Odd One Out teaches Wellington children about inclusivity

Capital E’s new show, Odd One Out, uses non-verbal live performance and humour to tell young audiences about the importance of acceptance and inclusivity.

Odd One Out launched its nationwide tour in Wellington during the April school holidays before heading out on the road to tour theatres nationally. In August, the Odd One Out crew return to Wellington for a final education season which includes two relaxed performances at Te Auaha for the accessibility community. The show talks openly with children aged 2-8 about being different and feeling left out. It’s a story of acceptance, being kind, and welcoming new people. The non-verbal live performance uses cheeky, bubbly characters and comic timing to tell the story.

The relaxed performance environment means that those that are sensitive to a theatre environment can enjoy the show in comfort. The lights are brighter, the sounds subdued, and the stage is a welcoming space where children can explore and interact during the show. These performances are also accompanied by a social script, to help educators, parents, and caregivers prepare children for the show.

The junior theatre production is a story of three curious and vibrant characters that live a busy life in a world where everything has a purpose and a place until suddenly their world is full of things that don’t belong.

One of the show’s writers, Thomas LaHood, says theatre is important for children and young people as it connects stories, metaphors and ideas with a sense of community,

“We’re working with themes of order and disorder and we hope that children will feel a connection to both sides of the story – to the characters who love things to be a certain way and get worried when things change, and to the character who doesn’t know how to fit in and seems to make a mess of everything.”

Dr Sarah Rusholme, Director of Children and Young People at Capital E, hopes that the young audience learns important lessons about inclusivity but also have fun along the way.

“Odd One Out is a fun show for kids to learn about being inclusive and how to deal with the feeling of being left out. We think that it is important to introduce young children to live theatre, as it can ignite and fuel their creativity.”

More information: https://www.capitale.org.nz/portfolio-posts/odd-one-out/
Relaxed performances: Monday 6 August 11.30am and Friday 10 August 10am

ENDS.

About Capital E
Capital E is an award-winning not-for-profit organisation based in the cultural capital of Wellington that ignites and fuels the spark of creativity in children and young people.
Capital E is part of Experience Wellington, a registered charity and a Council Controlled Organisation established by Wellington City Council to develop and manage Wellington’s cultural and arts assets. Our organisation hosts a combination of unique visitor experiences that contribute to Wellington’s economy and reputation as a centre of excellence for arts, culture and creativity. Together, we collaborate and draw upon each other’s strengths, skills and knowledge to deliver excellent visitor experiences that capture the heart of Wellington.

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