There Should Be Unicorns

by Middle Child

Family, Theatre

Performers sing and dance with their right fists raised. The lead performer is wearing a unicorn headband, a knitted pastel jumper and school skirt with a rainbow cape. To her left is another performer wearing a chef's hat with a red superhero mask and big ears over the hat, as well as a red apron with a big white star over a school uniform. To her right, a performer is wearing what appears to be bear paw gloves, a bright green bike helmet with bear ears stuck on them, and a sequined green and blue cardigan over a school uniform. All the performers are adults. Exploring Without Walls Open Calls

Theatre, dance and hip hop collide in this brand new, outdoor musical written by Luke Barnes with music by James Frewer and Beats Bus

There Should be Unicorns is a hip hop musical for ages 5 – 11 from award-winning Middle Child in association with the Beats Bus. 

We tell the story of 11-year-old Jasmine, who armed only with an unshakeable belief in unicorns, takes on the bullies, villains and ideas that shape the world around her, in a superhero effort to make tomorrow better than today. 

Theatre, dance and hip hop collide in this brand new, outdoor musical written by Luke Barnes with music by James Frewer and Beats Bus 

To imagine the show think: Matilda the Musical meets the world of hip hop. We will set fire to your expectations of what theatre can be.  

About Middle Child

Middle Child is a Hull-based company creating gig theatre that brings people together for a good night out with big ideas. We tell untold stories which capture the electrifying moment when the beat drops, mixing original live music with bold new writing. Our events are live and loud, making sense of the modern world. 

We are committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that theatre is affordable and accessible for all. We will set fire to your expectations of what a night at the theatre can be. 

Our artist development programme, Reverb, ensures that artists in Hull are given top-class development opportunities across disciplines, without having to leave the city. 

We are an Arts Council England national portfolio organisation and an associate company of Paines Plough, supported by Absolutely Cultured. 

Performers sing and dance with their right fists raised. The lead performer is wearing a unicorn headband, a knitted pastel jumper and school skirt with a rainbow cape. To her left is another performer wearing a chef's hat with a red superhero mask and big ears over the hat, as well as a red apron with a big white star over a school uniform. To her right, a performer is wearing what appears to be bear paw gloves, a bright green bike helmet with bear ears stuck on them, and a sequined green and blue cardigan over a school uniform. All the performers are adults.
A performer wearing a multicoloured pastel rainbow unicorn onesie over a school uniform points up in the distance. Two other performers form a circle with their arms around her. The one to her left is wearing a black suit; the one to her right is wearing a curly grey wig and blue scarf over her head.
A performer in a brown-grey teacher's suit kicks out towards us. The performers in the background look surprised. Behind the teacher, is a colourful set including pastel boxes. Four of the boxes read in chalk on a blackboard background (clockwise): Succeed, No Excuses, Authority (in all caps) and Respect.

Creative / Production credits:

Produced by Middle Child, in association with Beats Bus. 

Written by Luke Barnes, with music by James Frewer and Beats Bus. Directed by Paul Smith. Lyrics by Beats Bus. Photo by Tom Arran for Middle Child 

Image Credits © Tom Arran for Middle Child

Funding, commissioning and partner credits:

There Should Be Unicorns has been supported by Without Walls and commissioned by Brighton Festival; Salisbury International Arts Festival, part of Wiltshire Creative; Hat Fair and Freedom Festival Arts Trust.

Further commissioning, funding and support from Wykeland Beal, Arts Council England, Absolutely Cultured, Hull City Council and the Goodwin Development Trust.