tutti frutti productions present in association with Naked Productions Ltd
A new audio play by Mike Kenny, a podcast series and an interactive game created for all
Sleepyheads aged 3 years and over
Welcome to our 30 minute dreamy audio play for you to listen to, themed around the wonders and benefits of sleep. Plus three amazing podcasts presented by the delightful Zoe Salmon who introduces an array of interesting guests all talking about how to get a great night’s sleep, and before you leave, there is a fun interactive Sleep Time Karting game to play too!
The audio play by Mike Kenny follows the interstellar adventures of Ivy and her toy rabbit, Bun Bun. Every night bedtime comes around, but tonight they cannot sleep. When Ivy and Bun Bun find themselves alone on the moon, sleeping is not so easy. Ivy tries her best to sleep but she just can’t!
It’s too dark! The stars are too bright! The earth sounds are too noisy! And now the galaxy is too quiet to sleep!
Join this funny and charming double act on their quest to find a perfect place to sleep under the stars. This out of this world audio adventure includes celestial songs composed by Christella Litras. If you can’t sleep, won’t sleep or love to sleep there is something in this 30 minute audio play for you.
Generously funded by the Wellcome Trust and Garfield Weston Foundation.
Podcast for school staff – health and wellbeing for children to thrive in school
The schools’ podcast is an informative podcast all about sleep presented by ambassador for The Sleep Charity, Zoe Salmon. Listen to invited guests Prof Colin Espie, the Professor of Sleep Medicine at the University of Oxford, talking about the science behind why we need sleep, and the CEO of The Sleep Charity, Vicki Dawson, and year one teacher, Caroline Lister, who explore some of the problems primary teachers and school staff face when they have children in class who they believe may be sleep deprived.
Podcast for families – health and wellbeing for families to be happy
The family podcast is an insightful podcast all about sleep presented by ambassador for The Sleep Charity, Zoe Salmon. Listen to invited guest, Claire Earley, sharing her true life story of sleep deprivation and how it was overcome, and sleep practitioner, Helen Rutherford, talking about bedtime boxes – a clever technique to help young children get to sleep at night.
Podcast for children – to play before bedtime to help you relax and fall asleep
The childrens’ podcasts is a dreamy podcast presented by ambassador for The Sleep Charity, Zoe Salmon, who introduces you to her friend BUN BUN the rabbit from the Sweet Dreams audio play. He is going to help you feel calm and sleepy with soothing music by Christella Litras.
It’s time to snuggle up, get cosy and relax…..
Sleep Time Karting Game
Sweet Dreams has been made for you to listen to for free online, but, before you go please try our fun interactive game Sleep Time Karting, to play with your children. The game has been developed to find out about our audiences sleep behaviour to support the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust‘s future work.
This game contains five multiple choice survey questions on your child’s sleep routines. The data generated cannot be traced back to an individual player. The data will provide insight into sleep routines for the Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust to help them with further research which in turn will help children and families with sleep conditions and sleep problems.
To aid better sleep we recommend you do not play the game or use screens during the hour before bedtime. This game has been designed to be used on a desktop or laptop using the keyboard.
Click the blue arrow to play
All the audio and game content is underpinned with research about sleep behaviours in children and families supported by our partners, The Sleep Charity and Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.
Thank you to all the artists who contributed to the development of the ideas for Sweet Dreams: Sandrine Monin, Catherine Chapman, Warda Abbasi, Izabela Janina Duszenko , David Sappa.
This project was developed during the coronavirus pandemic under safe conditions. As such, it was recorded and worked on remotely at the homes of the creatives.
Please tell us a little about yourself?
We would love to know a little bit more about you, please could you tell us…
Transcripts
Sweet Dreams Audio Play Transcript
Download
Sweet Dreams Childrens' Podcast Transcript
Download
Sweet Dreams Families' Podcast Transcript
Download
Sweet Dreams Schools' Podcast Transcript
Download
Creative Team
Arman Ataman
Game creator
Arman Ataman is a new media artist who designs experimental ways to tell stories. He uses a wide range of media, such as video games, vr, sound design, creative coding, interactive design, and fine arts among others.
Having a background in marketing and communications, Ataman worked and lived around the globe in, Europe, U.S and Japan before deciding to pursue his artistic vision. After his first solo show Boredom in istanbul(2017) he exhibited projects in IRCAM Paris (2019) and Sonar+D in Barcelona (2019).
