Tell Tale Hearts - Beneath the Waves

Last autumn, Tell Tale Hearts were researching their new children's show, 'Beneath the Waves'. This research included working with the production team that created A Story For All Seasons; Natasha Holmes (director), Sophia Lovell Smith (design), Michael Szpakowski (music/video) and Lars Jensen (production management). In addition they offered two work placement positions for young graduate designers, Jo Brocket and Anneli Stollar . They both worked alongside Sophia in all aspects of the design process.

'Beneath the Waves' had two showings at Stanningley Primary school, in Leeds, with a Reception and Year 1 class. The children were greeted by Molly, the fish seller, and entered the space as waves washing around the base of two lonely lighthouses, they then helped to pull the fishermen's boats in, unload the fish, climb on board deck and were taken beneath the waves to an adventure under the sea where cheeky crabs played tricks on one another.

The project proposal was to explore integrating video projection and animation into the show, a first and exciting venture for Tell Tale Hearts. The performers transformed the cargo into crabs and hermit shells that then became objects to project onto. The actors were also filmed as crabs and then projected onto the hermit shells, so that the children could see the crabs inside the shells! It proved to be a rich and magical experience for them, as they attempted to touch the images and work out where the crabs were and how they had got inside. One child's comment was, "my favourite bit was when they were trapped inside!"

Animated sequences: We played with projecting hand drawn animated sequences onto different surfaces. These were hugely successful in creating magical moments for the children, ie When the rolling sea and seagulls were projected onto the sail of Barnacle Bill's boat! Also we played with the game of the crabs trying to catch the animated fish for food - the children loved this game!