Starcatchers' production, Little Top, is an award-winning circus show designed for babies and young children up to 3 years. It was created with early years development research and concepts of schematic play. During a crucial time in their development, when young children are exploring their own physicality and the joys and challenges of gravity, Little Top invites babies to experience spectacular balances, astonishing tumbles, and inventive juggling.
Little Top will be presented in Creil from the 17 to the 21 April, at the Premières Rencontres: Arts, petite enfance et spectacle vivant, dedicated to early childhood arts, which will take place in Val d'Oise and Seine-et-Marne. This show is a testament to research into contemporary creation for the very young. The Head of Artist Development at Starcatchers will accompany the performers to present about the performance.
Starcatchers' production and Compagnie Acta have been collaborating within the framework of an Erasmus project dedicated to training to enhance research into early artistic development. The results of the project will be presented during the highlight of the festival a month prior to Little Top, the "European Forum" (13 and 14 March 2024), at a professional conference at the Espace Marcel Pagnol in Villiers-le-Bel. Starcatchers members and culture and early childhood professionals from the project's other partner countries (Spain, France, and the Netherlands) will be leading a session on the impact of the project in their own areas. They will share their research findings, helping to explore and develop new opportunities to strengthen the exchange of experience and best practice between companies, artists, and practitioners working in culture, education, and early childhood. This will take the form of four "discussion booths," with groups of around 30/40 people attending one after the other, engaging with different European partners.
This project is one of the laureates of the UK/France Spotlight on Culture Fund for Scotland and Northern Ireland, delivered by the British Council in partnership with Creative Scotland.
