Theatre: ZARA, Imperial War Museum

A theatre company is preparing to present a giant piece of outdoor theatre for the whole family which includes a moving ‘baby’ that’s bigger than a double-decker bus.

Mind the Gap, along with outdoor event specialists Walk The Plank, are bringing ZARA to the Imperial War Museum on May 10-11 which tells the epic story of one learning disabled mother and her fight to protect her baby.

The production promises to be a one-off experience with a soaring musical score, a cast of more than 100, cherry pickers, tanks and 3D projections.

Julia Skelton, executive director of Mind the Gap, said: “ZARA is a huge-impact piece of outdoor theatre that has been four years in the making.

We have brought together an international team of directors, choreographers, producers, designers, technicians, puppeteers, musicians and actors.

“Right now, there are hundreds of people working on the project in the UK and we are really proud to be the company behind the idea.”

Liz Pugh, creative producer of Walk the Plank, said: “I met Mind the Gap a couple of years ago and knew immediately that we should work with them.

“I was drawn to their work and their ethos; they are bold, inclusive, and are breaking boundaries.

Walk the Plank make work in public spaces in order to reach and engage as diverse an audience as possible, and as such we are thrilled to collaborate with a company so respected in the theatre industry and within learning disability arts.”

ZARA’s artistic director Joyce Nga Yu Lee said: “I believe theatre has the power to move hearts and minds, and with this team of leading creatives, ZARA is going to do just that.

“Throughout our research, the stories we heard were tender, shocking, funny, poignant and everything in between; ZARA is a fusion of these complex and untold precious stories – and then supersized.

It’s an unprecedented performance that puts learning disabled parents and artists at its heart and is guaranteed to deliver an unforgettable experience.”