Act Your Age Exhibition

Mon 19 May, 2025

What do a kidnapped schoolboy, a Victorian child star, and a modern tween with big dreams have in common? Act Your Age, a captivating new play from Imaginarium Theatre Company, accompanied by an engaging exhibition, takes audiences on a time-travelling journey through the dazzling – and often demanding – world of child performers throughout UK theatre history.

History Brought to Life

The play and accompanying exhibition Act Your Age is based on original research by Katie Knowles (University of Liverpool) and written by Esme Miskimmin. Directed by Julie Ashurst and Gaynor La Rocca, the production is brought to life by the talented young performers of the Imaginarium Theatre Company.

Beyond the play’s captivating narrative is a real, often overlooked history:

• In 1600, 13-year-old Thomas Clifton was kidnapped on his way to school and forced into a theatrical career – a shocking reminder of how little control children once had over their futures.

• William Betty, the “Young Roscius,” was just 13 in 1804 when he became so famous that constables had to hold back the crowds at his London debut.

• Phoebe Carlo, who played Alice in Wonderland on stage in 1886, began acting at just 4 years old.

• In 1818, 7-year-old Clara Fisher wowed audiences playing Richard III – yes, that Richard III.

• The 1880s saw a bizarre boom in Children’s Opera Companies, performing scaled-down comic operas like HMS Pinafore – adult roles played by pint-sized stars.

While these performances may have looked like play, for many child actors, the stage was their workplace, one with long hours, demanding rehearsals, and few protections.

More Than Just a Show

Act Your Age doesn’t just entertain – it educates, questions, and connects. It invites audiences young and old to reflect on how childhood has been shaped by performance, ambition, and society’s expectations.

Do modern kids like Taylor really have it easier? Or are the challenges of youth, identity, and performance more universal than we think?

This heart-warming and thought-provoking play proves that while the costumes and theatres may change, the dreams and struggles of young performers remain timeless.

The exhibition runs from 24th May to 10th June.

Half-term Offer

Join us for a special May half-term family day! On Wednesday 28th May, from 11am to 2pm, Katie and Esme will be hosting a day of FREE drop-in activities for all ages. Stay as long as you like, no booking required!