Fishing for Haiku

Fishing for Haiku comes to Turner Sims Concert Hall on Saturday 17 October, with two performances on the one day: 11:00–12:00 and 13:00–14:00. It's a musical adventure aimed at children aged 7–11 and their families, and it's designed as an introduction to classical and folk music.

The premise is simple enough to explain to the kids before you go: two musicians sit by a shimmering lake and fish into the water. Each fish they pull out carries a mysterious haiku poem, and each poem sparks a new burst of music, storytelling and imagination. The show is built around that cycle — a catch, a poem, and the music that follows — so it moves from one piece to the next rather than sitting on a single mood.

It's described as a warm and funny show, and the interaction is a big part of it, so it's more of a shared experience than a sit-still-and-listen concert. The music itself pulls from two different worlds — classical and folk — and the whole thing is meant to introduce young listeners to a wide range of sounds from both. If you've got kids in that 7–11 bracket, it's a gentle way to get them around a concert hall without it feeling like a lesson.

Because there are two shows back-to-back, you can pick the time that fits your Saturday best. Both run for an hour, so it's a short enough commitment for younger ones to stay focused. You'll find it at Turner Sims Concert Hall, part of the University of Southampton, at SO17 1BJ.