Pineapples Don't Grow on Trees! formed just last year and have been conducting performances and workshops to much acclaim at local primary schools. They heard only recently that they're getting the chance to perform at this year's festival. "It's fantastic news, we are really excited, this is by far our biggest challenge yet, but we are really looking forward to it," said group member Jenni Lewis. The group's work concentrates on a mixture of dance, physical theatre and drama styles, but with the maximum emphasis on fun. Group member Caroline Sutcliffe said: "We've all been to school, attended some interesting workshops and know how hard it can be for young people of today to really take performing arts seriously. "So we don't make them, our work is designed to be silly, if not liberating depending on who you are. "The kids seem to love it, and so do we!" The group, who all met at Richard Huish College in Taunton, formed after being asked to perform at the Fully Charged youth theatre festival at The Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton. Perfomer Dan Martin said: "We left it really late, and had to make the play in a day. "We just danced to pop songs and got our inspiration from there. "We got such an enthusiastic response we didn't stop there," he added. Pineapples Don't Grow on Trees! went on to perform at Wiveliscombe Primary School and Taunton Prep School to equal enthusiasm. The group's Tom Hawkins said: "The workshop idea was a bit of a shot in the dark. "We weren't sure it would work; I mean we'd never done it before. "I think our improvisational skills came in useful, but we had just as much fun as the kids did!" The workshops, which are conducted after a short performance, are designed to give a little bit back to the audience. Perfomer Charlotte Croft said: "It's all well and good watching people do crazy things, but if you've really enjoyed it, you want to get up and copy them. "We allow the kids to do this in a safe and satisfying way," she added. Jenni said: "These days you don't get much time to do silly things - I'd like to think we are doing our part to put the imagination back into being children, and helping ourselves to keep in touch with our inner children!" And the name of the company? Dan said: "Erm, I think we came about it after a dressing room conversation - we spent ages discussing whether or not pineapples grew on trees, quite a heated debate in fact! "At the time we formed it was a hot topic and so we decided to name the company that, just because!" >>> Pineapples Don't Grow on Trees are performing in the Kidz Field on all three days of the festival. | 
