AESOP’S FABLES

VISUAL STORY This visual resource is for children and young adults visiting the

Unicorn Theatre to see a performance of Aesop’s Fables

This visual story is intended to help prepare you for a new experience

and help you to become familiar with the surroundings and the

performance.

This performance is fast paced, high energy and contains numerous

scenes with loud music, sound effects, singing and flashing lights

with some haze effects. These sequences are frequent but not

sustained.

There are some sequences where characters are very close to the audience and on the steps between the audience but these

moments are not prolonged or intense.

The performance has themes of greed, family, bravery, loneliness,

friendship and adventure. We have made the usual amendments to

the volume and lighting levels but due to the nature of the show you

will experience moments of startling sound effects and bright

lighting throughout.

Welcome to the Unicorn Theatre. We are a theatre for children and

adults. This is what the building looks like from the outside.

This is the main entrance of the theatre. There are some steps before

you get to the front door. The words and pictures on the windows tell

you what shows and activities are happening inside.

When you enter through the front door, you will see a big space with

lots of tables and chairs in an area called the Foyer.

There are also some instructions on the floor tiles, you can choose to

follow these instructions or you can ignore them.

The Box Office is also in the Foyer. This is where you can buy tickets or

collect tickets that you have already paid for. There may be other

adults and children waiting to buy or collect tickets when you arrive.

You will be met by one of the Ushers, who will be wearing a dark red

shirt with white writing like the one above.

You can ask an usher if you have any questions and they will do their

best to help you. When it’s time for Aesop’s Fables to start, you will

hear a bell and an Usher will tell you where you need to go.

You might see some adults and children sitting at some of the tables

having something to eat or drink from our Unicornershop.

There is a cafe in the Foyer called the Unicornershop where you can

buy drinks and snacks. You can also bring your own drinks and snacks

with you.

If you need to use the Toilet, they are downstairs from the Foyer.

Look for the stairs going down or you can use the Lift.

These are the toilets.

These are the toilets.

When you enter the Weston Theatre you will see a big open stage

with bright colours and lights, there is a big opening in the wall

and a big red button on the stage surrounded by the purple bench

seats.

You can find your seats and make yourself comfortable. The usher can

help you find your seat.

You will hear the sound of music all around the space. You will hear

background sound like this throughout the performance.

These are the people you will see on the stage.

They will play all the different characters.

They will be boys, girls, mums, birds, a dog and a wolf!

They will wear different clothes and speak with different voices.

When everyone is ready the show will begin and all the characters will

run onto the stage, the lights will change and the sound will be a

little louder.

The big red button will flash and when the characters press it there

will be a louder noise and brighter lights.

Big and small boxes will arrive from the big window in the stage.

You will hear sound effects that sound like rumbles, ringing,

screeching and sometimes it will be quite loud.

You can cover your ears if you need to.

The First fable is called FILBERTS

You will see a boy inside the box, he is swimming around in the balls

and he has a jar stuck on his hand.

He will tell you his story.

He will climb the ladder and sit on top of the box, this is very high.

His story will sometimes make him excited, scared, happy and

confused.

Sometimes he will try to get the jar off his hand and jump around.

The lights will flash and you will hear louder music.

Sometimes he will look at you and talk to you.

You don’t have to answer him.

At the end of each fable someone will press the flashing button and

you will hear a much louder alarm and the lights on stage will flash.

Don’t worry, this doesn’t last very long.

A new box will arrive with a new fable name.

The next fable is called TWO GOATS.

There is a Mum and a Dad on top on the very high box.

You will hear lots of loud music, a creaking sound, a chopping sound

and a stamping sound. Sometimes the lights will flash.

They are standing on a log made of lights and the room is quite dark.

They argue and shout at each other about their son. The mum throws

all the dad’s pens on the floor and they shout at each other again.

The Mum has an axe and chops the log in two.

They are upset with each other but don’t worry, they will be okay.

The next fable is called DOG & WOLF and you will see everyone help

put the clothes on the Dog & Wolf.

The Dog has a fluffy coat, a sparkly collar and he is chained to his

house. He is a friendly pet dog.

The Wolf has a shiny coat with pointy ears and she wanders around

the stage. She is a wild wolf but she won’t hurt you.

The Dog & the Wolf are cousins.

When the Wolf moves around the stage she might howl quite near to

you and look at you or speak to you, don’t worry, she won’t hurt

you.

The Dog & the Wolf will talk to each other; the Wolf will laugh at the

Dog and get a bit upset. They are still friends.

The next fable is called TO BE AN OX.

You will see the characters are dressed as frogs and they hang up

some lights that stretch across the stage.

Zinzi is a frog girl who wants to be bigger and Mabel is an Ox who

doesn’t want to have her strength stolen.

Everyone will tell you the story of the frog people and how they aren’t

very nice to the Ox people. The frogs will sing and make music.

Zinzi screams and the other frogs capture Mable.

They put her in a little prison so that Zinzi can steal her strength.

Zinzi is too greedy and takes too much power from Mable.

Zinzi gets bigger and jumps around the stage.

You will see Zinzi on top of the very high box and the music will get

louder.

The lights will get brighter and then you will hear a loud bang and the

lights will go off.

Zinzi was too greedy and she explodes, don’t worry this isn’t real.

The Last fable is THE WOLF AND THE SHEPHEARD

The characters will sit on chairs on a bright stage and practice a story.

They try to tell you the story but they keep stopping and starting from

the beginning when someone isn’t happy.

They argue and shout at each other.

They are not very happy.

The character playing the Wolf will talk directly to you.

You don’t have to respond.

The wolf gets upset and walks around being angry at the other

adults.

He will howl quite close to you. You can howl with him if you want

to. You can howl as much as you like and as loud as you want.

The room will now be much brighter and the music and drumming

will be a lot louder.

The wolf will shout and howl one more time and the lights will fade

until it is dark on stage.

This is the end of the show.

During the show you might find something funny, you can laugh if you

like.

During the show you might see or hear something that makes you feel

sad. You can feel sad if you like, that’s okay.

You might hear other people in the audience cheer, clap, shout out or

scream. You can join in if you like.

During the show you might feel that you need to take some time out.

If you do don’t worry about it, find an Usher and let them know. They

will take you to the chill out space where you can relax and return to

the show when you feel ready.