About Us
We are an ecotheatre company based in Lancashire. As a collaborative team of researchers, designers, and theatre-makers, our mission is to create bold theatrical works about climate change – with sustainable practice embedded into all we do.
Our Name
The name Tenderfoot Theatre came from the same place we did – as young makers, entering the world of professional theatre-making for the first time. The word ‘Tenderfoot’ refers to a raw, inexperienced person, one on a new journey of discovery
The journey into new experiences and learning is one we begin again every day – especially when it comes to our planet. And so, as the name suggests, our journey is one that invites you to move with tender, gentle feet – and tread carefully on our great planet
Our Story
The Tenderfoot project started in 2019, at Edge Hill University where we were studying Drama. Excited to begin our careers in theatre, we looked ahead to the industry we were to graduate into; as a record summer of climate protests began. Two things became clear – firstly, there is much work to be done to future-proof our industry for generations to come, and secondly – there is a world of incredible researchers and makers already acting to make this a reality, a community we are now a growing part of, and one we encourage everyone to join.
Combining our passion for sustainability with our love of theatre, Tenderfoot began a research and development project which aimed to use theatre to raise awareness of climate change-related issues, while developing new and improved ways to deliver live performance in a more planet-friendly way. Following an extended break through the pandemic, Tenderfoot restarted our research and practice as a resident company at The Chapel: Ormskirk Arts House. Our debut show was created there as part of the Climate Change Theatre Action Festival 2021. Since then, we've developed community-facing works to raise awareness of ocean plastic, eco-anxiety, family planning in the face of climate change, and the importance of green spaces in communities. In 2022, we took our debut touring production Stop the World, We're Getting Off out on the road for its UK tour which included a two-week run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, before winding up the tour at Edge Hill where we would then begin our Arts Centre residency in 2023. Since then, we have gone on to develop a range of works – from short plays to digital pieces, installations and spoken word. You can find out more about our current and past projects here.
