Bright & Wild 2026
In June 2025 Lyra presented our sixth edition of Bright & Wild – a festival with children and teens at its heart.
Lyra’s Young Artists bravely stepped ‘into the night’ exploring possibilities for adventure after the lights go out...
The festival showcased four new productions, commissioned and performed by Lyra’s Young Artists (aged 8-18). The festival was produced and hosted by Lyra’s teenage Culture Crew.
The programme also included our first ever Brighter & Wilder wrap-around programme which included a range of performances, activities and discussions!
THE SHOWS
DREAM MAZE
Created by Jennifer Steele with the Wednesday Young Artists
Join the Night Knight on a journey into our dream maze. You'll be guided through strange, funny and sometimes bizarre dreams, meet odd characters and experience their world.
As you are serenaded to sleep you'll enter the maze. You'll travel through four unique dream worlds, each one taking place in a different space. Watch out for those silly characters, they may have some surprises in store for you! By working together with the Night Knight you'll hopefully find your way back to the real world, left wondering what's real and what's a dream?
WAY PAST MY BEDTIME
Created by Sally Charlton with the Thursday Young Artists
Way Past My Bedtime is a show about sleepovers, where the rules of the day don’t apply. Expect dance routines, whispered secrets, and midnight snacks. Leave your screen time limits, your broccoli, and your bedtimes at the door.
We’ll take you through sugar highs and shadowy fears, through pillow fights and late-night confessions. Stay with us until sunrise.
DON'T GO TO THE WOODS
Created by Jo Sharp with The Outline
“Do you ever feel like someone is watching you? You want to look back and show them you are not afraid... but you can never quite meet their eyes”
In the depths of the forest, around a crackling fire, a group of teenagers camp alone—no adults, just spooky stories of the Ghillie Dhu. A trickster, a protector… but which will he be tonight? Will they find freedom in the forest or discover the dark side of going at it alone?
Don’t Go to the Woods is an anti-Blair Witch Project where we show you just how capable teenagers are, and the fierce friendships that get us through the night.
FRANKIE & MAX'S NIGHTTIME ADVENTURE
Created by Mischa Stevens with Youth Music
As the sun goes down over Arthurs Seat
And stars fill up the sky
The monsters awaken and stomp their feet
And party into the night
Blending drums, keyboards and guitars with electronic controllers, Youth Music have composed a soundtrack of dreamy songs and rhythms which journey through nocturnal soundscapes. From magical midnight ceilidhs to gentle lullabies and thrilling chase scenes to massive monster parties, join Youth Music as they bring the story of Frankie and Max’s Nighttime Adventure to life.
The Bright & Wild 2026 Team
CHILDREN & TEENS
Crew: Amelia, Ava, Eduardo, Hayden, Jamie, Joshua, Max, Tim
Young Company: Caitlin, Cody, Dhiya, Jakub, Jessica, Johnny, Martina, Michelle, Reagan, Valentina, Vindhya, Zofia
Fly, Fly: Alicia, Amelia, Arthur, Carmell, Devesh, Elena, Eliana, Elisabeth, Emilia, Emily, Faimah, Jagoda, Jakub, Jenna Rose, Jessica, Lea, Malisa, Man Chun, Muhammad, Nicolas, Nina, Segunfunmi, Siddharth and Zuzuanna
My Dreambus: Alan, Connor, Doruk, Evana, Hanna, Hazal, Inaaya, Jason, Jesse, Jewel, Laya, Maci, Man Wing, Maxie, Maya, Nara, Natalia, Nathan, Sofia K, Sofia P, Sophie, Stefania, Violet and Zaira
find yourself a magpie and follow it: Azariah, Destiny, Elise, Ema, Emily, Eva, Hermione, Liliana, Matthew, Melissa, Ryan, Skye, Toprak and Zofia
