Our Hectic Half Term!

Wow, what a busy, action-packed half term week!

Our second round of Rekindle library events took place over October half term, and we were overjoyed at how successful they were, with every show seeming busier than the last. With 7 Rekindle shows, 5 community promoter shows and 2 film events taking place over 7 days, it was a hectic week for the Black Country Touring team and our community promoters.

Rekindle is a three-year project funded by Arts Council England and led by Creative Arts East, which sees us collaborating with Sandwell Library Service to bring more creativity and culture into five Sandwell libraries: Smethwick, Central, Wednesbury, Glebefields and Blackheath libraries. Our first round of Rekindle shows took place at these libraries in July, with a tour of The Head Gardener - a delightful theatre show that digs deep into the reasons why we could all do with a bit more horticulture in our lives.

In this second round of Rekindle shows, we were transported back in time to meet icons of the jazz age in Time Travelling with the Jazz Queens, we got up close and personal with a rhino and orangutan in The Zoo That Comes To You, and we made friends with a cheeky magpie in Along Came A Magpie. It was incredible to see how well attended these shows were, with an audience total of 386 across all of the Rekindle events during this week. We were blown away by the enthusiasm of the audiences, and it really emphasised the importance of our work in these family-friendly community spaces.

We’re already thinking about our future events in Sandwell’s libraries, so keep your eyes peeled for updates on our social media and our website, and keep visiting your local libraries!

“The Zoo That Comes To You” by Scarlet Oak Theatre at Glebefields Library