2Faced Dance Company presents WHAT THE MOON SAW

Inspired by the prolific author and writer Hans Christian Andersen and reimagined and presented by 2Faced Dance Company, What the Moon Saw is a new interactive dance and circus show suitable for very young children, their families, teachers and friends.

The Herefordshire based 2Faced Dance Company is one of the UK's leading male contemporary dance companies and under the artistic direction of Tamsin Fitzgerald announces details of What the Moon Saw for Winter 2017 (2018 tour dates to be announced).

Running up to Christmas, the world premiere performances of What the Moon Saw will be presented at DanceXchange in Birmingham on 1 & 2 December, Gulbenkian in Canterbury on 13 - 17 December and The Place in London on 20 - 22 December.

Appealing to children and adult audiences alike, Hans Christian Andersen's much loved fairytales include The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling and Thumbelina. His stories have inspired many ballets as well as animated and live-action films. Akin to What the Moon Saw, Anderson's stories are extremely accessible and they present heartwarming lessons of virtue and resilience in the face of adversity.

In What the Moon Saw young artist Jack spends the first night in a new house, scared of the different sounds and feeling alone. Jack decides to sketch to comfort himself but his pictures only appear in black and white. Frantic Jack opens his bedroom window to find The Moon, who becomes a familiar and friendly face, gazing back at him.

In this interactive version of the tale, told through unique and physical movement synonymous with 2Faced Dance, The Moon tells Jack about everything he has seen and learned about the world. What the Moon Saw takes Jack and the audience on an adventure of history and discovery, from a dragon who is unable to breathe fire in China to a chimney sweep who dances on the roof tops in London. With the help of The Moon's stories, Jack discovers he's not alone in the world and his monochrome sketches turn to colour.

Choreography by Tamsin Fitzgerald, to a specially commissioned score by composer Angus Macrea, is brought to life by dancers Kai Tomioka, Jason Boyle, Louis Parker-Evans and Jack Humphrey. Set and costume design is by Yann Seabra (The Little Match Girl, feature film Panic, International Dance Festival Birmingham shows Utopia and Concert Danse) and lighting design by James Mackenzie (founder and director of the award winning ZOO Venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and technical director of International Dance Festival Birmingham). Elle While, director of the 2016/2017 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time company at the Gielgud and UK/International tours of numerous National Theatre productions, is dramaturg for What the Moon Saw.

Tamsin Fitzgerald, artistic director of 2Faced Dance, said: "I'm thrilled 2Faced has been given the opportunity to re-imagine a classic Hans Christian Anderson story through circus and dance. The audience can expect some new acrobatic skills performed by our incredibly versatile performers. We want to reach out to more young people than ever before and this is the perfect story to engage people of all ages. For this immersive theatrical experience we ask children to come dressed in their pyjamas and we will encourage them to join in - fidgeting, cheering and clapping - it will all be allowed during What the Moon Saw!"

What the Moon Saw is supported using public funding by Arts Council England and commissioned by The Place, DanceEast, DanceXchange, Gulbenkian and The Point.

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