Lawnmowers Theatre Company Launches 40th Anniversary with Time-Travelling Celebration
Billy & Teddy's Amazing Adventure
Newcastle Live Theatre
Friday 13 & Saturday 14 February 2026
As Lawnmowers Theatre Company marks four decades of groundbreaking, learning-disabled led theatre, they're kicking off their 40th anniversary year in spectacular style with Billy & Teddy's Amazing Adventure, a joyful new production that proves talent and creativity know no boundaries.
A Time-Travelling Challenge
Billy and Teddy are on top of the world. Creative, talented, and excelling in their performance class, these two friends have ambitions that stretch far beyond their current success. When they set their sights on a prestigious local performing arts college, however, they hit an unexpected wall. The response? They don't belong. But the college throws down a gauntlet: prove that history is filled with successful people with learning difficulties, and they'll earn their place.
It's a tall order, and just when hope seems to slip away, something extraordinary happens. Enter Roofyus and his time machine, tumbling from the sky to launch Billy and Teddy on a heart-filled, hilarious adventure through the ages. What follows is a high-energy romp through history as the duo encounters famous figures who changed the world, including the legendary German composer and pianist Beethoven, discovering along the way that creativity, determination, and brilliance have always existed beyond society's narrow labels.
A Fresh Take on a Cult Classic
Inspired by the beloved 1980s film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, this new play from Lawnmowers Theatre Ensemble brings the same spirit of fun, friendship, and optimism to the stage while telling a distinctly contemporary story about challenging assumptions and celebrating what people can achieve. Packed with humour and heart, Billy & Teddy's Amazing Adventure is both a rip-roaring entertainment and a powerful statement about representation, belonging, and the right to pursue your dreams.
The Creative Team
Director Karen Traynor leads a talented ensemble of Lawnmowers Theatre Company performers. Chris Moules takes on the role of Billy, while Nathan Jordison brings Teddy to life. They're joined by Andrew McLeod, who also serves as lead writer on the production, alongside Francis Potts and Debbie Bell. Adding to the show's vibrant energy, Francis Potts has created a bespoke mega-mix for the production with support from DJ Stewart Smith, ensuring the time-travelling adventure pulses with musical excitement.
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| Chris Moules who plays Billy with Andrew McLeod - writer and ensemble performer |
The creative team features Set and Costume Design by Molly Barret, Sound Design by Jeremy Bradfield, and Lighting Design by Si Cole, with Stage Management by Chloe Ribbens. Behind the scenes, George Copeland provides stage management support, with Scott Rowe contributing sound tech expertise.
About the Production
Running approximately 50 minutes, Billy & Teddy's Amazing Adventure balances its entertaining story with genuine substance. Director Karen Traynor captures the essence of the production perfectly: "This show is about challenging assumptions and celebrating what people can do. Billy & Teddy's Amazing Adventure is funny, bold and full of heart - and it perfectly reflects Lawnmowers' ethos of empowering learning-disabled people to tell their own stories, take creative risks and shine on stage. It feels incredibly special that this production opens the company's 40th Anniversary year."
A Pioneering Company
Founded in 1986, Lawnmowers Theatre Company has spent nearly four decades as a vital force in the UK cultural landscape. As a learning-disabled led arts organisation based in Gateshead, the company creates performance, training, and opportunities that challenge stereotypes and expand who gets to be seen and heard on stage. Their work is grounded in the fundamental belief that people with learning disabilities have the right to participate in society as equal citizens, with real opportunities to succeed and thrive.
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| The Cast of Billy And Teddy's Amazing Adventures with director Karen Traynor |
As an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, Lawnmowers works both locally and internationally to empower learning-disabled artists to shape their own narratives and drive social change. Over the years, they've built a national reputation for inclusive, artist-led theatre that is bold, original, and uncompromising in its vision.
Why See This Show
Billy & Teddy's Amazing Adventure represents everything that makes theatre vital and necessary. It's a production that entertains while it enlightens, making audiences laugh while gently challenging them to examine their own assumptions. For anyone who has ever been told they don't belong, or that their dreams are too big, Billy and Teddy's journey offers both validation and inspiration.
The show arrives at a perfect moment, launching Lawnmowers' 40th anniversary celebrations and marking both a recognition of the company's remarkable past and a confident stride into its next chapter. This is theatre that celebrates friendship, determination, and the transformative power of believing in yourself, all wrapped up in a time-travelling adventure that promises to delight audiences of all ages (14+).
Whether you're a fan of the original Bill & Ted, a supporter of inclusive theatre, or simply looking for an uplifting, entertaining night out, Billy & Teddy's Amazing Adventure promises to deliver something special. Join Billy and Teddy as they prove, once and for all, that talent and creativity truly have no limits.
Performance Details
Billy & Teddy's Amazing Adventure
Live Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Friday 13 & Saturday 14 February 2026, 7.30pm
Duration: Approximately 50 minutes
Tickets: £14; £10 concessions
Suitable for ages 14+
Book tickets: live.org.uk/whats-on/billy-and-teddys-amazing-adventure
More information: lawnmowerstheatre.com
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