Soap Soup Theatre CIC are proud makers of innovative theatre for children and their families, and are dedicated to creating startling work that invites our audiences to co-create the worlds our stories inhabit. Our work is design led, offering a bold, unique visual language, so expect to see and hear creative, colourful design, beautiful puppets, and inventive object work.
We draw from our collaborators’ own passions and experiences to create work that is personal, intimate and a true shared experience.
This is theatre of the senses, and of the heart.
Over the years we have combined the talents of performers, beatboxers, musicians, clowns, puppeteers, puppet makers, set and costume designers, composers, sound and lighting designers, dramaturgs, story-tellers, textile artists, magicians and creative technologists. Our continued ambition is to evolve, learning more from each other and new collaborators to excel in making quality, risk-taking, unique work, with the audiences experience at the heart of what we do.
A show, picture book and a Theatrical Augmented Reality Experience
Arriving in a new city where it always rains, Kit is alone. Making friends is always hard, but here, it feels almost impossible. The rain beats down on the roof and drips down the window panes, trapping Kit in the quiet stillness of their dingy bedroom. But, one night, when idly scribbling to pass the time, the swirls and whirls on the page giggle into a life of their own, and a very unusual adventure unfolds!
Devised by one of North Somerset’s leading theatre makers for family audiences, Soap Soup Theatre combines high quality children’s theatre with the magic of projection mapping, bringing the vibrant illustrations from the book to life. Minny Stynker will bring you a completely unique theatre experience of the like you’ve never seen before.
The Minny Stynker project is a Picture Book, A theatre show and a Theatrical Augmented Reality Experience.
The 3 offerings are for everyone, but the AR experience is particularly for families caring for children with long term illness, and families who don’t feel comfortable in traditional theatre settings.
The Minny Stynker AR Experience is a picture book, when you pop on your headphones and look through your phone's camera using the App, the book comes to life! It is experienced like an audiobook, an animation and a video game combined. Illustrations move, characters talk, and magical things appear around you as you look through your device. The AR experience will be enjoyed in hospitals, care and hospice settings, as well as at home.
The show will be performed at mid scale venues nationally. The solo version will tour to community settings like libraries, schools and community centres.
Minny Stynker is currently in development and will be touring at a venue near you from May 2024.
In this project we will be:
Creating a Theatrical Augmented Reality (AR) experience App primarily for families caring for children with long term illnesses, families who don’t feel comfortable in traditional theatre settings as well as more typical theatre audience goers.
Premiering Minny Stynker at The Tobacco Factory Theatre main house in Bristol
4 weeks rehearsal with WIP showings.
Touring to 20+ venues nationally
Touring a reduced solo show and AR Experience pop-up to 4+ library networks in the South West
Self Publishing a picture book to use alongside the AR Experience as well as merchandise for the tour
Delivering a large-scale engagement programme for families caring for children with long term & chronic illness, schools, theatre clubs & community projects, creating & running accessible workshops, in person, live & online.
Delivering a large scale engagement programme at 2 schools and a host of community groups
Technical Manager/Tour Operator
We are looking for an experienced and well organised technical manager/tour operator for our latest show, Minny Stynker. We are particularly interested in hearing from Global Majority, Female and LGBTQ+ applicants.
In this project we will be:
Premiering Minny Stynker at The Tobacco Factory Theatre main house in Bristol
4 weeks rehearsal with WIP showings.
Touring to 20+ venues nationally
Touring a reduced solo show and AR Experience pop-up to 4+ library networks in the South West
Creating a Theatrical Augmented Reality (AR) experience App primarily for families caring for children with long term illnesses, families who don’t feel comfortable in traditional theatre settings as well as more typical theatre audience goers.
Self Publishing a picture book to use alongside the AR Experience as well as merchandise for the tour
Delivering a large-scale engagement programme for families caring for children with long term & chronic illness, schools, theatre clubs & community projects, creating & running accessible workshops, in person, live & online.
Delivering a large scale engagement programme at 2 schools and a host of community groups
The Technical managers role will involve:
Supporting/operating the Tech and Dress rehearsals
Building the QLab
Operating the show for the Premiere at the Tobacco Factory
Operating the show for the National tour
Leading the get-ins and Get-outs for the tour
Liaising with Venues re. technical requirements on tour
Required skills/experience:
Building and operating shows within QLab
Light, sound rigging
Touring small-mid scale theatre productions
Well organised, practical and a good communicator
Preferred Experience:
Projection mapping set up and operation
Full drivers licence
Van driving
Project Timeline:
Rehearsals 29th April-28th May
Premiere 29th May-1st June
Tour Dates:
PREMIERE May 29th- June 1st
15th June
July 13th
August 15th/16th/17th/18th
September 21st
October 12th/13th
October 19th
October 26th/27th
October 29th/30th
November 1st/2nd,
November 16th
2025
Feb 15/16/17th
Feb 19th/20th/22nd
Fee ITC Minimum rates: ÂŁ120 a day for 3 or less days and ÂŁ545 per week. Per diums and drivers allowance also paid.
