Menu

Merry Elwin: The Adventurous Elf

Merry Elwin: The Adventurous Elf

A festive journey teaching us about other cultural traditions

Delivered with Derby LIVE, Derby Museums and QUAD, Merry Elwin the Adventurous Elf was a large-scale co-creation project engaging schools, libraries and community groups across Derbyshire, including priority places in the Derbyshire Dales. I worked with participants aged 5 to 12, 12 to 16 (including SEND), and 60+ through free workshops, exploring global Christmas folk traditions.

The programme reached 800 participants, plus 12 students, through a virtual school. It offered workshops in storytelling and creative writing, music, art, mask-making, set and prop design, and drama, delivered by a team of professional practitioners and me. It successfully engaged groups from culturally deprived areas with little or no previous arts involvement.

Public outcomes included a live theatre production and multi-art exhibition at Chapel Street Arts Centre, Derby, created collaboratively by participants and professionals, plus a children’s book featuring participants’ work. The theatre production reached over 1,100 people, and the exhibition was extended by a week due to demand, welcoming over 4,000 visitors.

I created this project to explore how other nations and their peoples celebrate Christmas. I wanted to create a festive, feel-good show for young children, where they learned new things in a fun way. Elwin the Elf, suffering a midlife crisis, was born. He and human girl Holly took us all on a journey around the world, meeting lots of different people and ultimately learning what Christmas means. We had great fun making this show, through clowning, song, and heartfelt humour.

Two actors in christmas clothes sit in front of a sleigh on stage during a performance of Merry Elwin: The Adventurous Elf
Two actors in silly christmas outfits during a performance of Merry Elwin: The Adventurous Elf
An actor appears trapped in the front of a gingerbread house during a performance of Merry Elwin: The Adventurous Elf
“Paul's creative and professional approach is evident in his inventive use of multi-art and performance techniques. He skillfully blends traditional and contemporary elements, offering a refreshing perspective that resonates with both established and new audiences”

Richard Wheeldon, Event Operations Manager, Derby LIVE

“The Merry Elwin Team came into Findern Primary School and delivered workshops to children from Year One to Year Six. The children loved taking part in the drama workshops and related activities and were talking about the experience for days afterwards. What made the day, was the enthusiasm and interaction from the actors, who consistently held the attention of all children during the sessions. I would recommend this team to any other school and would be very glad to have them back in school again.”

James Goodman, Headteacher, Findern Primary School