Visitors to the Exeter Northcott Theatre this December have found themselves surrounded by thick oozy mud, long wavy grass, a deep cold river, a big dark forest, a narrow gloomy cave and a swirling whirling snow storm, all created by Devon children in Daisi workshops and inspired by the Theatre's latest production.

An exhibition throughout the Theatre is displaying the work of more than 600 Devon schoolchildren who worked with arts education charity Daisi to explore the classic story 'We're going on a Bear Hunt'. The children's artworks and soundscapes can be experienced throughout its run of the stage adaptation from 8 December to January 1 2012.

Pupils at Umberleigh Primary School in North Devon worked with Daisi visual artist Tracy Whitbread to recreate the long, swishy grass through which the family in the story must pass, while in East Devon, Littletown Primary School  whipped up a snowstorm with Daisi community artist Ruth Oakley. In Torbay, Daisi puppet maker Cara Patterson helped Marldon Church of England Primary School build the cave in which the bear is finally discovered, and in Exmouth, children from Beacon Church of England Primary School worked with Daisi sculptor James Lake to construct the forest through which it pursues the family on their race back home. Meanwhile, in Exeter, Daisi musician and composer Hugh Nankeville teamed up with children from the West of England School and College for young people with little or no sight to create the squelching, splashing, stumbling and whoo-ing sounds that are so essential to the story.

In all, the exhibition shows the work of children between the ages of five and eleven from thirteen schools across Devon, many of whom will attend the play and experience the fruits of their hard work during its three-week run. 

Arts education charity Daisi drew on its team of more than 150 professional artists and its links with schools across the county to put together the project, which is part of a longer-term partnership with Exeter Northcott Theatre. 

'The Bear Hunt exhibition is the first time we have worked with Exeter Northcott to bring art forms other than dance and drama into the theatre,' said Liz Hill, Director of Daisi. 'By working with professional artists to express their own interpretations of the story's sounds, sights and textures, and then seeing and hearing their work exhibited alongside the stage production, these very young children are experiencing the excitement and sense of achievement that comes from being part of a much bigger artistic enterprise.'

Kate Tyrrell, Executive Director of Exeter Northcott Theatre said: ‘Our Christmas family show is one of the highlights of the year and we always try and carry the sense of celebration, excitement and drama throughout the building.  The Bear Hunt story gave us a great chance to invite Daisi to work with children from across the county to recreate the journey for all the schools and families who will be visiting us this Christmas.’

The full list of schools and artists who have contributed to the exhibition are as follows:

• Beacon Primary School in Exmouth worked with Daisi sculptor James Lake around the theme 'Forest'
• Branscombe Primary School near Seaton worked with Daisi community artist Ruth Oakley around the theme 'River'
• Bowhill Primary School in Exeter worked with Daisi visual artist and puppet maker Cara Patterson around the theme 'Cave'
• Clyst St Mary Primary School near Exeter worked with Daisi visual artist and puppet maker Cara Patterson around the theme 'Cave'
• Cockwood Primary School in Starcross worked with Daisi community artist Ruth Oakley around the theme 'Forest'
• Culmstock Primary School near Cullompton worked with Daisi visual artist Tracy Whitbread around the theme 'Mud'
• Hazeldown Primary School in Teignmouth worked with Daisi artist Cara Patterson around the theme 'Mud'
• Kentisbeare Primary School near Cullompton worked with Daisi visual artist Tracy Whitbread around the theme 'River'
• Littletown Primary School in Honiton worked with Daisi community artist Ruth Oakley around the theme 'Snow Storm'
• Marldon Church of England Primary School near Paignton worked with Daisi visual artist and puppet maker Cara Patterson around the theme 'Grass'
• Shute Primary School and Kilmington Primary School, both near Axminster, worked with Daisi artist Ruth Oakley around the theme 'Snowy Forest'
• Umberleigh Primary school near Barnstaple worked with Daisi visual artist Tracy Whitbread around the theme 'Grass'
• West of England School and College for young people with little or no sight worked with Daisi musician and composer Hugh Nankeville to create soundscapes across all the themes in the story
• Wynstream Primary School in Exeter worked with Daisi visual artist and set designer Tracy Whitbread around the theme 'Mud'

Exeter Northcott Theatre is a 460-seat venue serving Exeter and the heart of Devon from its home on the University of Exeter Streatham Campus. It offers a mixed programme of touring theatre productions, contemporary dance, opera, music, comedy and family shows to its catchment of 551,000 homes. For more information, visit www.exeternorthcott.co.uk.