The Dandelion Child

A new dance theatre work by Luke Brown Company, The Dandelion Child, set in the early 1990s, sheds light on the profound impact of domestic abuse on children and how that manifests in adulthood.

The Dandelion Child: A table, a survivor, a story of transformation. The Dandelion Child is Luke Brown’s honest, unexpected and gutting account of growing up in a house where violence was normalised, love was rationed, and nurturing was in short supply.

Through words, movement and puppetry, part fact, part fantasy, the work traces an evolution from childhood to adulthood: how a person can find their roots like a dandelion finding its way through concrete, tenacious enough to reach for the light, needing no one’s permission to grow.

Devised collaboratively with choreographer and director Ben Wright, The Dandelion Child is Luke’s most intimate work to date.

Come sit with him.

Event Information

• Date & Times: Tuesday 10th November | Doors open 7pm, show starts at 7.30pm
• Tickets:  £12.50 adult, £10 concessions

• Suitable For: 15+
• Content consideration: This production explores themes of domestic abuse, childhood trauma and recovery, includes occasional strong language, and contains references to violence. Created with care.
• Run Time: 60 minutes (no interval)
• Accessibility:  The venue is all based on the ground floor and so accessible for most wheelchairs. We have some limited disabled parking and an accessible toilet. If you have any specific access needs or would like more information, please call us or email so we can ensure your visit is as enjoyable as possible.

About the Artist and the project

Luke Brown was an Associate Artist with Proteus back in 2019 when he was developing The Walk Of The Dandelion a heartwarming participatory project featuring a beautifully crafted 8-foot puppet named Daniel, that aims to spread joy and foster connection among people of all ages.

The Dandelion Child is a continuation of work that we have been doing for the last 5 years, using the dandelion as a symbol of resilience. We have delivered workshops ranging from 1-hour family-friendly crafting to 5-day intensives to young people facing mental health challenges. We will create a range of engagement offerings alongside the stage show, knowing that the symbol of the dandelion can safely open doors to begin discussions around the themes this work explores.

Luke is a queer, neurodiverse artist from a working-class background, and uses lived experiences to inform the way he connect with people who engage with this work.