LONDON MUSEUM
From January 2024 – September 2025 we’d worked alongside London Museum to deliver a bespoke play about identity and belonging to children and young people. The aim was to encourage Year 5 and Year 8 students (9 – 14 year-olds) to think about what they would like to see in the new London Museum in Smithfield.
Friends, Star, Mila, and Raheem go on a school trip to the museum but can’t seem to find anything that represents their own lived experiences. When asked by their teacher ‘What would go into the museum of YOU?’ the three go on to discover their unique identities and catalogue the objects that aim to represent who they are, where they come from and how they belong in London.
The ‘Museum of Us’ looks at London in our time and explores diversity through food, family, friends, culture, and sports.
CAST
Arianne Carless-Lock – Mila/Raheem’s Grandma/Star’s Mum
Russenï Fisher – Raheem/Star’s Grandad/Mila’s Brother – Mateo
Lauren Anika – Star/Raheem’s Sister – Lulu/Mila’s Social Worker
CREW
Sapphire Joy – Lead Facilitator
Kc Gardiner – Stage Manager
Many of the artists employed are 18-30 and have trained with us in one of our projects for young people.
The Devising Process
Like most London Bubble plays, ‘Museum of Us’ didn’t start with a script. Our Bubble’s Associate Artists and Artistic Director, Marie Vickers, worked collaboratively to create the characters and devise a show that explored identity, belonging and representation through the eyes of young people living in London.
It was important for us to ensure that the play remained relevant to the audience throughout each tour. During rehearsals we updated cultural and local references (such as TikTok dances and school bus routes) to reflect their experiences and build rapport with the children.
Performance, Workshop & Key Outcomes
First, the children watched the play, and then they took part in the interactive activities that followed. Below are key outcomes from the performance and workshop:
- Relevance and engagement: Audiences contributed to shaping what might go into a “Museum” of one of the characters which ensured the project reflected their own perspectives.
- Cultural participation: Young people engaging with contemporary cultural references (e.g. TikTok dances), made the content accessible and relatable
- Creative learning: Drama games and interactive activities encouraged collaboration, creativity, and confidence-building.
Our cast and crew also acted as workshop facilitators, guiding activities and ensuring that every participant felt included.
It was very special to witness young audiences react, interact, and participate throughout the performances and workshops. Each child could find something relatable in the three characters, fostering connection and dialogue.
The Tour
In 2 years, we have visited all 32 London Boroughs, performed in 42 schools and reached an audience of 4,000 + children.
By taking theatre directly into schools, we are able to reach young people who might not otherwise access the arts, offering them a positive cultural experience while exploring stories that matter to them. As with all our projects, our aim is to ensure that people feel seen, heard, and valued.
To enquire about commissioning us for a bespoke project, please email natalie@londonbubble.org.uk or fill in the form below:
By choosing London Bubble to deliver a project or showcase a play, you are contributing towards the ongoing costs of running our charity and creating employment opportunities for practitioners who have come through our members community. Thank You!
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