Theatre Shows
Image by Jassy Earl
My Friend Selma
by Victoria Beasley and Theatre in Schools Scotland
Friday 9 October, 3pm
Venue: Lyra (Artspace)
When I was 8 years old, my dad set up a charity to help people in danger escape the war in a place called Bosnia. He brought fifty of them over here on big coaches. We moved into an old boarding school with these refugees, to help them settle in. We lived there for four months. It was brilliant – there was a playground in my front garden, we had lots of visitors, people were always feeding me and I learnt to ride a bike! But the best thing about living there was meeting my friend Selma.
My Friend Selma is the remarkable real-life story of one girl’s journey from war in Bosnia to safety in the UK. It is the tale of an incredible journey, a world turned upside down, loss, friendship, courage and conkers.
For ages 9-12 and their families.
I Am Not My Hair
Image by
by Marie-Gabrielle Koumenda
Saturday 14 November, 7pm
Venue: Lyra (Artspace)
A joyful dance-theatre work created for Black and Mixed-Race girls aged 8-12 years old. The piece celebrates Black hair, highlighting both the pressures young people face to fit in and the power of embracing who they are. Drawing on lived experience, the show creates a space where identity is honoured and individuality is celebrated.
For ages 8-12 and their families.
Don't Look, Spaceman
by Dan Brown
Wednesday 3 February, 6.30pm
Venue: Lyra (Artspace)
An intergalactic dance-in-space made with, and for, young audiences aged 10-14 years old. Our hero is a queer Spaceman desperate to find the “final frontier” and a new place to call home. Drifting ever closer to a looming black hole, they are locked inside their malevolent spaceship “Venton” as hope of a life beyond the “pale blue dot” of earth is beginning to fade. That is, until he begins his venture into deepest space…
For ages 10+ and their families.
Tongue Twister
Tongue Twister is one man’s attempt to say tongue twisters in as many different languages as possible. Whilst also trying to dance. And make music. And do all the costume changes without leaving the stage. A delight for the eyes and ears, this humorous and colourful show is a celebration of the musical beauty of language for children aged 6-12 yrs.
Created and performed by award-winning performance artist and musician Greg Sinclair and featuring dazzling costumes and innovative visual design.
Produced by Scottish Theatre Producers. Commissioned by Imaginate in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts, in association with Showbox Festival & Kloden and supported by North Edinburgh Arts.
For ages 6-12 and their families.
by Greg Sinclair & Scottish Theatre Producers
Wednesday 31 March, 6pm
Venue: Lyra (Artspace)
Image by Laurence Winram
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Image by Julia Bauer
Two Cowboys & the Sky
by lovebug + worm
Friday 2 April, 1.30pm
Venue: Lyra (Artspace)
A physical theatre and dance performance featuring live music, made for children aged 3-7 and their adults.
Two Cowboys and the Sky is a spectacular celebration of getting distracted, and of all the discoveries we make along the way.
It’s about high-heeled, haughty and fly-hungry frogs, rock n’ roll snowflakes, strutting starfish, sunbathing salamanders, and who could forget the wryly rats in the swanky sewer. Oh! And it’s about cowboys too. An ever-changing live soundtrack accompanies this adventure, featuring the ravenous slug symphony’s iconic keytar riffs and the night sky’s burpy bass lines with its egg-shaking shimmering stars.
Families are invited to come along to the pre-show playspace - an introduction to the show’s world and to explore all things Two Cowboys and the Sky, whether that be dance, music or costume! This event is 1h long. Afterwards, there will be a 15min break before the performance starts during which we will provide a snack.
Two Cowboys and the Sky is created and performed by lovebug + worm, with musician-performer Samuel Pashby.
For ages 3-7 and their families.
Past Shows
26-27 Jan: Family Portrait by Barrowland Ballet
7 Feb: Europe, Meine Liebe, Mon Amour by Bruno Gallagher (Manipulate Festival)
23-24 Feb: Lightning Ridge, Catherine Wheels Theatre Company
26 Feb: One of Two, Jack Hunter/Independent Arts Projects
1-2 Apr: A Home for Hamish, Just Us and Scottish Theatre Producers
Programming
Lyra’s theatre is programmed by our teenage Young Curators – they make the choices and control the programming budget for Artspace. They programme professional shows for young audiences and their families living in the Greater Craigmillar community. They want the shows they programme to be “MOVING, EXCITING, FUNNY, INCLUSIVE, INTERACTIVE and REFLECTIVE of our COMMUNITY”. Lyra’s Young Curators enjoy a variety of different genres and styles with shows for different age groups that surprise and challenge them. The Young Curators have confirmed their programme and budget for 2026-27.
Sometimes we can present shows that come with their own funding - please bear in mind we don't charge for tickets at Lyra. Please contact Executive Producer James Preston (james@lyra.co.uk) with as much information as possible including a video link, technical specification, target age range.
Lyra makes and tours our own work by professional grown-ups for young audiences in communities of significant multiple deprivation. We also support Scottish artists and companies to produce, test and present work for young audiences at Artspace. Whilst we don’t directly commission work, we may be able to offer a combination of studio and/or theatre space, artistic, dramaturgical and producer advice. We aim to share our available resources and expertise for the benefit of our community and the wider children and young people’s arts sector. In return for Lyra’s support, we ask companies to connect with our audiences, previewing and/or premiering their work with our Young Artists and local community. Where Lyra’s Young Artists have been contributed to the development of a new work, we ask that they are appropriately credited – and, of course, they love being invited to a premiere!
Please be aware that Lyra runs its own busy engagement programme and the Young Artists already have a packed schedule. Artists and companies who would like to test ideas and/or run extra workshops with our participants will need to budget for additional staffing to recruit and organise new workshops and 'test/focus' groups. Lyra is always available to support this process and give guidance and advice. If you’d like to discuss a potential partnership, please contact Executive Producer James Preston (james@lyra.co.uk) in the first instance.