email Tomasin at soapsouptheatrecompany@gmail.com with a CV and covering letter. Deadline 22nd of March
Interviews will take place week commencing the 25th of March
Marketing Officer
We are looking for a dynamic and media connected freelance Marketing Officer to join our team for our latest project, Minny Stynker. We are looking for a confident communicator & problem solver who is passionate about supporting the delivery of innovative, accessible work for young people & their families. We are particularly interested in hearing from Global Majority, Female and LGBTQ+ applicants.
Interviews will take place week commencing the 18th of March, to fill the position week commencing the 25th March
The Marketing Officers role will involve:
Supporting the Producers and Artistic Director with the creation of an Audience Development Plan
Leading the social media and marketing for our upcoming crowdfunding campaign
Advising on video content for all campaigns
Creating and sharing content on our social media platforms
Supporting the partner venues in marketing the show while on tour
Inviting and liaising with press
Leading an assertive media campaign to gain support for our Crowdfund including radio and TV
Sending print to all tour venues
Development of our Digital work programme
Fee ÂŁ150 a day for 13 days at ÂŁ2000 total. We may extend the contract if we are successful in raising more money for this role. Production meetings and sharings are paid with an additional fee of ÂŁ25 per meeting if not on a working day.
email Tomasin at soapsouptheatrecompany@gmail.com with a CV and covering letter
Performer/Puppeteer
We are looking for an excellent performer to rehearse, devise and perform in our new family show, Minny Stynker. The successful candidate will be a multi role performer, a strong puppeteer and deviser who is passionate about making innovative, accessible work for young people & their families. The performer will need to have a base in the Bristol/North Somerset area.
In this project we will be:
Premiering Minny Stynker at The Tobacco Factory Theatre main house in Bristol
4 weeks rehearsal in North Somerset/Bristol with WIP showings.
Touring to 20+ venues nationally
Touring a reduced solo show and AR Experience pop-up to 4+ library networks in the South West
Creating a Theatrical Augmented Reality (AR) experience App primarily for families caring for children with long term illnesses, families who don’t feel comfortable in traditional theatre settings as well as more typical theatre audience goers.
Self Publishing a picture book to use alongside the AR Experience as well as merchandise for the tour
Delivering a large-scale engagement programme for families caring for children with long term & chronic illness, schools, theatre clubs & community projects, creating & running accessible workshops, in person, live & online.
Delivering a large scale engagement programme at 2 schools and a host of community groups
The Performers role will involve:
Devising and rehearsing the show in the North Somerset/Bristol area
Performing the show for the Premiere at the Tobacco Factory
Performing the show for the National tour
Sharing the labour of Get-ins and Get-outs for the tour
Possible extra dates performing the reduced solo library tour to be confirmed later.
Rehearsals and Premiere:
April 29th-May 28th (excluding weekends)
PREMIERE May 29th- June 1st
Tour dates so far:
2024
15th June
July 13th
August 15th/16th/17th/18th
September 21st
October 12th/13th
October 19th
October 26th/27th
October 29th/30th
November 1st/2nd,
November 16th
2025
Feb 15/16/17th
Feb 19th/20th/22nd
Fee ITC Minimum rates: ÂŁ120 a day for 3 or less days and ÂŁ545 per week. Per diums and drivers allowance also paid.
Email Tomasin at soapsouptheatrecompany@gmail.com with a CV and covering letter/headshot and showreel if available. Deadline 22nd of March
Auditions will take place on the 28th/29th of March
The Soap Soup Art Club is in full swing! Starting in October 2023, Soap Soup Theatre’s Artistic Director Tomasin piloted an after school Art Club in Winscombe, North Somerset for children in year 4,5 and 6, for ages 7-11. If your child has SEN or is under the age of 7, they are still welcome to come along with a parent of trusted adult.
In Art Club we have created puppets, made costumes, sculpted in clay, explored collage and much, much more! Proving popular, the Art Club has now doubled its intake and runs weekly on Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3.30-5pm.
We are planning a 5 day summer school, where we will do bigger creative projects and invite guest artists to share their practice, starting this summer with a local mural project, supported by Winscombe Community Centre!
If you would like your child to attend our Art club Email soapsouptheatrecompany@gmail.com and ask for a sign up form.
Art club is ÂŁ10 a session and paid for termly. We offer a discount for low/no wage families as well as a sibling discount on request.