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Butterflies, Billy Goats, Penguins and More Set for Half Moon Theatre's Autumn 2017 Season
By: BWW News Desk Jul. 25, 2017
Half Moon Theatre in East London has announced their autumn season of work for young people, which runs from Friday 22 September until Saturday 16 December 2017. The new 13-week season features a wide range of exciting and entertaining productions, featuring 12 imaginative companies who specialise in captivating young minds. Scroll down for the full programme!
Half Moon start the season by welcoming back Tangled Feet with Butterflies, a new co-production, that looks at overcoming your fears. They are also pleased to be working with Zest Theatre on What Once Was Ours, an immersive new show for teenagers about identity and belonging that was created against the background of Brexit.
Other companies appearing at Half Moon this autumn include: Little Angel Theatre presents Handa's Surprise, based on the hugely popular book by Eileen Browne; Norwich Puppet Theatre presents The Steadfast Tin Soldier; Theatre of Widdershins presents Three Billy Goats Gruff & Other Furry Tails; Long Nose Puppets presents Penguin, based on the award-winning book by Polly Dunbar with lively songs by Tom Gray, of Gomez; award-winning poet Joseph Coelho returns to unravel fresh contemporary classics out of familiar fairytales; Fun Palaces, a free family fun day, returns for a third year of activities for all ages with an out of this world space theme; plus Half Moon are delighted to be welcoming other companies to the theatre for the first time, offering a mixture of puppetry, storytelling, physical theatre, spoken word and music.
Half Moon Theatre, Autumn 2017:
All events take place at Half Moon Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, London E1 0ND. All tickets are priced at £7 and can be obtained by visiting the Box Office or by calling 020 7709 8900. Tickets are also available online at www.halfmoon.org.uk (no booking fees).
Fri 22 - Sat 23 September
Fri 22 Sep | 10.30am and 1.30pm
Sat 23 Sep | 11am and 2pm
Ages 3-7
Running Time: 40 mins
A Tangled Feet and Half Moon co-production
Butterflies
Three friends embark on an exciting adventure to chase their butterflies away. They cross new seas to uncharted lands, on a journey filled with discovery. The only trouble is they're all a bit worried about it! What if I get wet? What if I make a new friend? What if I don't? During their voyage the group ride the waves, battle the storms and face their fears, before reaching dry land braver than ever before.
Butterflies is an uplifting tale of friendship, courage and how to dance in the rain, told using innovative staging, breathtaking physicality, touching humour and a specially commissioned musical score.
#ButterfliesShow
Fri 29 - Sat 30 September
Fri 29 Sep | 10.30am and 1.30pm
Sat 30 Sep | 11am and 2pm
Ages 3-8
Running Time: 50 mins
Half Moon presents
Three
a Wrongsemble production
Three wishes, three witches, three sisters, three pigs, three bears, three musketeers...!
Brought to life with a flurry of original sing-a-long songs, live music and brilliantly inventive storytelling, the flamboyant players burst from their wagon of forgotten fables to re-tell the stories of Rumpelstiltskin, Goldilocks and Grimms' Three Wanderers as never before.
Jump on board the ingenious and cleverly crafted wagon of fairytales in this spellbinding new musical play.
Also on tour nationally as part of Half Moon presents. Visit www.halfmoon.org.uk/halfmoonpresents for more details.
#Three
Thu 5, Fri 6 and Mon 9 - Wed 11 October
Thu 5 Oct | 4.30pm & 7pm
Fri 6 Oct | 1.30pm and 4.30pm
Mon 9 Oct | 10.30pm and 1.30pm
Tue 10 Oct |1.30pm and 7pm
Wed 11 Oct | 10.30am and 1.30pm
Ages 12+
Running Time: 60 mins
A Zest Theatre and Half Moon co-production
What Once Was Ours
An immersive new show about identity and belonging.
Katie and Callum couldn't be any more distant and disconnected: different heritage, different cities, different opportunities. Except there is one thing they'll always have in common: Dad. What happens when Callum suddenly turns up in desperate need of help?
Created against the background of Brexit, What Once Was Ours has been developed in consultation with young people across the country and uses their direct words and opinions to explore how politics and national values impact on the complex lives of one family.
Beautiful imagery, striking original music and immersive design combine to create this powerful new production for young people, which asks why we've become so fearful of anyone who is different from us.
