As one of the world's most inventive theatre companies, Cornwall-based Kneehigh was never going to let a thing like Covid 19 halt its creativity and outreach.

With physical rehearsals on pause for the moment, the team has burst onto an online scene with their “Windows to the World” daily challenges and story collections to inspire, gather and share talent of all people living in isolation.

Kneehigh's team was inspired by the creativity people were showing in places like Italy and Spain where music, performance and comedy from windows and balconies are spreading hope, connection with others and moments of joy. It took just five days from initial brainstorming to going live with director and actor Kyla Goodey's first Creative Challenge.

This was inspired by her love of agricultural shows, the Stithians Show in particular (this July's has sadly just been cancelled), and the quirky competition found there of creating characters out of vegetables.

Kyla, from “isolation” at her Penryn home, kicked off the challenge by turning a butternut squash into “Lady Miss Juwa Juwa” and sending her with her friends for a picnic at Carn Brea. There have been some fantastic responses so far – a selection of which can be seen on Kneehigh's Twitter feed.

“These are unprecedented times and as a cultural organisation we have a remit to respond to what's happening in the world,” says Kneehigh's Director of Coastal Communities, Charlotte Bond. “People may feel stuck at home but we don't want them to be sad or bored, lonely or anxious. It's a unique time but we can still be creative, or funny or silly – all together.”

Each weekday morning over the next few weeks Kneehigh will be setting some bonkers and brilliant creative challenges. From puppet-making to poetry, one of the talented team will take to the Kneehigh YouTube channel at 9am to demonstrate a creative skill and set a challenge. All results can be shared with #KneehighWindows and the team will share their favourites.

Kneehigh also have a collection of stories from Kneehigh writer Anna Murphy that you can watch and listen to on Youtube and on their free story app.

The Walk With Me tales are compiled from a decade of Anna's walks along the roads less travelled, collecting and wildly exaggerating the stories she finds along the way. Some are animated, some are accompanied by beautiful 'moving postcards'. Funny, magical and often moving, the stories spring from local knowledge and the history of the cliffs and beaches and towns of Cornwall. Search Kneehigh Walk With Me in the app store and listen to all the stories in armchair mode, or go to Kneehigh's YouTube channel @WeAreKneehigh to watch the moving postcards.

“No-one knows how long the coronavirus restrictions will last, but this feels like a good way that we can respond.” says Charlotte. “Stay tuned, stay safe and keep your curtains open.”

#KneehighWindows

ENDS 

Notes to Editors

Photos and imagery – please find a selection at  https://www.dropbox.com/sh/20zvf2omtctntb3/AACy0mtPDwjW3ouokwj3HMSIa?dl=0       - all free to use, courtesy of Kneehigh. A picture credit for Steve Tanner very much appreciated.

#KneehighWindows

The Windows to the World project is part of Kneehigh's Coastal

Communities Programme

Director of Coastal Communities: Charlotte Bond

Lead Artist: Anna Murphy

Produced by: Gabby Vautier & Kyla Goodey

Films edited by: Brett Harvey

Title music by Alex Lupo and Dom Coyote

Kneehigh's Coastal Communities Programme is supported by The Coastal Communities Fun, and generous donations from Kneehigh Friends and Family.

​Kneehigh is supported by Arts Council England and Cornwall Council.

https://www.kneehigh.co.uk/cornwall/

Contacts:-

Kneehigh – Chloe Rickard -  chloerickard@kneehigh.co.uk      - or 07878907396

Louise Midgley Communications – louise@midgleycomms.co.uk or 07831696093 or 01326 319884