‘Lily’s Special Recipe’ encourages appetites for nutrition education in schools

A play based on a story written by an Oxford Brookes University nutritionist has been developed into a larger-scale performance and adapted into a children’s book for Oxfordshire’s schools.

‘Lily’s Special Recipe’, written by Dr Shelly Coe, Associate Professor of Nutrition Science, debuted as a storytelling performance at the 2025 Oxford Brookes Science Bazaar. The production was created by Oxford-based Human Story Theatre and performer Amantha Edmead. 

The story follows Lilly, a young girl discovering new ingredients while enjoying her own family’s tradition. The play highlights how everyday food choices support both personal health and environmental sustainability. Designed to be interactive and playful, it invites children and families to engage directly with scientific ideas through drama.

The production received the Most Engaging Activity Award at the 2025 Oxford Brookes Science Bazaar and attracted overwhelmingly positive audience feedback. Attendees described the show as “brilliant,” “smile-inducing from start to finish,” and refreshingly different from traditional nutrition talks for young people. Notably, 100% of surveyed audiences said they would attend a similar performance again.

Dr Coe said: “‘Lily’s Special Recipe’ is about the importance of using sustainable ingredients in our daily lives. It’s about not just the nourishment food brings, but the role it plays in the social and cultural aspects of our lives. It tells the story of a meal made with love that brings Lily’s family back together.” 

Amy Enticknap, co-founder and creative producer of Human Story Theatre, which focuses on plays with a health and social care message, said: “We loved bringing Lily’s Special Recipe alive in our first storytelling performance for young people and are now developing our three-person version of the show, which will debut as a staged reading at this year’s Science Bazaar in February 2026.”

Impact beyond the stage

The project began when Dr Coe, along with her colleagues, Professor Patrick Alexander, Professor of Education and Anthropology, and Dr Sarah-Louise Mitchell, an Associate Professor who specialises in marketing for non-profit organisations, were awarded an Economic and Social Research Council Impact Accelerator Award. The award funded sustainable nutrition workshops for schools. ‘Lilly’s Special Recipe’ grew out of that project. 

Dr Coe added: “A key part of our partnership with Human Story Theatre was the theatre, acting and mentoring element, led by Tristan Jackson-Pate. They helped us develop new skills in translating our work for non-specialist audiences—enhancing the reach and impact of our research beyond traditional academic settings.”

Following the success of the performance, Dr Coe and Dr Mitchell have secured further funding to extend the project’s impact. Working with Human Story Theatre and the Faculty of Health, Science and Technology at Oxford Brookes, the team has co-created Lily’s Special Recipe as a children’s picture storybook, illustrated by Oxford Brookes student Ish Bee. 

So far 1,000 copies of the book have been printed ready to be distributed through local schools and community networks, supporting nutrition education and family learning beyond the live performance.

'Lilly's Special Recipe' will be performed at the Oxford Brookes Science Bazaar on Saturday 21 February. Find out more about the Science Bazaar here.