All the World's our Playground is the only UK festival programmed by primary-aged children. Celebrating its fifth year, the event is an immersive festival of magical family theatre and walkabout wonderfulness programmed by young people in Somerset.

Shepton Mallet will be hosting 12 acts, 26 artists and 21 shows across the weekend of 13-14 July 2024 (main festival day Saturday 13 July).

Expect a host of incredible, award-winning theatre companies: from thrilling six piece European circus troupe Contakt Collective, to immersive movie madness with walkabout Blockbuster Factory from Cat and Mouse theatre; from a theatre show for 40 people taking place inside a 20m long whale, to Matt Pang's celebrated show Those in Glass Houses - which includes swinging bricks, comedic catapults and orchestrated glass-shattering chaos! 

There will also be a theatre show created entirely out of soap suds by a window-cleaning theatre-making duo Crow's Nest, amazing Kristina Stephenson (Sir Charlie Stinky Socks author) will run an immersive storytelling session, aKa Dance Theatre's magical moving shed with be visiting with Shed ache, and on the Sunday audiences can enjoy the incredible craft-along adventure Boxville by acclaimed theatre maker Sam Wilde, and much more is promised on the line-up.

The whole festival has been programmed and curated by a panel of 74 youth programmers, comprising 14 Arts Ambassadors and 60 children across 7 schools in the Shepton Mallet area. The schools involved include: St. Paul's CofE VC Junior School, Bowlish Infant School, St Aldhelm's Church School, The Mendip School, Shepton Mallet Infants School and The Federation of Croscombe and Stoke St Michael Primary Schools. 

Over the years, Make The Sunshine has built strong relationships with the community and has developed ways of working alongside other schools and organisations to maximise opportunities for local people. Poppy, one of the 2024 Arts Ambassadors says: "Normally adults decide what they think is best for young people, but they might not actually know what we like. So when young people make the decisions, they'll be able to get it accurate for other children to enjoy the shows."

Leo, a young programmer from St Paul's School aged 9 said "It means a lot because we get to plan activities and make people happy, as well as making sure that everyone has their say no matter who or what you are, you are important. Young people don't always get recognised, a lot of others say it's for older and more important people, but we are all important and different in our own special way"

As well as a range of national and international theatre companies the festival will also feature workshops and performances from schools and community groups across the town - with over 185 young people performing a range of work inspired by workshops organised by Make the Sunshine with professional choreographers and theatre makers as well as a very special ABBA inspired performance from Shepton's very own Chapel Dance Studio.

And the audience will be invited not just to watch, but to become the beating heart of a movie! And step into Martin Bielsperg's film venture and join his stretched yet dedicated assistant Phil in one of a diverse range of roles. Brace for the drama—this film's destiny teeters between triumph and disaster. Using only bananas for props and equipment, each performance crafts an entirely unique experience, making every film a distinct adventure into the unpredictable world of cinema.

Don't miss out on this magical weekend of fun, play, theatre and creativity in Shepton Mallet. With big thanks to Arts Council England, Shepton Mallet Town Council, Without Walls, Wells Festival of Literature, Take Art and the support of partnering organisations - the majority of events are free of charge and all ticketed events just £4 or below. 

Ticketed events can be booked by visiting www.makethesunshine.co.uk (or on Ticket Tailor) - where you can also find a full programme of events for the day.