The Five of Us – our new film celebrating children of all abilities

A chance to watch a wonderful collaborative storytelling of Sir Quentin Blake’s colourful tale ‘The Five of Us’ told by staff and families from the Royal Hospital of Children and Young People in Edinburgh, as part of our new exhibition ‘Celebrating Children of All Abilities’.

You might spot a few familiar people, including doctors and nurses, volunteers and other familiar faces from the hospital, including those from our wonderful charity partners also based there.  If you know the Children’s Outpatients you might even recognise some props too.

The film produced in partnership with Tonic Arts of NHS Lothian Charity , celebrates children of all abilities, and is a “powerful though subtle reminder that the world is a better place when we focus on what we can do, rather than what we can’t”.

We are so grateful to all our “storytellers” including families from the hospital as well as those who work and volunteer within it.

Thanks go to Quentin Blake and his team for their permission to feature his book in our film and linked exhibition, and also to Tate Publishing.

After watching the film, Quentin Blake’s team told Kindred:

It is wonderful to see The Five of Us read and enjoyed by all those who took part in the film and made it possible. We think you are all AMAZING!

Above: Ailsa, a star storyteller with her mum and sister ©Chris Lewis Cook, 2023

One of our storytellers Ailsa, aged 9,  told us about taking part in our film:

It was such a fun experience. I was really happy to be one of the readers!” 

We’ve had wonderful fun creating the film with film maker Chris Lewis Cook and Hans Clausen from Tonic Arts, both of whom were kind enough to let their children, who loved the book, advise us on how to make the film, with their gasps, laughter and questions.

The book ‘The Five of Us’ is ©Quentin Blake, Tate Publishing (2014)