What Once Was Ours is a Zest Theatre and Half Moon co-production: an exciting collaboration by two of the UK's leading companies creating work for young people.
An education pack is available for this show. For details about the accompanying workshops for schools and community groups please contact androulla@halfmoon.org.uk
Part of Black History Month celebrations in Tower Hamlets.
Also on tour nationally, see www.halfmoon.org.uk/whatonce for details.
#WhatOnce
Sat 7 October
10am - 4pm
All ages welcome
Free Family Fun Day
Fun Palaces
Our free family fun day returns for a third year with an out of this world space theme! Join us as we create a pop-up Fun Palace with an exciting and inspiring programme of events for all ages celebrating arts, culture and science.
Throughout the day we will have pop-up performances, live music, art sessions, craft workshops, science experiments and
the chance to create your own universe. Plus, we'll have tea, cake and a few surprises along the way. Dip into one or two events or stay for the whole day!
All events are free. Refreshments are available to buy throughout the day.
Supported by Tower Hamlets Council
#FunPalaces
Fri 13 - Sat 14 October
Fri 13 Oct | 4.30pm
Sat 14 Oct | 10.30am, 12pm, 2pm and 3.30pm
Ages 3-8
Running Time: 35 mins
Chisel Theatre presents
Flit, Flap & Fly
A squawking adventure that follows a young bird's frantic and funny journey towards independence, and his relationship with his fine-singing father. The audience is invited inside the nest, where they find themselves part of the daily life of a unique bird family.
Bursting with live music and audience participation, everyone can learn birdsongs and get ready to take flight for the first time.
Early booking is advised as this show has limited capacity.
#FlitFlapFly
Sat 21 October
11am and 2pm
Ages 5-9
Running Time:60 mins
Slot Machine Theatre with Turtle Key Arts present
Your Toys
A monstrous force rules the land. Only the bravest can defeat it. But the challenge is perilous - will everyone survive? On this epic journey, we're all in danger, and only the toys can save us - your toys.
This is the show where your toys are part of the big adventure. Grown-ups and children alike are invited to bring your favourite toy to the theatre and watch them come to life in this gigantic adventure using puppetry, original live music and quirky humour.
#YourToys
Sat 28 October
11am and 2pm
Ages 3-8
Running Time: 45 mins
David Gibb presents
Climb That Tree - A Family Music Show
Join award-winning songwriter and musician David Gibb on a musical journey through his hilarious and often surreal imagination, where bears live in the cupboard under the stairs, wolves are roaming the corridors at school, and trips to the moon are a regular occurrence.
David's songwriting draws from a wide range of musical influences, deftly blending folk, jazz, reggae and rock 'n' roll. Climb That Tree is guaranteed to have both parents and children singing along in no time - this is music that the whole family can enjoy together.
#ClimbThatTree
Sat 4 November
11am, 1pm and 3pm
Ages 2-6
Running Time: 35 mins
Little Angel Theatre presents
Handa's Surprise
Can you resist the sweet-smelling guava? How about a ripe red mango or a tangy purple passion fruit? Travel to Kenya and follow Handa as she journeys to visit her best friend Akeyo in the next village. Handa is taking seven delicious fruits as a surprise - but seven different animals have seven very different ideas.
A blend of physical performance, puppetry, live music and song combine to create an intimate, magical production with audience participation from Little Angel Theatre, based on the hugely popular book by Eileen Browne.
Early booking is advised as this show has limited capacity.
#HandasSurprise
Sat 11 November
11am, 1pm and 3pm
Ages 1-3
Running Time: 35 mins plus play session
Touched Theatre presents
Twinkle Twinkle
There are melodies that live in all of us. No one knows that more than Marty the puppy, whose bedtime songs and playtime with his dad are the best part of his day. But sometimes, you have to learn how to find the music inside yourself.
Twinkle Twinkle is a beautiful adventure in music and light, featuring brilliant puppetry, magical interaction and a gorgeous original score. Join Marty on his journey to find the brightest light in the sky, and inside all of us.
Early booking is advised as this show has limited capacity.
#TwinkleTwinkle
Sat 18 November
11am and 2pm
Ages 3+
Running Time: 50 mins
Norwich Puppet Theatre presents
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
There once was a remarkable tin soldier who fell in love with a beautiful paper dancer and then tumbled out of a window, so beginning a perilous journey into the unknown.
