Local MSP to attend Licketyspit Picnic & Play at Botanics Shoreline Exhibition

Licketyspit, the leading early years theatre company, are holding a  Picnic & Play session for children and families at the Royal Botanic Garden this Saturday. 

Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson will attend the drama-based play session in his constituency, reflecting the commitment within the Scottish Parliament to making Scotland the best place for children to grow up.  

Picnic & Play brings new and existing members of Licketyspit’s Children & Families Network together in cultural venues and parks, for an hour of games, rhymes, songs and imaginary play from the unique Lickety Playcard repertoire, followed by a delicious group picnic, Reflective Drawing and the Lickety Gallery. 

Licketyspit deliver participatory, socially engaged work that empowers children and adults through drama-led play. Working from its bases at North Edinburgh Arts in Muirhouse and Oakwood Primary school in Easterhouse, Licketyspit has developed an innovative and closely-evaluated approach to drama-led, inter-generational play, putting children at the heart of strong, inclusive communities. 

Licketyspit’s schools programme (Storyplay) is funded by Scottish Attainment Challenge PEF funding, while Picnic & Play is funded by Awards for All. 

 Artistic Director of Licketyspit, Virginia Radcliffe, said:  “Picnic & Play is about bringing families together in a relaxed environment where adults and children alike can access and explore their innate creativity. At Licketyspit, we know children are the play experts, but adults need to play too, and children and parents/carers playing together is hugely powerful.    

“Picnic & Play is an extension of Licketyspit’s popular Porridge & Play sessions, and our desire to create opportunities for families we’ve worked with from different communities to share their experience of Lickety Play, as well as accessing further cultural offerings in their city. Working with partner organisations like the Botanics is a great fit as it enables us to engage with families in a different way in a new place.  

“For this Botanics Shoreline Picnic & Play, we will draw on the themes of the fantastic Shoreline Exhibition during our imaginary play activities. Creative Producer of Licketyspit’s Children & Families Network, Corrie McKendrick, will encourage participating families explore the exhibition after Picnic & Play.   

“There has been incredibly high demand for this session, so we hope to continue our collaborations with the Botanics and other arts and culture organisations across across Edinburgh, so that more families can access Picnic & Play in the near future. Everyone interested in Licketyspit’s work is very welcome to join our Licketyspit Children & Families Network, to keep in touch, find out about our future activities, and keep playing!”