Early Years Touring Production 2025
That Pesky Rat Tour
Throughout Sept-Oct 2025 we produced an early years stage adaption of Children’s Laureate, Lauren Child’s, That Pesky Rat into WSCC libraries, community spaces and primary schools. Over the three week period the production performed to an audience just shy of 1500 including 400 adults/carers. Kicking off in The Nest, CFT’s new very own performing space we then visited 11 libraries, 10 primary schools including 3 SEN specialist settings, and numerous community groups across the length and breadth of West Sussex, and into Hampshire. The production benefitted from the support of Culture Spark who sponsored one of the touring weeks, thanks to Caroline Sharman-Mendoza for working with us to help reach so many children, young people and families across West Sussex.
That Pesky Rat gently explores themes of homelessness and belonging and encourages young children to empathise with others and our production included puppetry and was performed by a brand-new company made up of Chichester Festival Youth Theatre (CFYT) alumni as part of the CFYT at 40 celebrations.
Thank you for helping us make the library a place not just for reading, but for imagination, connection and shared experiences. We hope to welcome you back again in the future.
Many of the children who went along had never been to the theatre or experienced anything like this before in their lives. They were transfixed and absolutely loved the experience.
Home-Start
A thoroughly captivating production brimming with energy, from this talented emerging company who fully engaged with the children and left with them full of smiles and with a newfound appreciation for the stage.
Review
Thank you! The feedback from families (and staff!) was overwhelmingly positive. It was genuinely an enriching experience for the children who visit our library and we would be over the moon to see future performances here.
Lancing Library
