RAPPING, DANCING AND FAR-OUT VIDEO PROJECTIONS COME TO POLKA THEATRE ON 20 OCTOBER IN A STORY ABOUT STANDING UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN

London based rapper Simon Mole brings his interactive spoken word performance for families to Polka Theatre on 20 October. Friends For All is a story about having the confidence to be yourself and stand up for what you believe in and features rapping, dancing and far-out video projections for ages 5-11 and their grown-ups.

8 year old Lexi doesn't make friends as easily as some. If only her school would allow a non-school uniform day then she could be herself and find others like her. Inspired by Grandad's hippy stories from the swinging 60s, she decides to fight the powers that be, namely her class teacher, Mr Marsh, and the class bully, Suzy.

Poet and rapper Simon Mole performs in this humorous and moving piece, which was co-created with theatre maker Peader Kirk. The show features Simon Mole's trademark poetry, rap and storytelling style alongside original video projections courtesy of Andrew Crofts, an original sound track composed by Jonny Wharton and lighting design by Phil Clarke.

Simon Mole is a spoken word poet with an eye for the often overlooked in the everyday. Simon was the first ever Poet Laureate for the London borough of Brent, and is one fifth of the acclaimed poetry.

Peader Kirk is an artist and director working internationally in the fields of performance and sound art. His work has recently been shown at The Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, The National Theatre of Greece in Athens, and The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre. Friends For All is their 3rd collaboration.

Friends for All is one of several productions that form part of Half Moon Presents, the producing arm of Half Moon, supporting the promotion and development of theatre for young audiences at a national and international level.

Simon Mole said: "I wanted to create a piece of theatre that wasn't dumbed down for young audiences; something that was exciting and complex enough that they could be an active and creative audience. Friend For All feels like a wide-screen cinematic experience - it features an array of virtual performers and it's incredible to see how the young people react to them. But there's also an important message, to empower them to understand that they are able to make change within the world they live."

Chris Elwell, Director of Half Moon, commented: "I'm really pleased to be working with Simon Mole on Friends for All. Simon has great skill in making spoken word a tangible experience and his cool yet quirky performance effortlessly encompasses themes of protest and revolution for young minds."

Friends For All was originally commissioned by the V&A as part of the Family Art Fun Programme and inspired by their You Say You Want a Revolution exhibition and developed with support from Apples and Snakes, the Albany, University of Bedfordshire and Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre. It is funded by Arts Council England.

LISTINGS DETAILS

Half Moon presents

Friends for All

a Simon Mole production for 5-11s

Polka Theatre

20 October - 22 October
Ages 5-11 | 40 minutes

Commissioned by the V&A Museum as part of the Family Art Fun Programme

Supported with public funding from Arts Council England

With support from Apples and Snakes, Spread the Word, the Albany, University of Bedfordshire, and Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre

#FriendsForAll

NOTES TO EDITORS

CREATIVE TEAM

Creators - Simon Mole and Peader Kirk

Script and Performance - Simon Mole

Direction and Design - Peader Kirk

Video Design - Andrew Crofts

Sound Design - Jonathan Wharton

Lighting Design- Phil Clarke

Project Management - Maeve O'Neill

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