Dive into the World of Storytelling at Hull Truck Theatre
Finlay McGuigan’s Great Adventures in Storyland is an exciting show that runs monthly at Hull Truck Theatre for children aged 3-6 and their families.
Perfect for young explorers, the Saturday afternoon activity is just one example of the great family-friendly events available across the city.
The eponymous character loves stories and going on thrilling adventures, but some of his stories are missing their pages, meaning that they might not have beginnings and endings.
“Finlay McGuigan is running out of his imagination and he needs some imaginative children to help save the tales,” Finlay, Engagement and Learning Facilitator at Hull Truck, tells us.
“His auntie was the world’s greatest story-mender, but she’s just retired and that leaves the responsibility of fixing all these stories in the hands of Finlay and his friends.”
There’s also the scary Story Thief, who has been taking clues, maps and important information from the stories.
An arts and crafts hour runs before the show from 10am until 11am. This is where the children can create items that will be relevant to the story.
“The performance itself is very interactive, and the children and their families can help me finish the book of unfinished stories,” says Finlay.
The show runs once a month from 10am until 12pm, and children can bring their families along for free. Tickets are only £3 and should be booked in advance. Meanwhile, little ones who have received a voucher for completing an activity at their local school or at Hull Truck Theatre can come along free of charge.
“I personally believe that these sorts of workshops are so important,” Finlay enthuses. “Children have the best imaginations in the world. Sharing and nurturing that playfulness and having fun is so vital to their development.”
Great Adventures in Storyland is an excellent opportunity for families to bond and engage with something different.
“It’s an amazing platform for both adults and children to be themselves and learn more about their incredible imaginations. Even I’m learning so much from conducting the workshop, it’s been brilliant playing my 7-year-old self,” he laughs.
Finlay has been at Hull Truck Theatre since 2014, assisting people of all ages with different needs and abilities. Last year, the venue decided to create something that engages young children in theatre and performance. Hull Truck’s Youth Theatre starts from the age of 8, so they wanted to target those who fell under this age bracket.
After trialling the show last summer, Hull Truck found that there was a huge demand to engage young children. Having the skills and desire to perform and work with youngsters, as well his fairytale name, Finlay McGuigan was picked as the show’s main character.
“The storytelling workshop has proven very popular. Each show so far has sold out and we’ve filled the theatre. It’s been mind-blowing.”
To find out more about Finlay McGuigan’s Great Adventures in Storyland, please visit the Hull Truck website.