Bright & Wild 2026
2026-27 is the second year of a three year ‘Brave New Worlds’ programme theme, this year’s sub-theme is The Creators – children and teenagers influence and transform their world.
Inspired by young creators from across the analogue and digital world from Louis Braille, Shirley Temple, George Washington Carver, Picasso and Phyllis Wheatley to Misty Copeland, Gitanjali Rao and George Nissen (16 year-old inventor of the trampoline) Lyra’s Young Artists explore how children and teenagers can reshape and redefine the world around them.
How do we make something beautiful and fun from this mess?
What can we create from the ruins of what’s gone before?
THE SHOWS
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