"Babies are creative and babies are musical. Their responses are completely unfiltered," says Sam Glazer, one of the performers taking part in a very different show at Tilling Green Community Centre last week.
Thirty babies and toddlers watch enthralled by a performance of Catch a Sea Star on Thursday, May 22 - the penultimate show of an East Sussex tour that transfers to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in London next month.
Some of the audience are totally spell bound. "My toddler didn't move. She was absolutely mesmerised," says mum, Laura about her daughter, Peggy. "For her to sit still for the whole show was absolutely amazing."
The five musicians tell a colourful story set to classical music. It's opera, but not as you might know it. They create a fantasy world of songs and music, and some of the audience can't wait to get involved.
One-year-old Sam and four-year-old Molly join the performers on the made up stage. Rushing around, like many others, they interact with the performers. "They absolutely loved it. I thought it was really perfect. It was amazing they were able to be part of the show," says their mum, Hannah.
For Michaela, with sons Remy and George, the show gets a good reaction. "Remy is usually a bit of a wild child and this seems to really engage him. We all thought it was amazing."
The musicians are clearly loving it too. Soprano Chiara Vinci and baritone Ian Beadle are accompanied by a string trio, with Joanna Lawrence and Naomi Burrell on violin and Sam Glazer on cello.
Sam is also the director of Seaglass Arts who put on the show and is based in St Leonards.. How does he see performing to a very young audience? "The whole piece is conceived so that there's space for children to express themselves freely. It's a brilliant challenge and one to embrace. They haven't learned the rules of group behavior and what's expected of them - and what's not expected. Some just want to watch quietly or have a cuddle with mum or dad, but others come up and play."
As the show goes on, more of the toddlers get involved. "It's a kind of journey. They start off sitting with a parent and then get bolder and bolder. Hopefully we're able to release them from any anxiety but best of all we really find out what the audience thinks of what we are doing."
Catch a Sea Star will be performed in the Clore Studio at the Royal Opera House from June 3-7.
