Guest Editor Interviews: Jude Merrill & Wilkie Branson

While at Baboró International Arts Festival for Children in Galway, our Guest Editor Ríonach Ní Néill took the opportunity to interview two Bristol-based practitioners who develop and present dance and theatre performances for children and young people.


Jude Merrill is Artistic Producer of Travelling Light Theatre Company, which was founded in 1984 and is dedicated to the creation of excellent theatre for young audiences.


In conversation with Ríonach, she talks about the history of the company, its ethos, what drew her to making work for younger audiences, and the different disciplines and styles that have been incorporated into Travelling Light’s work over the years, from puppeteering, theatre and story-telling, to their recent work with Champloo involving b-boy dance.


Wilkie Branson is co-director and co-founder of Champloo Dance Company in Bristol, a leading national BBoying dance company in the UK. In conversation with Ríonach, he talks about White Caps, his first full-length work for theatre, which was co-commissioned by Bristol Old Vic and Theatre Bristol.


These interviews will be available on Practice.ie in the coming week.