He received his MA from Royal College of Art in London in 2020. Currently he is the director of Noisy Neighbour Creative Studios, his London based agency where he keeps looking for new and exciting ways to tell stories.
Caroline Lister
Podcast Guest
Caroline came to Leeds to study Psychology at the University and loved the city so much that she stayed. She went on to become a primary school teacher working in inner city schools. She has always valued the arts both in family life (the mother of five boys) and at work, leading the subject in each school she has worked in.
She came across Tutti-Frutti many years ago and loved our work. When she joined Harehills Primary school she was delighted to discover we were based next door to her in the Shine building, and as a result she has worked closely with us bringing the children from Harehills Primary school to see all our shows.
Christella Litras
Music Director
Christella Litras is a songwriter, musicians, composer, vocal arranger, record produce, creative support officer (Leeds Playhouse) and founding member of Caution Collective. Christella has a strong interest in World music, is heavily interested in Caribbean music and is known for her collaborations and tours with World Musicians, such as Ella Andall and Motown legends, such as Martha Reeves. She assisted in the production of Rob Green’s album Blue which was 3rd in the ITunes RnB Charts. Recently she was comissioned to compose the musical score for Windrush: Movement of the People by Phoenix Dance Theatre, which celebrated the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the SS Empire Windrush and the Caribbean residents that traveled to the UK. A protégée of Geraldine Connor she is heavily involved in the Geraldine Connor foundation contributing to many successful projects.
Claire Earley
Podcast Guest
My name is Claire Earley I am Mum to a young man with complex disabilities and health needs who experienced severe sleep issues for the first 8 years of his life. Resolving Jack's sleep issues was the driving force that motivated me to train as a sleep practitioner to help families in similar circumstances. I have been supporting families to get a better night's sleep for over 13 years.
Dimitris Menexopoulos
Game Sound
Dimitris Menexopoulos (a.k.a. Menex) is a versatile composer, sound designer, audio technologist and multi-instrumentalist from Thessaloniki, Greece. Having an academic background in Geoscience, Electronic Production and Design, he often draws elements from a wide spectrum in the fields of Art and Science to carry out his work. He has two solo albums under his name (Phenomena - 2014, Perpetuum Mobile - 2017), a virtual reality video game score (The Village - 2019) and various performances internationally. His collaborations include electronic musician Robert Rich (Vestiges - 2016), director Shekhar Kapur (Brides of the Well - 2018) and film composer George Kallis (Cliffs of Freedom - 2019) among others. He is currently based in London, UK.
Dr Dylan Yamada-Rice
Digital Advisor
Dr Dylan Yamada-Rice is Acting Head of Information Experience Design at the Royal College of Art. Her research is at the intersection of experimental design and social sciences, focusing on the design of digital storytelling, games and play on a range of platforms for children such as apps, augmented and virtual reality, as well as new content for television.
Heather Elphick
Advisor
Heather is Consultant in Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Medicine. Having trained at Alder Hey and Melbourne Children’s Hospitals, Heather now leads the sleep service at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, managing a comprehensive range of sleep conditions including complex sleep apnoea and narcolepsy. She was awarded the position of Professor of Child Health at Sheffield Hallam University in 2014, in recognition of her collaborative work in research and innovation.
Heather is passionate about improving sleep for children and parents and studying the mechanisms linking sleep with mental health and wellbeing. In her spare time she loves to play her clarinet in the Sheffield and Amaretti Chamber orchestras, as well as to walk and cycle with her family.
Helen Rutherford
Podcast Guest
Helen Rutherford is a trained Specialist Sleep Practitioner, has worked with children with additional needs for over 30 years and is a Family Liaison Officer for a special educational needs school in Worcestershire. She managed the Local Authority Portage Service for 12 years before becoming a sleep practitioner and trainer.
Helen has been lead practitioner on a number of projects including NHS England funded ‘Sleep Support for Children with Autism’ (that went on to win a National award for The Children’s Sleep Charity) and Sleep Support for children with ADHD funded by BBC Children in Need.
Helen trains both parents and professionals.
When not working, Helen is a busy mum to four free-spirited children, an avid Dragonboat racing enthusiast, runner and stand-up paddle boarder.
