Our story

OverTheres Stories CIC is a small team of neurodivergent creatives based in South Wales, making playful, inclusive theatre and workshops that help children fall in love with stories.

Our aim is simple: to make stories feel exciting, welcoming and inspirational for every child.

26% of UK children leave primary school without meeting expected reading levels

And only 1 in 3 children say they enjoy reading.

Neurodivergent children and those from low-income backgrounds often face even more barriers. The need for accessible, engaging literacy support is clear.

So in the summer of 2025, OverTheres Stories CIC was founded in South Wales. After more than three years of testing ideas, trialling characters and going back to the drawing board, we’re incredibly excited to share what we've learned.

The OverTheres is a character-led approach to literacy that feels fun, interactive and inclusive.

We create hands-on workshops and theatre performances for primary-age children and their families, using puppetry, storytelling and play to explore books, libraries and creativity beyond screens.

A caucasian man with short brown hair is performing a brown and blue puppet character who looks gently at a young girl who is drawing in a library workshop setting

Two young boys stand either side of a man performing a brown and blue puppet character. The children are holding handmade bookmarks proudly. They are in a library setting as part of a workshop.

Meet the team

A white man is holding a semi-realistic kea parrot puppet up to the camera

A young woman with glasses and curly hair is smiling at the camera against a blue backdrop

Rosie

Basil

Puppeteer
Prop & set designer
Teaching assistant

Founder
Puppeteer
Puppet builder

A man in glasses with a beard is standing in between two puppet characters and holding a clapper board

Luke

Director
Tech Guy
Editor

Navigating barriers

A man in glasses with short brown hair is holding and performing a puppet character to a child ff screen in a library

We’re led by our founder (and all-round puppet nerd) Basil, alongside Rosie and Luke. Between us, we’re puppeteers, directors, makers and facilitators. But more importantly, we’re people who know first-hand how hard education can feel when the system isn’t built for you.

We all grew up navigating barriers like low-income households, undiagnosed neurodivergence and non-traditional education. Those experiences shape everything we make. They help us create work that’s entertaining and joyful, but also thoughtful, accessible, and genuinely welcoming for children and the adults who accompany them.

Basil is our Creative Director and founder, with a background in puppetry, illustration and children’s storytelling.

Rosie is a director, puppeteer and set and prop designer who also works closely with young children.

Luke is a director and filmmaker with experience creating work alongside young people.

Together, we make work that invites curiosity, celebrates difference and puts children at the heart of the story.

We’re always keen to work with new partners.

If you’re a school, library, festival, community space, arts venue or somewhere else exciting, looking for accessible, engaging ways to connect children and families with literacy and creativity, we’d love to hear from you. Our performances and workshops are adaptable, relaxed and designed to meet audiences where they are- whether in a classroom, theatre, library or community hall.

Get in touch to book us, collaborate, or start a conversation.

Get in touch