TreeKin
Have you ever heard a tree whisper?
Overview
TreeKin is a brand-new outdoor touring show for children and families by Trigger. Have you ever heard a tree whisper? Have you seen a seed wriggle, or witnessed the grass rustle? Come outside and discover life bustling all around us! This show is a romp in plants, trees and nature as we get a chance to look a little closer at the world outside and meet some curious characters.
Designed to work in a field, garden, playground, or woodland, the show transforms any patch of green into a living story, full of life and imagination.
Research from Greenpeace (2023) found that 78% of primary-aged children are worried about climate change, while the Woodland Trust reports that one in three children feel scared, sad, or pessimistic about the planet’s future. TreeKin playfully personifies plants and trees to build nature connection and confidence in young audiences.
Commissioned by Norfolk & Norwich Festival, with R&D support from Garfield Weston Foundation and CharcoalBlue.
R&D
In November 2025, Trigger embarked on two weeks of creative R&D to develop their new touring show, TreeKin. Working with actor-musician Arran Glass, puppetry devisor Josh Elwell, and Rose Bruford trainee Jelaine Ng Sha-Men, we explored nature connection, narrative, and the act of listening to the trees around us.
On the first day, Dr Verity Jones, Associate Professor in Education at the University of the West of England, joined us to ground the process in the reality of climate anxiety among young audiences.
We then shaped a workshop for children aged 6–7, focusing on themes of connection, care, and compost.
The R&D culminated in five workshops in schools in North Somerset, where we shared a bonkers outdoors musical crafting session and listened to the children’s thoughts and feelings about nature.
Creative Team
Angie Bual
Creative Director(The Hatchling/PoliNations/TEABREAK)
Josh Elwell
Puppetry Director(Don't Hug Me I'm Scared/ Great Expectations)
Arran Glass
Musician(Little Angel Theatre / Singapore Repertory Theatre)
Jelaine Ng Sha-Men
Theatre Trainee(Rose Bruford College, London)
