Big Emotions call for Big Imaginations.

Sam is a happy, dinosaur loving eight-year-old whose world turns upside down after his parents separate. At school he meets Alex, a deaf girl with a vivid imagination and impressive collection of dinosaurs.

Bonding over boring packed lunches and their favourite fierce T-Rex, the pair form an unlikely friendship. When home becomes difficult for Sam, Alex whisks him away on an adventure to meet Stan, the almighty T-Rex at Manchester Museum.

Featuring animated dinosaurs, Stan celebrates the power of play, the joy of communication and the positive force of friendship. Think Pixar’s Inside Out meets Night at the Museum, Stan is well worth a visit!

Stan is followed by a free workshop for children and families to help explore the play’s themes.

Stan is written by Sarah Emmott, and directed by John McGrath. Presented in partnership with Z-Arts and Manchester Museum.

Advisory notes

Themes: Stan explores themes of parental separation.
Loud noises: There are 5 minutes in which loud dinosaur noises are played intermittently. Ear Defenders will be available. However, if you own a pair please bring your own.
Late comers’ policy: We are happy to admit latecomers at any point during the performance.

Access:

Stan is written and performed in English and British Sign Language and uses captions. Our hearing actors communicate in English, and our deaf actor communicates in BSL. The captions will support both hearing and deaf audiences. The post-performance workshop will be BSL Interpreted. We have worked with deaf-led organisations, deaf children and Manchester Deaf Centre in developing the production and supporting workshops.

Free Workshop:

In this free 30 minute workshop straight after the performance, we’ll explore the play’s key themes and we will collectively create letters to the characters using the strength and bravery we have all gained from our friend, Stan the T-Rex. The workshop will be BSL interpreted. This workshop has been made with both deaf and hearing children in mind and will be BSL Interpreted. Children can get involved as much or as little as they would like.