Bamboo

Easily obtained from local garden centres or online, this versatile resource is a must have. It is visually beautiful and resilient, and available in a variety of thicknesses and lengths, making it a useful resource for creating spaces and structures. It is easy to drill holes in, to enable secure fastening with rope or cable ties. The longer, thicker poles can quickly form the basis of many different structures, for example tepees, shacks, beach huts or temples.

Build large structures by first securing bamboo poles to firm attachment points on the walls or ceiling. Vertical poles can often be hung from the ceiling so they just touch the floor, and then secured at the base with sandbags or stones to prevent swinging. Attach bamboo screens (available from garden centres) to pole structures to create an enclosed space.

Tie additional poles onto the basic framework to build simple dwellings that can create the feeling of a large space or give focus to a particular area.

Tie large sheaves of leafy bamboo around the space to form beautiful forest areas. Shine lights or torches up through the leaves to make gigantic moving shadows on the ceiling and walls. Alternatively, attach leaves, real or constructed, to vertical poles to create trees.

Initiate movement and fun through hiding and revealing games behind bamboo clumps.

Play with the rustling leaves to create an additional aural texture to the setting.

Build structures that encourage participation around a secure vertical pole, such as a cider or wine press.

Decorate bamboo poles i.e. with ribbons, streamers, bunting, to create alternative spaces - on board ship, at the fair for example

Build percussion racks, useful for gongs and bottle xylophones.

Tap and scrape bamboo with sticks and beaters to encourage rhythm making, play and movement

Source bamboo instruments from around the world such as xylophones, anklung, rainsticks, gopichand and slapsticks, as they provide unique musical qualities for participants to experience.

Bamboo has unique sound and textural qualities and is used around the world in the making of many intriguing instruments, which can also complement and reinforce different themes.