Meet Me on the Dancefloor: Beauty, Ieva, Jagoda, Jaiya, Kaja, Karly, Lilly, Malina, Mark, Nina, Ola, Phillip, Rose, Sophie, Surya and Zoey
ADULTS
Take Up Space:
Caitlin Mulgrew (Director & Composer), Jo Timmins (Dramaturg & Collaborator), Dorine Mugisha (Co-Choreographer & Collaborator), Anna Orton (Design), Sulie Wood (Lighting Design), Natalia Barua (2026 Tour Co-Choreographer & Collaborator), Emanuel Carlos (Co-Choreographer & Collaborator, Hannah Draper (Co-Choreographer), Jennifer Steele (Dance Artist & Understudy), Katy Wilson (Costume Design) and Jess Brettle (Costume Artist)
Ed Wright (Production Manager), Lauren Desjardins (Stage Manager), Ali Gillies (Technician), Nicola Milazzo (Props & Scenic Art)
Kim Stronach (Dance Facilitator), Rebecca di Rollo (Music Facilitator), Kelsey Sullivan (Crew Facilitator), Edvi Lima (Engagement Facilitator)
Fly, Fly:
Jo Timmins (Director), Iain Reekie (Dramaturg), Caitlin Mulgrew (Composer), Natalia Barua (Choreographer), Penny Chivas (Rehearsal Director), Kimberley Mandindo (Singer), Kim Stronach (Delivery Artist), Edviges Lima (Facilitator) Emily Briggs, Fiona Oliver-Larkin & Adam Rosa (Youth Arts Workers)
My Dreambus:
Jo Timmins (Director), Iain Reekie (Dramaturg), Caitlin Mulgrew (Composer) Alex Bird, Fay Guiffo & Morgan Njobo (Ensemble Performers), Katrine Turner (Delivery Artist), Kim Stronach (Facilitator), Fiona Oliver-Larkin, Hannah McGregor & Adam Rosa (Youth Arts Workers
find yourself a magpie and follow it:
Hope Kennedy (Lead Artist), Arran Bird (Costume & Set Designer), Edviges Lima (Engagement Facilitator), Jack Dickson &
Hannah McGregor (Youth Arts Workers)
Meet Me on the Dancefloor:
Dan Brown (Lead Artist), Arran Bird (Costume & Set Designer), Katrine Turner (Engagement Facilitator) and Adam Rosa Youth Arts Worker)
Team Lyra
Jo Timmins - Artistic Director & Co-CEO
James Preston - Executive Producer & Co-CEO
Anna Plasberg-Hill - Engagement Producer
Iain Reekie - Associate Director
Natalia Barua - Engagement Artist
Jo Sharp - Engagement Facilitator
Edviges Lima - Engagement Facilitator
Katrine Turner - Engagement Facilitator
Lola Rose Wood - Communications Freelancer
Jenny Noble - Venue Host
Festival Team
Kelsey Sullivan - B&W 26 Assistant Producer
Adam Ryan - B&W 26 Technical Manager
Lee Davis - B&W 26 Technical Stage Manager
Magnus Rack - B&W 26 Technical Stage Manager
Katy Wilson - B&W 26 Foyer Design
Jason Kerley - B&W 26 Graphic Designer
Guest Practitioners & Speakers
Jonathan McClean, Drew Taylor Wilson, Dorine Mugisha, Caitlin Mulgrew, Jess Thorpe, Jack, Craig McCorquodale, Lou Brodie, Cassandra, Andrew Crummy, Niamh O'Lochlin, Joanna Twaites, Miriam Larrainzar, Kiera Saunders, Katie Swann, Jennifer Steele, Dan Brown, Minnie Crook, Niall Moorjani, Tom Birch, Vince Virr, KJ Clark-Davis and Platform's Monday Night Drama Group
Volunteers
Kat Brack, Mugiko Yamamoto, Louise Gilmour-Wills, Vanya Dias, Jen Marr, & Izzy Bergquist
With thanks to our Partners:
A Place in Childhood, Edinburgh Food Social, The Venchie Children and Young People's Project, Scottish Autism and Edinburgh International Festival and Craigmillar Literacy Trust
Bright & Wild 2026 was funded by
Supported by The Henry Smith Charity, Bank of Scotland Foundation
Walter Scott Giving Group, Youth Music Initiative, The Robertson Trust, Artemis Charitable Foundation,
BlackRock Gives, The Theatres Trust, The Gannochy Trust, McGlashan Charitable Trust, Scottish Children’s Lottery Trust, William Syson Foundation, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Youth & Philanthropy Initiative, Education Institute of Scotland, Austin & Hope Pilkington Trust