The Unexpected Gift

The Unexpected Gift celebrates the art of play and curiosity, taking ordinary objects and making them extraordinary and magical. This is a story reversing the idea that it is the wrapping paper, the cardboard boxes and ribbons that should be discarded, and reveals that playfulness, creativity and imagination are the true gifts. Bursting with energy, acrobatic dance, textures, sounds and colour to create a multi-sensory wonderland from the left-over boxes, ribbons and wrapping. This highly interactive and inclusive dance-theatre performance is made especially for and with children with complex needs such as autism. Playfulness within the work creates space for live response between the audience and performers, with its adaptable approach allowing the individuality of each child to be celebrated. The Unexpected Gift is designed for a small audience to be able to accommodate and engage young people who experience the most barriers to access. It was inspired by Barrowland Ballet’s production The Gift, a co-commission by Aberdeen Performing Arts, Capital Theatres and Eden Court.