Devised by Roustabout Theatre
Something mysterious is happening in the library. Precious words are falling out of books and wonderful stories are being lost. The librarians are stumped. Piles keep appearing. More and more everyday. Jumbled mountains of words on the floor. It doesn’t make any sense!
Using the remaining books, the audience must help solve the mystery and search for words, stories and characters who will help them on their quest to save the library, and the stories and knowledge it contains.
Semi improvised, interactive, and led by children’s enquiries and exploration of the stock.
The aim of the project is to build excitement, enthusiasm and appreciation for library spaces. We also hope to encourage curiosity and exploration of literature.
Our starting points in the development phase will be talking to libraries and their staff about how they would like the library to be promoted and used, and what challenges they face, as well as talking to young people about how they currently use and view the library.
In 2026 we will tour the show to libraries as an affordable, interactive and inspiring package for young readers and writers, championing libraries and celebrating stories.
Ages 7-11, KS2
About Roustabout Theatre
Roustabout Theatre is an award-winning team of theatre makers based in Bristol, born out of over ten years of collaboration and play. We seek out extraordinary tales, both true and imagined, and tell them with clarity, simplicity, humour and a wild imagination. Performed in theatres, schools, libraries & community venues, our work is for audiences of all ages, for anyone who loves play, and for anyone who delights in the communal act of sharing a story. Our team is made up of Toby Hulse (Writer & Director), Robin Hemmings (Performer & Composer), Alice Massey (Co-Producer) and Shaelee Rooke (Performer & Co-Producer).
Roustabout have created 10 productions over the last 6 years including: Not Now, Bernard (2025) – a new adaptation of the much loved children’s book; Luna (2019-2020) – a play about humankind’s fascination with the moon; Great Big Story Mix Up (2021-2023) – an interactive improvisational show; This Island’s Mine (2021) – a sequel to Shakespeare’s The Tempest exploring belonging & colonialism; Everybody’s Business (2024) – an educational sketch show about the digestive system: Dinosaurs & All That Rubbish (2022-2023) – a musical adaptation of Michael Foreman’s popular children’s story, and Little Red Riding Could (2024) – a new commission which unpacks gender stereotypes and expectations in the traditional fairytale.
