Carp was formed by Caroline Smart and Philip Linsdell, who brought with them years of Theatre-in-Education experience, as well as teaching, directing and writing skills.

All Carp performances include an element of audience participation, at times involving the entire audience, but also inviting volunteers to join us on stage and play roles in the show. We make each and every child’s experience on stage a rewarding and positive one. Anyone can bring a child on stage and stick a hat on them. But to make the child part of the show, respond to what they give and to give them the chance to take the performance to a new place for a moment – that takes something extra from the actor. It takes years of experience to get this right, and it’s the fundamental aim of our work.

Every Carp performance – whether a large-scale production in front of 600 children, an educational performance for schools, or a gentle show for 20 pre-schoolers seeing their first live show – has an element of infectious unpredictability, that sense that anything could happen but nothing can go wrong. The shows are slightly silly, a little ridiculous, and the children walk away with smiles on their faces and lots to remember.