Soil Story

Soil Story is a story about soil, told from the perspective of the humble worm.

Wormy is full of heart, five in fact and through its constant burrowing brings precious oxygen to supercharge the soil ecosystem. Its poo is liquid gold, enriching the soil and providing nutrition for plants and animals.

Wormy has noticed that things aren’t quite as they should be, as the soil is dry and difficult to wriggle and burrow through and Wormy’s friends are growing tired and hungry. With some help from Leaf Compost they set about saving the soil.

Soil Story is a call to action to protect soil as currently 60% of European soils are degraded. At its heart is the idea of relationships and fostering care for the more than human world. By reconnecting with soil and nature in a hands-on way, we want babies, toddlers and young children to rethink their relationship with nature and to understand that we are not separate from nature, but instead that ‘we are nature’.”

Soil Story is a rhythmic, playful and theatrical piece with an original score and script that is performed, written and composed by Jackie Maguire and Trisha MacLaughlin with co-Dramaturg and Co-Director Miriam Needham.

Developed in collaboration with the babies, toddlers and young children of Sligo Springboard Family Support Service in Cranmore and Caltragh as well as toddlers and young children aged 2+ from several Sligo early childhood education and care settings.

Both Jackie Maguire and Trisha MacLaughlin are Week at the Well 2024 and Time at the Well 2025 Awardees and Soil Story is the culmination of their work together since 2024.