Planet’s finite resources highlighted in Beyond Barbican’s Bank On It

The building which used to store the Hackney Archives in De Beauvoir Road has been transformed into a bank, as part of an innovative, interactive theatre experience teaching children about the planet’s finite resources.

Theatre company, Theatre-Rites, has created the site-specific promenade show, Bank On It, in the Rose Lipman Building in De Beauvoir Road as part of the Beyond Barbican season, which sees gigs, festivals and performances extend beyond the walls of the City of London theatre this summer.

Year 5 pupils from Our Lady and St Joseph Primary school in Tottenham Road, De Beauvoir were amongst the first to experience the show last week, as they were invited to explore the bank’s secrets.

Guided by actors, puppeteers and some unexpected characters, they discovered that something inside the kingdom of money was not quite right.

Our Lady and St Joseph teacher Judyta Ruminska said the show, which raises environmental awareness, was “absolutely fantastic”.

“The children found it was the best performance they had ever seen, they become part of the performance, that made them enjoy it even more,” she said.

“They learned about not using plastic bags and how to save electricity, it made them aware that resources are limited and that we all need to look after the planet.

“The way it was done is that children weren’t told those things, they had to work them out for themselves, so they had to question why we had all these plastic bags here in the ocean. They were led to their own understanding which is a much better way of raising awareness.”

Tickets cost £12 for adults and children, see www.barbican.org.uk/theatre for more information.