The first Oily Cart show
Oily Cart publicity image 1981-2. Featuring Max Reinhardt (left) and Tim Webb (right). Photo: Amanda Webb
For a couple of years before Oily Cart, Tim and Max had been intermittently touring their Exploding Punch and Judy shows, designed and made by Claire. They then decided to form the company, aiming to create original theatre for new audiences, and began by making shows for under 5s and their families. These shows were musical and multi-sensory for small audiences, playing in nurseries, libraries, primary schools and small theatres. The first was Out of Their Tree.