Rachel Fuller & Emilia Wharfe: BEE
The author and the illustrator introduce their new book, the story of Bee and their fairy friend Sprout’s magical journey filled with music, art and theatre.
BEE, written by acclaimed composer Rachel Fuller, and illustrated by Emilia Wharfe, is the story of a child with a beautiful mind who feels out of place in the world.
Bee is often misunderstood and struggles to concentrate and connect with others, until Sprout helps them to realise that difference is what makes us extraordinary.
Bringing together music, words and beautiful illustrations, BEE explores themes of difference and acceptance, addressing and celebrating neurodiversity and the importance of cultivating individual talents and sharing them with the world.
Rachel Fuller began composing her own music at the age of 10, and as an adult quickly became established as an in-demand orchestrator. Diagnosed with ADHD in her late forties, she navigated childhood challenges within the confines of mainstream education, emerging with a profound understanding of difference. These experiences inspired her to create BEE as a way of celebrating and empowering neurodiverse children.
Emilia Wharfe is a storyteller, artist and explorer of the in-between who also has personal experience of neurodivergence. Her practice involves collaborative storytelling with clients and viewers, uncovering the beauty within liminal spaces, where stories breathe and ideas intertwine to speak their own visual language.
Need to know
Every adult and child needs a ticket, except for babes in arms aged under 18 months at the time of the performance who don’t need their own seat.
Emilia Wharfe
Rachel Fuller
Access
This event is a Relaxed Performance (RP).
Relaxed Performances have a relaxed approach to noise and movement in the space, and you are free to enter and exit during the performances. A chill-out space and noise-cancelling headphones are available for both adults and children. There are no adjustments to sound and lighting for these performances and this event contains amplified sound and audio-visual elements.
You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
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For your visit
This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.
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We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
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