This playful retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's poetic story uses light, projected animations and simple materials that are skilfully transformed through puppetry to create a theatrical experience that will engage and touch young hearts and minds.
#SteadfastTinSoldier
Fri 24 - Sat 25 November
Fri 24 Nov |10.30am and 1.30pm
Sat 25 Nov | 11am and 2pm
Ages 3+
Running Time: 50 mins
Theatre of Widdershins presents
Three Billy Goats Gruff & Other Furry Tails
Our Storyteller is on the run from those three-headed monsters, trying to bring you the most fantastic tales from the Magic Land of Three. Are you really sure what happened to the wolf and those three little pigs? What about Goldilocks? Why was she walking in those woods? And as for the three Billy Goats Gruff, how did they really deal with that troll?
All will be revealed in this beautiful show using puppets and props. It's full of fun and laughter and has an infectious soundtrack that you won't be able to stop singing long after the show has finished.
#FurryTails
Sat 2 December
10am - 5pm
All ages welcome
Running Time: 10am-5pm
Winter Arts Fair
Our Pictures at Play exhibition (see page 3) bursts from its frames this December with an affordable arts and crafts fair featuring local artists and children's book illustrators, whose vibrant work can be seen hanging on our walls and in a range of handmade crafts.
Taking over the entire Half Moon building, our fantastic celebration of winter offers an exciting opportunity to get your hands on something that will make your home look beautiful. It's also the perfect place to buy some truly unique and fabulous gifts, cards and other crafts directly from the maker.
Alongside the art and crafts on sale, there will be a series of free events in the theatre with some of the featured illustrators. For more information visit our website: www.halfmoon.org.uk.
#WinterArtsFair
Sat 9 December
11am and 2pm
Ages 2-8
Running Time: 30 mins
Long Nose Puppets presents
Penguin
Ben is delighted when he rips open his present, inside is a penguin. "Hello Penguin!" says Ben. Penguin says nothing. Ben tickles Penguin; he pulls his funniest face; he puts on a happy hat; sings a silly song and does a dizzy dance. Penguin says nothing. So Ben fires Penguin into outer space. Penguin comes back to earth without a word! It isn't until a passing lion intervenes that Penguin finally speaks and when he does, Ben discovers something that was really worth the wait.
Based on the award-winning book by Polly Dunbar, Penguin is exiting, surreal and full of surprises, with lively songs by Tom Gray, of Gomez, that will have everyone joining in!
#Penguin
Sat 16 December
11am and 2pm
Ages 3+
Running Time: 45 mins
Half Moon presents
Fairytales Gone Bad: Grannylocks / The Monstrous Duckling
a Joseph Coelho production
A father returns home with a magical cloak. A cloak that hides a story. Did you know that the ugly duckling was never ugly? He was truly monstrous! Or that Goldilocks was never a tale about a little girl. It was always a tale about a granny - a mean, thieving granny who has plans for something quite nasty.
Join award-winning performance poet Joseph Coelho as he unwinds the true stories behind the happily ever afters and discover they're maybe not as charming as you remember!
After the show there will be a chance to meet Joseph and purchase signed copies of his books, including the award-winning Werewolf Club Rules.
Also on tour nationally as part of Half Moon presents. Visit www.halfmoon.org.uk/halfmoonpresents for more details.
#FairytalesGoneBad
All events take place at Half Moon Theatre, 43 White Horse Road, London E1 0ND.
All tickets are priced at £7 and can be obtained by visiting the Box Office or by calling 020 7709 8900. Tickets are also available online at www.halfmoon.org.uk (no booking fees).
Half Moon is the UK's leading small-scale young people's venue and touring company. It is a local organisation with a national remit, committed to supporting artists and young people at every stage of their creative development. Working from their base in East London, Half Moon specialises in new writing and artform development, acting as a gateway organisation that provides pathways for progression and experimentation. Half Moon's wide-ranging programme reaches 53,000 people annually and engages those who are often excluded from arts activity. Half Moon's activity includes a season of professional plays for young audiences, national touring productions and an extensive creative learning programme, including seven youth theatres.
Half Moon is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England and receives regular funding from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Half Moon's digital archive is available at www.stagesofhalfmoon.org.uk.
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