Tiebreak Theatre Company

In 1981, Tiebreak Theatre Company was established at Norwich Arts Centre, England by David Farmer and Jon Oram. Its aim was to present Theatre in Education (TIE) performances and workshops in schools.

Tiebreak developed into a national touring company, visiting schools, art-centres and theatres across the UK. More recognition followed, with commissions from dozens of organisations, ranging from the Lyric, Hammersmith and Manchester Royal Exchange Theatre to the Natural History Museum, London, Forest Enterprise and The National Trust. 

The company toured shows to international festivals across Canada and the USA and collaborated with Hoipolloi Theatre to perform at the Edinburgh Festival, the Royal Opera House Studio and theatres in Los Angeles and New York.

The company was known for its innovative approach to a wide range of work including live music theatre, new writing commissions, participatory projects and issue-based plays. Writers included Kay Adshead, Leslie Davidoff, Neil Duffield, David Farmer, Bill Gallagher, Robert Rigby, Steve Waters.

Tiebreak produced 66 productions, seen by an estimated 500,000 children, young people and family audiences. It closed in 2005, following a policy change by the Arts Council of England.

Singing in the Rainforest was commissioned by The Natural History Museum, London in 1989. In the following decade it was performed at international festivals, in theatres, forests and parks.

Stories, comedy, drama and musical instruments from across the world… Wrestle with a man-eating spider, flirt with a bird of paradise, and march to the sound of the Army Ant Rap. Animals and insects from every layer of the rainforest join in a carnival of drumming, rattling, whistling and buzzing. But, creeping through the undergrowth, gliding through the waters, comes another creature, never seen before….

“Strongly evocative… the wonder and uniqueness of an endangered part of the world.” – The Times Educational Supplement.

“A breezy look at the ecological cycle with plenty of visual and aural magic.” – The Calgary Herald.