Storytelling, Music and Mischief at Jacksons Lane | Children's Ukulele North London
How my story hits N6
Back in May 2026, Ukulittle® headed to Jacksons Lane in Highgate for its first half-term experience, combining storytelling, action and hands-on ukulele. Lulu Lupin™ had sold out at Festival Naturae in Italy in 2023, and following its success with a mixed-age group of children, we spotted the potential for developing the experience for London venues. It was then taken to the Green Shed in Muswell Hill in 2025, where it was enthusiastically received.
Jacksons Lane presents contemporary circus and family theatre, so taking the experience into Studio 5, one of its larger studio spaces, gave us the chance to expand the team and work with a capacity of around 35 people, including company members. The glorious Shuffalo Tree™ was added, along with further production support, including our wonderful tech runner, Chloe. After weeks of preparation, rehearsing and making, the wolfie gang was ready for their big day and for our guests to become part of the story, marking another stage in its development.
The children were encouraged to join in, respond, talk, sing and make choices. Ukuleles were provided for everyone to use, while some children brought their own. The emphasis is on taking part, exploring the instrument and discovering how music and storytelling can work together.
Creating the experience
In the weeks leading up to the event, the production gradually came together through props preparation, gobo lighting projections, paw prints, mysterious messages, handmade wolfie headbands and other rewards to take home. We created a world for children to immerse themselves in, with enough clues to spark curiosity and interactive elements to encourage continuous engagement.
Musical theatre sessions were held throughout the spring term with North London Ukulele Club (NLUC) 9 year old students Lila and Alysa, interpreting TippyTail™ including songwriting, ukulele technique and performance work. Wolf Pack members and former NLUC students Cameron and Timothy also returned to join us, interpreting Long Paw™ which was great, bringing their experience back to the group after moving on from the club and developing their own musical paths.
The Shuffalo Tree™, brilliantly played by Juan Manuèl Rodriguez, was developed through dedicated preparation sessions exploring character, music and physical theatre. All cast members took part in a dress rehearsal at the Green Shed in Muswell Hill in spring 2026, with a live interactive audience. Chloe steadily supported pre-production with photography, reels and flyering across Haringey, and on the day assisted with lighting and live percussions.
How it went
From the start, the children were communicative and ready to engage. The storytelling moved through a series of interactive and hands-on moments. One very young participant even performed an entire song he already knew to an amused audience, and everyone was keen to get their paws on the ukuleles. There was plenty of howling, moving on all fours, rolling, surprises coming out of dens, chasing and mischief.
Performers also had the chance to explore physical and musical theatre in front of their peers and families. These moments helped create a sense of participation and gave the children plenty of space for their own self-expression.
Guests were introduced to the instruments through simple techniques and guided playing, with plenty of opportunities to strum and join in together. Songmaking was also a shared activity, with children putting their hands up, voting and helping to shape different musical qualities. It created a simple way for everyone to contribute their ideas.
The experience lasted an hour and a half, and everyone stayed right through to the end, which felt especially encouraging with such a mixed young age group. The feedback afterwards was lovely too, with one comment simply reading: “No need for feedback. It was absolutely brilliant.”
A special thank you to the front of house staff and events team at Jacksons Lane for welcoming us and making us feel at home, and to Octopus Ukuleles for helping us get our colourful ukulele collection ready for the day.
What comes next
The May adventure at Jacksons Lane wasn’t the end of the story. Our children's ukulele North London sessions return this October half term with two new introductory Ukulittle® experiences for ages 5–9. Each session lasts 45 minutes with split age groups where registration patterns allow: Lordship Hub in Tottenham on Wednesday 28 October, followed by Jacksons Lane in Highgate on Thursday 29 October. Plans are already taking shape for regular sessions from January 2027 in both venues. So perhaps Lulu Lupin™ and her young wolfies started something bigger than we realised, and that’s exactly how we like our adventures to end, with more about to begin!
Photography by Chloe Shooter and Natalia Paraeva
Children's ukulele North London: Come & Play!
HALF TERM UKULELE ADVENTURES
Join in our ukulele adventures with these playful introductory sessions bringing together storytelling, imaginative play, rhythm, musical games, hands-on ukulele, well-loved songs, exploring the voice and songwriting. Sessions duration 45 minutes)
Wednesday 28 October
Booking at The Hub N17: https://classbento.co.uk/w/6hvc
3 pm ages 5–6 (The Hub)
4 pm. ages 7–9 (The Hub)
Lordship Hub, Lordship Recreation Ground, Off Higham Road, Tottenham, London, N17 6NU
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Thursday 29 October
Booking at Jacksons Lane N6: https://classbento.co.uk/w/cvfv
10.30 am ages 5–6 (Jacksons Lane)
11.30 am ages 7–9 (Jacksons Lane)
Jacksons Lane, Highgate, 269a Archway Road, London N6 5AA
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