TRACEWORKS PROJECTS

JACK DEFROST

POP UP SHOW

2021-PRESENT

Photo | ROUGEDMILK

JACK DEFROST is bringing live theatre magic directly into outdoor community settings

JACK DEFROST is an enchanting dance performance, unravelling the traditional character of Jack Frost and his journey through the changing seasons and new environments. Join Jack, as he discovers the magic of nature and adapting to change in this engaging and original production.

The pop up show was created in 2021 from a desire to bring professional dance directly into outdoor community settings, and particularly for those who are more isolated.

The original community tour of JACK DEFROST saw the show performed to a wide variety of audiences across London and further afield. Venues and locations included festivals, parks, doorsteps, care homes, sheltered housing, community centres, a mental health unit, health centre, support groups, community groups, a woodland sculpture trail and a market place.

The show has since formed part of the Mayor of London’s #LetsDoLondon campaign to welcome tourists back into the city, with performances popping up at a range of vibrant locations including Canary Wharf Roof Garden, Battersea Power Station and King’s Cross Station. JACK DEFROST continues to tour today, and is available for booking in community settings, and at festivals and events.

  • "thank you to the absolutely fabulous Traceworks Dance for bringing their beautiful pop up show to us today"

  • "we were so lucky to be able to welcome Traceworks Dance to one of our groups last week – JACK DEFROST was mesmerising and held us all with a beautifully choreographed performance in our nature reserve"

  • "everyone was moved, touched in some way and some quite profoundly"

  • "loved the production, really imaginative and tells a story”

JACK DEFROST’s Journey

Public Shows

  • Royal Greenwich Together 21 Festival, Charlton Park, London

  • Woolwich Common Community Centre, London

  • Telegraph Hill Centre, London

  • Turning Tides Festival, Greenwich Peninsula

  • Westmead Open Space (tree sculpture trail opening event), Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • Market Place & Island Park, Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • John Coles Park, Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • Shrewsbury House Community Centre & Garden, Shooters Hill, London

  • Battersea Power Station, London

  • Canary Wharf Roof Garden, London

  • Spitalfields E1, London

  • King's Cross Station, London

  • Kidbrooke Village Christmas Fair, London

  • Festival 14, Jubilee Park, Canary Wharf, London

  • Wembley Park, London

  • Glastonbury Festival 2024

Community Shows

  • Doorstep shows in Catford/Catford South/Bellingham, London

  • Leah Lodge & Rectory Court care homes, Blackheath, London

  • ‘Branching Out’ community group, Telegraph Hill Centre, London

  • ‘Strawberry Fields Sow & Grow’ community group, Sydenham Garden, London

  • Westwood House care home, Sydenham, London

  • Mandela House retirement housing, Plumstead, London

  • ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ community group, St Andrew The Apostle Church, Catford, London

  • Welcome care home, Catford, London

  • Penerley Lodge care home, Catford, London

  • 'Silver Surfers' community group & Goldsmiths Community Pre-school, Goldsmiths Community Centre, Lewisham, London

  • Ralph Perring Court retirement housing, Morden College, Beckenham, London

  • Conrad Court care home, Surrey Quays, London

  • Flowers Manor care home, Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • Volunteers group, Chippenham Museum, Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • Seymour House care home, Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • Ferfoot care home, Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • The Priory care home, Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • The Old Vicarage care home, Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • Cote House care home, Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • Charlton Park care home, Charlton, London

  • Fairmount residential care home, Mottingham, London

  • Stanstead Lodge senior club, Forest Hill, London

  • Hazelhurst Court care home, Beckenham, London

  • Morden College, Blackheath, London

  • 'Silver Sunday' online event, The Positive Ageing Council, Lewisham, London

  • Puddingstone Grange care home, Plumstead, London

  • The Ladywell - mental health unit, University Hospital Lewisham, London

  • Lewisham Mencap community group, London

  • Waldron Health Centre, New Cross, London

  • Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle de Londres, London

  • Tolmer’s Square Community Event (Camden People’s Theatre), London

  • Glastonbury Festival 2024

  • Mayor of London's #LetsDoLondon Campaign

    Photo | Greater London Authority

  • Waldron Health Centre, New Cross, London

  • Mayor of London's #LetsDoLondon Campaign

    Photo | Greater London Authority

  • John Coles Park, Chippenham, Wiltshire

  • JACK DEFROST POP UP SHOW

    Photo | ROUGEDMILK

  • Goldsmiths Community Centre, Lewisham, London

  • JACK DEFROST POP UP SHOW

    Photo | ROUGEDMILK

  • King's Cross Station, London

Creative Team

  • JAMES AIDEN KAY

    CO-DIRECTOR & PERFORMER

    Photo | Ivar Sviestins

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  • JULIAN LEWIS

    CO-DIRECTOR & PERFORMER

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  • JESSICA HAENER

    CREATIVE PRODUCER

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  • YANN SEABRA

    COSTUME DESIGNER

    Photo | Roswitha Chesher

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  • ROUGEDMILK

    MAKE-UP DESIGN

    Photo | Nik Pate

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Doorstep Shows

At Traceworks, we believe dance has the power to enhance people’s mental health and wellbeing - and with our unique doorstep shows of JACK DEFROST, we have brought the performance to isolated and vulnerable members of our community.

Older people face many barriers against accessing art and culture, and being among those most vulnerable to COVID-19, were limited further during the pandemic. With reduced opportunity for social engagement, the restrictions undoubtedly caused a greater issue of loneliness.

We are raising funds to continue taking doorstep shows of JACK DEFROST into different communities. If you can help us with fundraising or would like to make a donation to our doorstep fund, please follow the link below or contact us.

Workshops

JACK DEFROST has inspired people to delve deeper into the production, and explore creative ideas and activities for themselves. Our team has extensive experience in delivering creative workshops and we can offer a range of these as part of our show packages and touring activity.

Workshops can accompany our performances, or take place on separate days, they include:

  • creative movement for all ages & abilities

  • dance technique & JACK DEFROST repertoire for advanced dancers & students

  • arts & crafts for families

Book The Show

JACK DEFROST was created with versatility in mind, adapting to a range of outdoor scenarios with minimal set-up and technical requirements. The show is suitable for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Are you a theatre or festival programmer? organising an event? or do you look after a community venue or group who would be interested in booking the show? We’d love to hear from you!

WALKABOUT

For most shows of JACK DEFROST, we precede each performance with a 6 minute walkabout - a moment to introduce the magical character and set the scene, create an impact and establish the performance area within the surrounding environment.

POST-SHOW Q&A & EXHIBITION 

Question & answer sessions can be provided after the performances - an interactive opportunity for audience members to chat with the company and find out more about the ideas behind the show, the creative process and the unique touring method. In some settings, the company can pass around photographs and objects - or even set up a small exhibition of ‘behind-the-scenes’ content. 

For more information, to request a show pack & to discuss packages, please send us an enquiry below.

Show Creation Partners

  • The Plumstead Centre

Touring Partners (2021-23)

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