Going for Gold at Dunham Massey

Sensory theatre performance ‘Told in Gold’ comes to the National Trust property in October half term

Parts of Dunham Massey’s north park will be transformed into a mysterious maze of giant set pieces, including a birds nest big enough for dozens of people to enter, as part of an all-new outdoor theatre experience for families, running during half term from 21–25 October.

The Lost Words: Told in Gold is a fully immersive and interactive show, and just one of several events at Dunham Massey National Trust this year based on Robert MacFarlane and Jackie Morris’s beloved and award-winning children’s book of poems and illustrations. The Lost Words was written to counteract words of nature disappearing from children’s vocabularies, words such as acorn, otter, magpie and heather. The book aims to bring these words back into the minds and imaginations of children, and ensure that interest in and care of wild spaces isn’t lost to future generations. The Lost Words: Told in Gold will be running alongside Dunham’s family trail also based on the book, and a series of weekly art workshops for adults.

The theatre company behind The Lost Words: Told in Gold have previously performed at Just So and Woodlands Festivals with another work based on the book, entitled Seek, Find, Speak. Told in Gold was initially set to debut at Lyme National Trust during the summer holidays, but was cancelled due to significant flood damage.

The Lost Words: Told in Gold, has been created as a fully sensory experience for children aged 4+, and is also designed to be an accessible experience for visitors with visual impairments, SEN or autism. Spoken sections will be performed in Makaton (simplified sign language).

The National Trust would like to ensure that all participants feel relaxed and welcome at this performance. If visitors would like more details of the production, or a visit to the event space before the performance starts, they are encouraged to get in touch with Dunham Massey office on 0161 941 1012 or dunhammassey@nationaltrust.org.uk.