About

Travelling Light creates outstanding theatre for and with young people that inspires their thinking, engages their emotions and fires their imaginations.

Since 1984 we have sparked the creative journey of over one million young people in our locality of Barton Hill, throughout Bristol and beyond. Read about some of their stories.

We're a registered charity and part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio and Bristol City Council’s Cultural Investment Programme. We rely on our funders, donors, supporters and Friends to enable us to keep inspiring thousands of children and young people through theatre. Find out more about how to support us.

Our impact

Read our 2019-20 Impact Report here.

Between March and December 2019, we commissioned Evaluation Consultant, Nell Farrally, to co-ordinate a collaborative evaluation process. The purpose of the evaluation was to understand what children, young people and families think about Travelling Light’s Youth Theatre. Read the executive summary here - Understanding the Impact of Travelling Light's Youth Theatre.

Our Shows

Travelling Light creates award winning professional productions for young audiences.  Our shows capture the imagination of children, young people and their families throughout the UK and globally, and our work tours to theatres, arts centres, festivals, community venues and schools. For many of our audiences seeing one of our shows is their first experience of theatre and can inspire a lifetime’s enjoyment. Our work is nationally and internationally facing, while remaining embedded within our community of Barton Hill in Bristol.  Read more about our artistic practice.

Travelling Light has been at the forefront of professional Theatre for Young Audiences since 1984 and our work has won a range of accolades including OFFIE’s for Boing! (2017) and Cinderella: A Fairy Tale (2014), an Olivier nomination (2013), and International Theatre Critics awards (for Into the West and Clown). Read more about our history.

Visit our shows page to find out more about our current productions and check out our stories for behind the scenes insights into the making of our work.

Participation Programme

Travelling Light’s thriving and wide ranging participation programme offers creative experiences to children and young people aged from 7 to 25. Our programme is shaped by our Youth Board and is based on the principle that every child and young person is entitled to a safe space to play, use their imaginations and tell their stories.

From our base in Barton Hill, we proactively engage with children and young people who would otherwise have little or no access to arts and cultural activities. We are committed to supporting the next generation of artists and arts leaders by bringing together young people with the best artists and offering progression routes for young people through to careers in theatre.

Visit our take part pages to find out more about our opportunities for young people, including youth theatre, work with young people with additional needs, creative learning and projects.

Visit our stories page for an insight into our projects and the young people we work with.

Our team

Travelling Light has a small team of dedicated staff members who deliver our productions, engagement activities and management of the company. To get in touch with us visit the contact section of our website. We are supported by a large number of freelancers, casual employees and associate artists. Visit our jobs and opportunities page for opportunities to join our team.

Our organisation is steered by a skilled and committed team of trustees and our Youth Board.