Take Flight – A Baby-Friendly Aerial Theatre Show, Sheffield

What is Take Flight?

Take Flight is a beautiful, gentle aerial theatre experience for babies aged 0–2 and their grown-ups, presented by Rebel Sparks at the Playhouse.

Created especially for very young audiences, the show follows a musical mother bird as her baby hatches, grows and explores the world — navigating hunger, sleep and play — before reaching a tender, uplifting moment where the baby is supported to leave the nest and take flight.

What makes this show special for babies?

This is a multi-sensory and interactive performance, designed to ignite curiosity and imagination in the earliest stages of life. After the show, babies are invited into the performance space to:

• Explore a baby-safe set and props

• Interact with performers

• Experience gentle movement, including a supervised swing in the aerial silks

The experience is calm, immersive and carefully paced to suit very young attention spans.

Is it designed with child development in mind?

Yes. Take Flight was developed in collaboration with Valentina Sclafani, a development psychologist from University of Lincoln, to ensure the content:

• Supports early neurological and motor skill development

• Encourages bonding between babies and their grown-ups

• Creates a positive, reassuring first theatre experience

What have audiences said?

Parents and carers have praised the show for holding babies’ attention and creating a shared, emotional experience:

“Our 10 month old was just mesmerised and her attention was held the whole way through.”
— Audience member

“It’s a really special piece of theatre.”
— Hannah Leek, Curve Programmer

Who is this event for?

This performance is ideal for:

• Babies aged 0–2

• Parents, carers and grandparents

• First-time theatre-goers

• Families looking for calm, enriching things to do in Sheffield during the day

🎟 Tickets and full event details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/take-flight