Timeline
A Timeline of Bounce Theatre
Since 2006, Bounce has been bringing people together to make good things happen. We’ve grown from an idea around a kitchen table into a company regularly producing intricate projects with up to 450 participants.
2006-2011
2006
Bounce Theatre was founded by Louise Pendry alongside supportive and passionate friends around a kitchen table.
2007
Louise directed the Dramatic Edge, a theatre production for both primary and secondary showcases in Richmond upon Thames.
2008
Securing a commission from Hounslow Council, Bounce delivered a series of after school drama clubs for the Hounslow Extended Schools service.
2009
Bounce establishes "Creative Mums", a creative arts outreach supporting mothers to connect and express themselves through the arts, for the Hounslow Extended Schools service.
2010
Bounce was commissioned to make "Butterfly Stories", a professional production bringing moments of joy and creativity to children and families at The Shooting Star Hospice.
2011
The Arts Council commission Bounce to run "Be Creative Be Well" on the Meadows Estate in Hounslow, using the arts to support wellbeing as part of the Well London initiative.
With several years of community projects, commissions, and productions under our belt, Bounce became...XYZ
2012-2016
2012
Tiny Tales from Around the World: An intergenerational cast, aged 7 to 70, performed an original story celebrating local friendships, as part of the Olympic celebrations.
2013
Inside My Imagination: Commissioned for the Paralympics, this performance celebrated the voices of children at a hospital, with professional performances in Hampton and Hounslow for children and their families.
2014
​Hounslow Youth Theatre: Bounce established a thriving youth theatre for 60 children and young people, transforming an empty space into a vibrant theatre. During this time, they staged numerous productions, performed at the Rose Theatre and Soho Theatre as part of New Connections, featured in a Channel 4 Big Dance documentary, and curated their own festival, 'Homegrown and Handmade in Hounslow'.
2014
Poppy Stories: A heritage project where young people explored oral histories and stories from World War Two.
2014
Urban Art Stories: A mixed media project celebrating urban art heritage, culminating in an exhibition, performance installation, gig, and workshops at the Saatchi Gallery.
2015
Fried Chicken: A tense drama where four strangers, trapped in a chicken shop after a fight breaks out, confront issues of gangs and grief. Created with Anstee Bridge, it was professionally performed at the Arthur Cotterell Theatre and the Richmond Safeguarding Conference.
2016
60 Years of Fashion: A mixed media heritage project, in collaboration with Anstee Bridge, celebrating 60 years of fashion, which culminated in exhibitions at the Rose Theatre and the Saatchi Gallery.
The next period of Bounce Theatre saw bigger productions, and a greater number of commissions running in schools, youth and community groups, and our first heritage projects!
2017-2020
2017
Emoji: It’s Prom Night, and for three young people, life will never be the same as their true feelings are revealed. A tender story of transformation and self-love, created with Anstee Bridge and performed at Kingston Academy.
2018
Our Health Your Hands: A mixed media project with Anstee Bridge, celebrating 70 years of the NHS. Students curated an installation that toured to 300 children, all of whom earned their first Arts Award with Bounce Theatre.
2019
Scar: Four young people’s worlds collide as they anxiously await news of their friends. SCAR explores the connections between physical and mental health. Made with Anstee Bridge and performed professionally at the National Archives, Rose Theatre, Turing House, Heatham House, Kent Council Safeguarding Conference, and Kingston Hospital’s Nursing and Midwifery Conference.
2019
Things to do in a Blackout: A mixed media heritage project investigating crime during World War II.
2020
Grace Dear Arts Project: Originally envisioned as a youth theatre, this project transformed into a digital offering during lockdown. It provided young people with a creative space amidst the chaos, offering acting, writing, podcasting, and yoga sessions.
2020
Story Club: During Covid, Bounce adapted all its projects into DIY zines for children and older people. These were distributed digitally and printed to support foodbanks, schools, and community groups, with 11,000 copies going out weekly at the height of the pandemic.
2020
Dear Children: With Christmas cancelled, Bounce created a tiny, professionally performed Santa show that toured over 300 doorsteps in Wandsworth. Instead of exchanging presents, parents donated to the local Food Bank, raising £5,000.
Blurb here about this period of learning post-Covid
2021-present
2021
Sugar & Spice: A mixed media heritage project exploring how Tooting evolved after World War II, drawing connections with contemporary life.
2022
Turn Up Join In: A social prescribing commission that evolved into an intergenerational community art project at the Home Cafe.
2022
Speech Bubbles: Bounce proudly became a partner in the national charity Speech Bubbles, supporting young people’s communication skills.
2022
Threads of Tooting: A mixed media heritage project exploring Tooting’s rich relationship with textiles, with both a script and a book created.
2022
Youth Theatre - Earlsfield: A youth theatre was established in Earlsfield, giving children a space to explore the many ways we can communicate.
2023
Another landmark heritage project for Bounce was secured, looking at food heritage of diverse groups of people in and around Earlsfield, running throughout 2024.
“It has made me come out and tell people my problems. That has helped my mental health. The two leaders of the group, I would give them 10 out of 10. I would do the group every
year.”
Turn Up Join In Project Participant