Touring Into Schools – Autumn 2026

This October, artsdepot is offering primary schools in Barnet the chance to host Club Origami by Takeshi Matsumoto – a magical and immersive dance performance for Early Years and young primary audiences – completely free of charge.

Club Origami is a beautifully imaginative and interactive dance experience where dance, live music and the art of origami come together to spark creativity, movement and play. Children are invited into a magical world where paper comes to life, encouraging them to explore, imagine, and create alongside the performers.

Through movement, music and storytelling, children are encouraged to rip, fold and transform paper, move and express themselves, engage with live music and visual storytelling, and explore imagination and sensory play.

This 40-minute immersive performance is followed by an optional 10-minute stay-and-play session, giving children the opportunity to further engage with the themes, materials and creative play inspired by the show.

Schools can either host a performance and invite another local primary school to attend or visit a partner school for a shared arts experience. Each performance accommodates up to 70 children and accompanying staff (approximately 2 – 3 classes per show). The production is designed to be flexible and can be adapted to a variety of school settings.

This free performance package will be available to book between Monday 19 – Friday 23 October 2026. We are looking for five schools to host performances and up to five schools to attend performances at partner schools during the same period.

We are keen to involve schools from across the borough and welcome expressions of interest from state-funded primary schools. We are particularly interested in hearing from schools with specialist SEND provision and/or a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, helping us to ensure the programme reaches children who may have fewer opportunities to access arts and cultural experiences.

Please get in touch with us by Monday 13 July to secure your preferred date and hosting option. To express your interest, please email Nina.Graveney-Edwards@artsdepot.co.uk

Recommended for Reception and KS1 pupils.

This offer is part of Barnet & Culture for Youth for Touring into Schools Programme.

This project aims to ensure that children and young people in Barnet, who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience live performance, can engage with the arts, develop their creativity and confidence, and discover new ways of expressing themselves through movement and play.

Past Performances

Club Origami has delighted audiences in theatres, schools, libraries, hospitals and community settings across the UK and internationally, including performances at the Royal Opera House (UK), the National Theatre (Mexico) and the ZiguZajg Festival (Malta).

“The perfect way to introduce young children to the world of dance and the freedom of expression that comes with movement.” – The Young Londoner