Cornwall’s ‘Grandma on the Moon’ Theatre Production Helps Children Face Loss with Laughter and Understanding

A heartfelt theatre production exploring grief through a child’s perspective has captivated schoolchildren across Cornwall, helping young people understand and express feelings around bereavement.

Tackling Loss Through Theatre

Commissioned by Headstart Kernow, part of Cornwall Council, the play Grandma on the Moon tells the story of Timmy and his younger sister Poppy, who embark on an imaginative journey to find their grandmother after her passing. Through their quest, Timmy, aged 10, understands that “you don’t come back” after death, while five-year-old Poppy insists on finding her grandmother to “tell her something really important.”

Performed by the Az2B Theatre Company, the story is brought to life through a combination of drama, music, movement, and narration, creating a mix of humour and emotional depth that has resonated strongly with audiences. In the past month, five performances have taken place in Liskeard, St Austell, and Penzance, with students from 17 schools attending. Many described the production as “heartfelt” and “extremely funny,” with its engaging approach to a difficult topic.

Photo: The cast of Grandma on the Moon with audience member Lauren Capaldi (far right) and her son Theo (holding a ‘dead badger’ puppet used in the play).

Supporting Bereavement Conversations

Tracy Bowers, Headstart Kernow’s workforce development lead, reflected on the unique impact of the production, explaining that a grandparent’s death is often a child’s first encounter with loss. “Grandma on the Moon is a beautiful story which seeks to address this,” said Tracy. “It raises awareness and understanding of the bereavement process from a child’s perspective and encourages us to have open, honest conversations.”

Tracy noted that the play highlights how children’s grieving processes can differ from adults, which can sometimes lead to confusion or misunderstanding. The performance emphasises the significance of memories and keeping loved ones alive in our hearts and minds, even after they’re gone.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with Cornwall Council hoping to reach more children in 2025 through additional performances of Grandma on the Moon.

Breaking Taboos Around Death

Cllr Barbara Ellenbroek, cabinet member for children and families at Cornwall Council, expressed her support for the production, noting its vital role in helping young people address grief. “Death and bereavement are often still taboo subjects which makes them so much harder and more complicated to deal with, especially for children,” Barbara said. She highlighted how projects like this help break down taboos and promote the importance of holding onto precious memories.

Positive Response from Schools

Students and staff across Cornwall praised the production’s sensitive handling of grief. Liskeard Hillfort Primary School shared their appreciation, saying, “Thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. The performance was amazing. I honestly wouldn’t have been able to explain or describe grief in the way this performance did. It was so heartfelt, warm and extremely funny.” Mousehole School similarly commended the play, calling it a “really good production” that sparked “important conversations.”

Belinda Lazenby, artistic director at Az2B Theatre Company, noted the value Headstart Kernow places on the arts in supporting children’s well-being. “It is wonderful that Headstart have commissioned these performances across Cornwall,” said Belinda. “They really value the power of the arts to make a difference in children’s lives.”

For information on getting schools involved in future performances, contact Tracy Bowers at tracy.bowers@cornwall.gov.uk. More details about Headstart Kernow can be found at www.headstartkernow.org.uk.