:

"Have A Heart At Christmas" (single, 1994)

• "Have A Heart At Christmas"
• "Rhapsody In Blue" (featuring Larry Adler)
• "I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise" (featuring Larry Adler & Issy van Randwyck)

"I Am In Love With The World" (single, 1997)

• "I Am In Love With the World"
• "Don't Know If I Believe In Christmas"
• "Little Tommy"
• "Chicken Menace"

The Chicken Shed Album (album, 2003)

• "Watch Me Come Alive" - Cliff Richard
• "As Far as the Eye Can See" - Gabrielle
• "I Am In Love With the World" - Chicken Shed
• "Sometimes" - Emma Bunton
• "The Wedding Dance" - Dmitry Sitkovetsky
• "Can I Love Him?" - Sam Brown
• "Bits and Pieces" - Bob Hoskins
• "Trail My Soul" - Chicken Shed
• "Looking For Love" - Richard O'Brien
• "Will It Happen To Me?" - Barbara Dickson
• "Elijah" - Kenneth Branagh
• "First Love" - Chicken Shed
• "Mad Little Sad Boy" - Kenneth Branagh
• "Still Waters" - Misty Oldland
• "We Need Each Other" - Elaine Paige
• "Dream a We Real Yew" - Kenneth Branagh