Highly Sprung

The Background: Physical Movement Meets Brand Messaging

Highly Sprung is the UK’s leading physical theatre company creating work specifically for and with children and young people. Producing dynamic, movement-led performances that address complex social and environmental issues, their work inspires thousands of young people nationwide.

Despite their acclaim on stage, Highly Sprung faced a strategic hurdle: their digital identity and brand messaging were not communicating the energy, emotion, and physical movement of their live work. They approached Step3 to help define their core identity, refine their message, and build a digital platform worthy of their creative mission.

The Challenge: Tight Deadlines and an Unexpected Crisis

The project began with a clear, ambitious goal: complete a full brand discovery phase and launch a new custom website within a strict 12-week schedule.

However, shortly after the new website launched, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the sudden closure of live theatre spaces and community venues across the UK. Highly Sprung faced an immediate threat to their flagship community initiative, the ‘City Beat’ project, which represented months of preparation and community engagement.

Step3 needed to fulfill the initial 12-week website delivery and then rapidly pivot to build a digital home for ‘City Beat’ so the project could survive online during lockdown.

The Solution: Strategic Brand Positioning & Agile Web Development

Step3 worked side-by-side with the Highly Sprung leadership team to realign their brand strategy and construct a responsive digital framework.

Brand Narrative & Copywriting

We facilitated discovery workshops to define Highly Sprung’s core values and unique market position. From these sessions, Step3 authored their defining strapline, ‘Theatre that moves’, alongside a refreshed brand narrative that captures both the physical nature of their art and its emotional impact on audiences.

Bold, High-Energy Web Design

We built a clean, modern website designed to bring physical theatre to life on screen. Full-width visual blocks, bold typography, and seamless video integration highlight their performance portfolio, educational workshops, and touring schedules, while an integrated e-commerce setup supports direct sales.

Rapid Digital Pivot (‘City Beat’)

In response to lockdown restrictions, Step3 designed, built, and launched a custom digital project platform for ‘City Beat’ in just 4 weeks. This enabled participants to continue collaborating, uploading performances, and engaging virtually, ensuring vital funding and community work were preserved.

The Impact & Ongoing Strategic Partnership

Our collaboration with Highly Sprung transformed their online footprint and proved the value of an agile digital partnership:

• Unified Brand Identity: The ‘Theatre that moves’ narrative gave Highly Sprung a clear, confident voice across their website, grant applications, and marketing campaigns.
• Community Continuity: The 4-week turnaround for the ‘City Beat’ platform saved a major community project from cancellation, keeping young people connected through lockdown.
• Scalable Digital Platform: The website provides a robust foundation for selling merchandise, booking workshops, and promoting national tours.

Step3 continues to provide strategic consultancy, technical support, and hosting to ensure Highly Sprung’s digital presence evolves alongside their artistic ambitions.