Children from Tops Poole, on Denmark Lane, enjoyed a magical day out at Lighthouse Poole, where they watched the much-loved stage production of ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’ and had the exciting opportunity to meet the cast after the performance.
The visit was the culmination of a special learning experience designed to bring the classic story to life. Before attending the show, the children spent time reading ‘The Tiger Who Came to Tea’ at nursery, exploring the story through discussions, imaginative play and creative activities. They also produced their own tiger-inspired artwork, which was proudly displayed on a Tops Day Nurseries stand at Lighthouse throughout the show’s run.
The project provided a wonderful full-circle learning opportunity, allowing the children to connect a familiar story with a live theatre experience before seeing their own artwork on display for visitors to enjoy.
Hannah Laity Deputy Manager, at Tops Day Nurseries Poole, said:
“This was such a special experience for the children. They had so much fun exploring the story in nursery through reading and creative activities, so seeing it come to life on stage was incredibly exciting. Meeting the cast and spotting their own artwork on display made the day even more memorable, and it was wonderful to see their confidence and enthusiasm throughout the visit.”
Housed in an iconic building in the heart of Poole, Lighthouse is a nationally significant multi-arts venue that provides an exciting year-round programme of nationally acclaimed, high quality, and diverse arts and entertainment. Lighthouse supports and enables the creation of work and is passionate about providing opportunities for learning and participation across all ages.
Lucy Funnell, Corporate Development & Events Manager at Lighthouse Poole, said:
“We were delighted to welcome children from Tops Day Nurseries’ Poole setting to a performance of The Tiger Who Came to Tea last week. Our partnership with Tops is not only about promoting their services to our family audiences, but also about giving children the opportunity to experience the magic of live theatre. We were fortunate that the company behind the production invited the children to a post-show meet and greet with Tiger and members of the cast, which they absolutely loved. It’s wonderful to be able to offer our partners these special experiences, but even more rewarding to see the joy they bring to the children. Lighthouse would like to extend a huge thank you to Tops Day Nurseries for their continued support of our family programme.”
Meeting the cast after the performance was a particular highlight, giving the children the chance to ask questions, take photos and bring the characters they had been reading about to life.
The visit reflects Tops Day Nurseries’ commitment to providing enriching experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of learning, while strengthening partnerships with local organisations such as Lighthouse.
The children’s colourful artwork remained on display at Lighthouse throughout the show’s run, showcasing their creativity to theatre-goers and celebrating the fantastic work taking place at Tops Poole.
Notes to Editors
Lighthouse plays a vital role in Poole and the South West as a nationally important, locally loved cultural organisation housed in an iconic building where creative work is made, rehearsed, discussed, shared and presented. A source of inspiration and pride to our community and the wider region, Lighthouse is different every day, a place where memories that last a lifetime are made.
Opened in April 1978 as Poole Arts Centre, Lighthouse was conceived as a receiving venue to provide entertainment and cultural experiences for Dorset and a new home for Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Today, Lighthouse is the centre of excellence for live performance, film and visual arts in the South West, playing an essential part in the delivery of national and regional arts strategy, and providing a dynamic, world-class cultural facility for Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and beyond.
Lighthouse is unique as the only multi-space venue with four auditoria in the South West, and one of the largest outside London, housing a symphonic concert hall, mid-scale theatre, small-scale studio theatre, independent cinema, art galleries, cafe, and function room spaces where our audiences can discover and enjoy an extraordinary mix of art forms not possible elsewhere across the region, all under one roof.
Lighthouse supports and enables the creation of work and artist development and is passionate about providing opportunities for learning and participation across all ages.
Lighthouse is a charity (Poole Arts Trust Ltd – registered charity number 275961) and is indebted to the generosity of its supporters, as well as the ongoing support of its public funders BCP Council and Arts Council England.
For further information please contact:
Lucy Funnell
Discover more from our blog—a variety of articles designed to inform, entertain, and inspire you. Explore related posts below to find topics that matter to you.
Following the fantastic results of its latest Ofsted inspection, Tops Day Nurseries Musgrove welcomed Tops
Finding the right childcare for your child can take time, planning and plenty of research.
Dinosaur adventures at Tops Parkstone’s first Bloom Toddler Class There was plenty of roaring, dancing
On 15 September, Tops Day Nurseries celebrated an exciting new chapter at Tops Salisbury with
Screens are now a normal part of family life. From video calls with grandparents to
Tops Day Nurseries Musgrove in Taunton is celebrating a fantastic outcome following its latest Ofsted
