Aim

Help us bring our inclusive children’s musical to the Edinburgh Fringe, making magical, accessible theatre available to every child.

Singing Willows and The Magical Bed

An Inclusive Children's Musical

Our Idea & Vision 🌟

Founded in Edinburgh in 2022, Singing Willows creates original theatre, art, music, and literature that invites young audiences and their families into worlds of imagination.

We believe that theatre should welcome everyone. With a professional background working in schools and alongside children with additional support needs, we ensure that inclusivity and accessibility aren’t just afterthoughts, they are the very foundation of our creative process. Our vision is to make magical, accessible theatre available to every child. 

Following a successful Research & Development phase which was proudly supported by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Diversity and Inclusion Fund, we have fully refined our script, music, and integrated accessibility structures. Now, we are ready to take the next major step. We are bringing our magical world straight to the live stage for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on August 22nd, 23rd, 29th, and 30th at the Scottish Storytelling Centre!

About the Show: 

Singing Willows and The Magical Bed 🛏️✨

Singing Willows and The Magical Bed is a 60-minute musical theatre production with integrated BSL designed for young audiences (ideal for ages 5+ and their grown-ups, but open to all).

When a young girl moves to a new home, her extraordinary bed comes alive, carrying her through imaginative worlds and the ups and downs of childhood through music, storytelling, and imagination. As her loyal nighttime companion, the bed brings comfort, silliness, and joy, helping her navigate change with curiosity, courage, and laughter. Together they discover friendship, courage, and the joys of growing up.

Visually rich and imaginative, the production combines heartfelt storytelling with original songs, live music, fully integrated BSL, multilingual storytelling, and playful audience participation. 

Read more

Meet the Team 🎭

We have assembled an incredible team of professional artists and freelancers to bring this magical adventure to life on stage:

Alexandra Borghino (Creator & Performer): As the founder of Singing Willows, Alexandra shapes our projects from early-stage writing and visual design through to directing and performing on stage. The company’s name is a tribute to Willow, a young girl Alexandra cared for as an au pair in 2016. Sharing a world of imagination, nature, and endless storytelling, they formed a bond that inspired a lifelong creative philosophy.

Link: Alexandra's Previous Work and Linkedin Profile

Brad Meyer (Creative Partner & Composer): Brad is the co-creator of Singing Willows and a fantastic multi-instrumentalist and sound designer who will be performing live on stage, creating the enchanting, living soundscapes and original musical accompaniment.

Links: Brad and Alexandra Music Making

Steve Worsley (Musical Theatre Actor): An exceptional and experienced actor and vocalist, Steve brings incredible warmth, professional musical theatre expertise, and dynamic storytelling to the stage.

Amy Murray (BSL Performer): We are thrilled to have Amy leading our integrated British Sign Language performance. As a brilliant Deaf actor and artist, Amy ensures that our BSL isn't just an addition, but a beautifully woven, core artistic element of the live show.

Link: The New Cast

David MacCallum (Set Designer): David is crafting the physical world of the show, bringing the extraordinary, living magical bed and imaginative environments to life on stage with dynamic, visually rich staging.

Link: David's work in progress on the show

Jenny Edwards (Costume Designer): Jenny is creating the vibrant, imaginative costumes for our characters, ensuring the production bursts with the colours and textures needed to completely captivate our young audience's imagination. 

Link: Jenny's work in progress on the show 

What Families Say 💬

Don't just take our word for it, here is how our creative practice and interactive worlds impact young audiences and the community:

"Alexandra from Singing Willows is a passionate artist. She has such a special way of connecting with children through music and creativity [...] We also attended her first show at the French Institute and had a fantastic time. It was joyful, engaging, and beautifully done."

"Singing Willows was such a beautiful experience. It’s both a wonderful, musical children’s show and a lovely mixing of cultures. The songs and the sets/costumes are incredibly creative and you can tell how much love and care goes into everything. Highly recommend, particularly for families!"

"I went to see Singing Willows during the Fringe and all I can say that it is a real gem. It’s a gentle, joyful show filled with beautiful music, poetry and imagination. The bilingual storytelling feels completely natural, and you can really sense the care and love behind every detail. Children are engaged, adults are smiling, and the whole atmosphere is warm and inclusive [...]"

Explore more here: Google Reviews and Article and Press

How We Will Use the Money 🎯

To bring this show to the Edinburgh Fringe safely and accessibly, we are raising a total of £3,000.  High-quality inclusive theatre requires specialised resources. We strictly prioritise fair pay and adhere to advanced inclusive industry standards, compensating our specialist access team above standard minimums to reflect their highly specialised skills. 

A clear breakdown of our target is below:

• £900 for an On-Stage BSL Performer
• £870 for a Rehearsal & Show BSL Interpreter 
• £450 for Specialist Sensory Resources
• £335 for Access Tech & Open Captioning
• £150 for a Professional BSL Consultant
• £150 for Targeted Community Marketing
• £145 for Crowdfunder Fees & Transaction Costs

Your generous pledges will go directly toward:

Inclusivity & Accessibility: Funding our dedicated, on-stage BSL performer alongside a professional BSL Consultant and a BSL Interpreter during rehearsals to seamlessly weave British Sign Language into the artistic fabric of the musical.

Open captions for the show, ensuring that deaf, hard-of-hearing, and processing-sensitive audience members can follow every lyric and line of dialogue perfectly.

Specialist sensory resources, including a custom-designed, printed visual story programme for neurodivergent and autistic children, and sensory-friendly "chill-out packs" to ensure a safe, welcoming environment for every child (quiet fidget tools, communication cards, printed visual guide).

Targeted Community Marketing: Reaching out directly to local Edinburgh schools, primary school children, and family charity networks so that low-income families and those who need accessible theatre the most know we are here.

By supporting this campaign, you aren't just funding a show, you are helping a Scotland-based creative company take its next major step ensuring that inclusive, high-quality musical theatre is accessible to all families at this year's Edinburgh Fringe and beyond.

Thank you so much for believing in our show! Please explore our rewards, make your pledge, and take this magical leap with us. Every single donation brings us one step closer to the stage! 💙

Want to explore more of our world? To see more about the show, our journey, and our creative projects, follow this links to visit our website and instagram page: Singing Willows Website and Singing Willows Instagram

Thank you so much for your support 💙

Funding method

All or nothing – this project will only receive pledges if it reaches its target of £3,000 by 25th July 2026 at 12:50am