Little Angel Theatre closes its extraordinary 50th anniversary year with a unique Christmas treat, inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez's famous short story A VERY OLD MAN WITH ENORMOUS WINGS. Presented in association with Kneehigh Theatre, Mike Shepherd directs alongside a creative team including Little Angel's founding family, Lyndie, Sarah and Joe Wright.
The press night is on 26 November at 7 pm.
Suitable for ages 6 to adult, this parable of the very old man with enormous wings who crashes in the feather strewn yard of poor peasants has been re-imagined by Anna Maria Murphy. Originally written by Marquez in 1955, the magic of the story remains potent today. Fearing that this smelly creature may be an angel come to take away their sick child, the peasant family imprison him in the chicken coop and charge admission to view him.
Years go by and the family become wealthy and well known. When the old man finally escapes to the sky with his re-grown wing feathers, they feel nothing more than relief. Angel or tramp, he has served his purpose, whatever that might have been.
Design is by Lyndie Wright; puppetry director is Sarah Wright; lighting is by
Malcolm Rippeth; musical soundtrack is composed by Ian Ross and Benji Bower. The puppeteers include: Ruth Calkin, Roger Lade,
Rachel Leonard and Sarah Wright.
Little Angel Theatre is "the home of British puppetry" and one of only three building based puppet theatres in England. Established in 1961, this one-time temperance hall in a quiet Islington square is the centre of activities for all ages. The 100 seat auditorium stands side by side with the workshop, where all new productions are lovingly created.
Kneehigh is celebrated as one of Britain's most innovative theatre companies. For 30 years the company has created vigorous, popular and challenging theatre for audiences throughout the UK and beyond. This is their first collaboration with Little Angel.
Says director Mike Shepherd, "I am from Cornwall and read Marquez's short story in the dim and distant past. It stayed with me and resonated with a Cornwall and sense of community I knew which was far from the world of picture postcards, pasties and cream teas. Now it is wonderful to revisit that world of magic reality with Little Angel and the founding Wright family on the 50th anniversary of the theatre. Over the past few weeks I have watched a wonderful and idiosyncratic community of puppets emerge from the timeless magic of the Little Angel workshop; it's a privilege to be asked to make a show with such detailed and charming creations. Will the old man fly? In this version, I believe he will!"
The venue
Little Angel Theatre
14 Dagmar Passage
London N1 2DN
Performance Times and Dates/Very Old Man
19 November 2011 - 29 January 2012
Press Night 26 November at 7 pm
Performance times and dates available on the website:
www.littleangeltheatre.com*
*Performances are generally from Weds-Sun.
Tickets
£13/£10 concessions
£8 previews 19 & 20 November
£5 Fridays at 5 pm
£42 Family Ticket (1 adult & 3 children or 2 adults & 2 children)
Box Office
020 7226 1787 or book online at
www.littleangeltheatre.com
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