Juliette Coquet
Game 3D Modeller and Art Direction
Juliette Coquet is a multidisciplinary designer from Paris, France, focusing on art direction for physical and digital experiences. She has a background in graphic design, 3D modelling and interactive installations. Her practice also involves creating video games and virtual reality experiences.
Louis Blatherwick
Sound Recordist
Louis is a young sound recordist specialising in audio drama and creative audio. He has worked on numerous audio projects across BBC Radio 4, Radio 3, Audible, and The Guardian, as well as being a recent recipient of the New Creatives North commission.
Mike Kenny
Writer, Sweet Dreams audio play
Mike Kenny is one of England’s leading writers specialising in young people’s theatre. He was included in the Independent on Sunday’s list of Top Ten Living Playwrights and his plays are performed regularly throughout the UK and all over the world. His Olivier Award-winning adaptation of THE RAILWAY CHILDREN for York Theatre Royal, has had several successful revivals at Waterloo and Kings Cross stations, as well as at the National Railway Museum. In Canada it won the People’s Choice Award following its record-breaking run in Toronto. Mike won the 2015 Writers Guild Award for Best Play for Younger Audiences with THREE WISE MONKEYS and the DeutscherKindertheaterpreis in 2012 with ELECTRIC DARKNESS. In July 2013, Mike was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Nottingham for his work in theatre for young people.
Mike’s recent productions include Batley Variations, a community opera for Batley, and Random Selfies for Ovalhouse, London (Nominated for an Off West End Award) His play The Vulture Song was a co production between Blah Blah Blah in Leeds and Yellowcat, in Delhi. Last Year he wrote This is Not For You, working with Graeae and Forces Veterans on a large outdoor piece inspired by the disabled of the First World War. This was a 14-18-Now commission.
Paul Cargill
Sound Designer
Paul has been a Sound Engineer for the BBC for 40 years in a career spanning Radio, TV and Film. Paul worked as an SM at Bush House, Broadcasting House, Egton House and Maida Vale on everything from the Today Programme to Sport, Music and Schools Radio and then became an Assistant Dubbing Mixer for TV. Paul then came to Manchester as an Audio Supervisor and continued to work both in Radio and TV. Having been promoted to Senior Sound Supervisor Paul spent a year setting up Radio 5, the BBC’s first new radio network.
When TV Studio A in Manchester closed down, Paul opted to work in Radio, particularly Radio Drama, Radio Comedy and Music Sessions for Radio 1 and 2. He mixed Oasis and Elbow’s first live sessions and hundreds of other bands, mostly live to Network, including the last ever Peel Session, recorded on the day that John Peel died. In Drama he has mixed the longest live Radio Drama from Powys Castle, and has been involved with several joint Productions with the BBC Philharmonic.
Polly Thomas
Radio Director
Polly Thomas is an award winning audio drama director and producer, with a track record in theatre and short film. Polly worked in house for BBC Radio Drama in Manchester for 10 years and has been freelance since 2008.
She specialises in new, bold dramatisations and original work for BBC Radio 3 and 4; her other work includes exec producer of Sound Stage, a new audio digital platform for Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Pitlochry Festival Theatre, in association with Naked Productions; producer of 24 Hours of Peace, a 24 hour non stop audio and stage performance piece by Neil Bartlett, for Royal Exchange Theatre, Resonance FM and Thomas Carter Projects; facilitating Experimental Stories, science meets radio drama workshops for Wellcome Trust/BBC Radio 4; curating Hunger for Trade, a global theatre project, for Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester; directing Hidden Stories by Anjum Malik, community tour for Cartwheel Arts and shows in Dubai.
Professor Colin A Espie
Podcast Guest
BSc, MAppSci, PhD, DSc(Med), CPsychol, CSci, FBPsS, FRSM, FAASM
Colin is the Professor of Sleep Medicine at the University of Oxford (https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/team/colin-espie), where he is Director of the Experimental & Clinical Sleep Medicine research programme, and Clinical Director of Oxford Online Programme in Sleep Medicine (https://www.ndcn.ox.ac.uk/study-with-us/graduate-students/online-programme-in-sleep-medicine). He is also an Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology, at the University of Glasgow. He is internationally known for his work on insomnia and its treatment, using cognitive behavioural therapeutics (CBTx). He has published over 300 scientific papers and several textbooks. He is Deputy Editor of Journal of Sleep Research, serves on the editorial board of Sleep Medicine Reviews, and was awarded Honorary Fellow of the BABCP (British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies) in 2015, and the Mary A. Carskadon Outstanding Educator Award by the Sleep Research Society in 2017. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, the Royal Society of Medicine, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Colin is actively involved in print, TV and social media regarding the science of sleep (twitter.com/ProfEspie). He also co-founded https://www.bighealth.com/ the developer of SleepioTM which is now widely available in the NHS-UK and in the US healthcare system.
