What We Do
“Highly Sprung’s work makes you think; makes you feel; makes you feel alive.”
We put young people at the heart of our work in ways no other company does. We know that every young person, regardless of their starting point, has great potential and is able to use their body as a creative tool. Through a genuinely open creative process, using our own physical theatre techniques, we empower every young person to explore how their body can be used to develop their own unique performing style.
This way of working drives our ideas too. Every piece we make is original and devised by our young people, together with our core team of artists and writers. We might take a theme, story or a text, and give the whole company creative responsibility for where we go with it. This way of working breaks down barriers, gives equal weight to everyone’s unique contribution, and results in extraordinary creativity.
What People Say
Our Impact
audiences saw our work
hours of teaching
hours were spent in rehearsal
We ran
workshops over the year – more than 1 a day!
We held
hours of artist training
new pieces of performance created
We performed 5 indoor touring dates across 4 areas
West Midlands, North East, South East, Lincolnshire
Roots & the Urban Astronaut performed at 16 outdoor dates across 3 countries
England, Spain & Czechia
We built 3 fantastic new structures
Our SBNH climbing frame, a brand new flying machine & our inflatable performance space
Our Values
Ambitious
for our audiences and for the young people we work with. We know young people are capable of great things and we can help realise these ambitions.
Curious
about everything. We are continually exploring and discovering stories that deserve to be told. Provoking curiosity in others.
Bold
in challenging expectation and convention, in making work that’s brave and feels right. But we’re never arrogant or aggressive.
Open
in how we work. Making the creative process transparent and accessible to everyone. Opening our minds to new ideas, and our eyes to finding and nurturing new talent.
Inventive
and prepared to push boundaries when we need to. We’re always exploring new ways to create and make work, taking risks along the way. Our imaginations are limitless.
Playful
making it easy to be creative and motivated, breaking down boundaries and enabling the exploration of new ideas. For us, playing is serious.
A core aspect of our values is a deep commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and to addressing the Climate & Ecological Emergency. See our current statements on these issues below.
Our Team
Executive Director
Artistic Director
Project Administrator
Associate Artist and Schools Development Co-Ordinator
Trainee Associate Artist
General Administrator
Marketing and Communications Assistant
Our Board
Amanda Campbell
Amanda has held a number of senior communications and marketing leadership roles across a variety of sectors, including retail and property, most recently as Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director at intu Properties Plc where she was helped lead cultural and strategic transformation including the creation of the intu brand. Prior to that, Amanda was Head of UK Marketing at Lend Lease Europe. She has previously held senior management roles at Adams Childrenswear and ATS Euromaster. Amanda is a founding trustee of Highly Sprung and Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Tony Carrol
Tony has a career that includes Head of policy and communications at the Black Country Chamber of Commerce and Business Engagement Manager at the University of Warwick, where Tony’s role included creating business engagements as part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy. In his career he has experience and has worked closely with businesses, politicians, government officers and interest groups across the West Midlands. Tony is a founding trustee of Highly Sprung.
Chair: Claire Singleton
Claire Singleton is a retired solicitor who specialised in employment law. She has a long-standing interest in young people and education having been a school governor and more recently a Multi Academy Trust trustee for over 20 years. Claire is a founding trustee of Highly Sprung.
Jo Trowsdale
Associate Professor, Arts, Creativity and Education in Sociology at the University of Warwick. Jo has extensive experience as a former regional director of a government initiative to enhance the role of the place of the arts and creativity in UK education (Creative Partnerships). She taught drama and English in schools before entering into teacher education. She works directly with schools, teachers, pupils and artists, and is currently researching the role of the arts in STEAM (science, technology, arts, mathematics and engineering) education. Jo is a founding trustee of Highly Sprung.
Trish Willetts
Trish Willetts, BID Director for Coventry BID Limited. Trish looks after the 700 businesses in the Ring Road, aka The Moat, of Coventry City Centre. Her job is to act as Account Manager for all of the businesses and organise events to increase the footfall in the city centre.