The Smalls

The Smalls is a fun, fascinating, interactive arts experience for small people and their grown-ups, merging dance, poetry, science, storytelling and song. Join us as we wriggle through a journey into a teaspoon of topsoil, bringing the weird and wonderful world of micro-creatures and soil mesofauna to life. 

A teaspoon of soil contains up to 6 billion microorganisms - many not much larger than a grain of sand - and they helped to create the first soils nearly 500 million years ago. The Smalls tells the untold story of these unassuming and often overlooked soil animals, igniting a passion for the magical microworld beneath our feet. 

These creatures may be tinier than termites and weeny-er than worms, but like any part of an ecosystem, they are fundamental to its health. The future of our soil and food depends on them! In an era of climate crisis, it’s time to look down, deeper, and get ready to defend The Smalls.

Come explore this incredible, little known ecosystem and become its future caretakers, cheerleaders and champions. Get ready to be entertained, educated, inspired - and invited to become part of the experience, discovering these strange creatures through a whimsical and delightful interactive performance for family audiences.

This trailer documents The Smalls' initial research and development residency and was filmed at The Place, London in August 2024.

Commissioned by The Place. Supported by Evolving Forests and Research England’s Higher Education Innovation Fund.

Choreographer: Izzy Brittain

Entomologist: Andy Murray

Musician: Otis Jones

Performers: Kate Cox & Bakani Pickup

Videographer: Alice Carfrae