Ruth Kingshott
Advisor
Paediatric Sleep Physiologist
After graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Physiology from Edinburgh University, Ruth stayed on to undertake a PhD in Sleep Disorders and their effect on daytime function. Her career then took her to New Zealand to conduct further sleep research. She finally settled in Sheffield in 2002 where she works as a Paediatric Sleep Physiologist at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Ruth enjoys running and loves getting out exploring the Peak District with her family.
Vicki Dawson
Advisor and Podcast Guest
Vicki is the CEO and Founder of The Children’s Sleep Charity. She set up the charity to support children to get a good night’s sleep so that they can meet their full potential. The charity has won a number of national awards and regularly appears in the media. Vicki is on the Board of British Paediatric Sleep Association and was awarded the Duke of York Community Initiative for Outstanding Leadership.
Prior to setting up the charity Vicki worked as a teacher in various roles across Yorkshire. She lives in Doncaster with her husband Nick, two sons Joe and Daniel and their various pets!
Zoe Salmon
The Sleep Charity Ambassador and Podcast Presenter
Zoe Salmon is the award winning Television Presenter who hails from Bangor, Northern Ireland. Zoe qualified as a lawyer but then landed one of the most coveted jobs on TV as a presenter on the BAFTA Award winning BBC’s Blue Peter, the world’s longest running children’s television show, making her a household name.
Zoe’s most recent role supporting The Sleep Charity seeks to raise awareness of the importance of sleep and its impact on our health. From speaking at the Palace of Westminster to filming with fellow Sleep Ambassador Shaun the Sheep, Zoe hopes we can all better understand that sleep matters for physical, mental and emotional health, and that The Sleep Charity is given the support it needs to help our nation’s sleep.
Wendy Harris
Artistic Director, Chair of PYA England
I have held the position of Artistic Director at tutti frutti since 2005 and have directed all but one production in partnership with York Theatre Royal, touring nationally and internationally and co-producing the Little Feet Festival of Children’s Theatre and the First Words writers’ development programme
Before working with tutti frutti I was Artistic Director of Red Ladder Theatre Company, and previous to this; Merseyside Young People’s Theatre Company in Liverpool. Over the years as a freelance director work has included; Everyman Theatre Liverpool, Crucible Theatre Sheffield, Hope Street Ltd, Oxford Stage Company, Unity Theatre Liverpool, European Stage Company, Theatre Royal Stratford East, and Contact Theatre Manchester. I currently live in Leeds with my partner Mark and two sons Louie and Eliot.
Touring Team
Bay Bryan
Performer – Bun Bun
Bay Bryan is a performance artist based in Manchester originally hailing from the small town of Golden, Colorado (USA). Since graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow (2012) Bay has worked across the industry as an actor, singer, musician, dancer and composer.
Recently he co-composed the music to a new family musical called "The Not So Ugly Sisters," a Wrongsemble, Redladder and Leeds Playhouse production, which was set to open in April 2020 but has been postponed due to covid-19. You can find out more about what he's been up to via his website www.baybryan.co.uk.
Hannah Victoria
Performer - Ivy
Hannah Victoria is delighted once again to be working with tutti frutti productions, after landing the role of Ivy in Sweet Dreams by Mike Kenny.
Hannah’s theatrical performances include Gerda in Snow Queen and shortly after joined The Little Mix Tribute Show. She has recently just finished the UK and international tour of Madagascar The Musical as Gloria The Hippo.
Whilst in training she was cast as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act and Crystal Gordon in Bad Girls, The Musical. Hannah graduated from Edge Hill University in 2018 with a BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre. She would like to thank her family for their support and encouragement. Twitter @HannahVictor1a.
