handa s surprise october 2017 tour - … to kenya and follow in ... distribute flyers and posters to...
TRANSCRIPT
HANDA’S SURPRISE
OCTOBER 2017 TOUR
Programmers Pack
COPY
Long copy
A Little Angel Theatre Production
Travel to Kenya and follow in Handa’s footsteps as she journeys to see her best friend
Akeyo, in the next village. Handa is taking 7 delicious fruits as a surprise – but 7 different
animals have 7 very different ideas… could you resist the sweet-smelling guava? How about
a ripe red mango or a tangy purple passion fruit?
A blend of physical performance, puppetry, live music and song combine to create an
intimate, magical production with audience participation. Come and share in the magical
tangerine surprise!
“Vibrant performers.. Singing and stomping in Swahili rhythms”
“A short, sunshiny little show with a delicious citrus finish.”
Critics’ Choice Time Out
Credits
The line Based on the book by Eileen Brown, published by Walker Books Ltd must be included on all publicity. Devised by the company Directed by Marleen Vermeulen Puppet Design by Peter O’Rourke Set Design by Sophia Lovell Smith Tour Produced by Miranda Pitcher Show criteria at a glance:
Show Title: Handa’s Surprise
Event Type: Children’s Theatre
Genres: Family Theatre, Puppetry
Running time: 35 minutes
Age Range: 2 – 6 years
Capacity: limited to 45 per show
Cast: 2 performers
Crew: 1 stage manager for get in and to hand over to in-house technician/operator
Technical Essentials: We require at least 9m stage width and 7m stage depth. The show is set in
the round with the audience invited to sit around the edge of a floor mat.
REVIEWS
“The gentle wit of Eileen Brown’s popular story is captured. And the two-to-five-year-old
children’s smiles can only increase at the end of the show when they are offered their final
surprise”
Time Out
“A short, sunshiny little show with a delicious citrus finish”
Time Out Critics Choice
“Short, sweet and highly imaginative… This is a beautiful, gentle and colourful piece… It’s a
full-scale delight.”
ReviewsGate.com
“Vibrant performers…singing and stomping in Swahili rhythms”
Time Out
“I have never, ever seen a group of children so captivated by what's been put in front of
them! The 2 ladies who told the story were excellent and kept the children totally engrossed
from start to end. If the children weren't laughing, they were sitting almost hypnotised by
the story!”
J. Kelly, Chantry Primary Academy
“Wow! What a show! Just to say how much the adults and the children enjoyed the show. The children were enthralled throughout and the adults thought it was the best show they have seen for a long time!”
C. Watkins, Leominster Infant School
ABOUT LITTLE ANGEL THEATRE
"There is magic in this compact theatre and its glowing stage" Time Out
Little Angel Theatre is one of only three building-based puppet theatres in England.
Established in 1961, our Islington-based theatre is the centre of our activities. The 100 seat
theatre stands side-by-side with the workshop, where all our new productions and puppets
are developed, carved and constructed. We are dedicated to the celebration and
development of puppetry and live animation in all its diverse forms.
Producing and Supporting Excellence
For over 50 years we have been providing high quality puppet theatre aimed at family
audiences, and we are continuing to extend our work for young children and adults. Not
only do we produce our own shows that play in-house and tour nationally and
internationally, but we also welcome puppetry companies from around the UK and overseas
to perform on our stage. Nationally and internationally LAT has built a reputation as a leader
in the field of puppetry.
“Wonderful work that celebrates the possibilities of theatre” The Guardian
Education and Participation
LAT has a lively and imaginative Education Programme working with schools, youth and
community groups, particularly in Islington and the surrounding boroughs. We also run
participation activities such as our Saturday Puppet Club, Crafty Kids Club and Youth
Theatre, and regular Kids Fun Days and holiday clubs.
A Centre of Professional Development and Research
Through various courses throughout the year we provide training opportunities for
puppeteers and puppet makers, maintaining this rare art form in the UK. We continually
seek funding for this work, and most recently we have received support from the Esmee
Fairbairn Foundation towards a programme of training activities.
AUDIENCE We recommend that the production is marketed to children aged 2-6 years. The show is set in the round, and the audience are invited to sit around the edge of a floor mat. The decision about letting younger or older children depends on your venues age policy. Please contact the touring manager if you would like to discuss this. Bad Language: None Strobe/flashing lights: None Age restriction: 2 – 6 years FOH opening: the company prefer not to open the house any more than 10 minutes before the show start time as they are already on stage singing and seating the audience.
SUITABLE AUDIENCES
Primary schools
Nurseries
Children’s Centres
Playgroups
Family networks
REACHING THESE AUDIENCES Distribute flyers and posters to as many family friendly outlets as possible, including:
Libraries
Leisure Centre
Art Galleries
Book shops
Children’s toy/shoes/cloths shops
Parent support centers
Gingerbread/lone parent initiatives
Doctors/Dentists
Supermarkets Use specific online marketing including social media networks and listings on family focussed websites.
OTHER MARKETING IDEAS Black History Month This production can easily link in with the work of the Black History Celebrations. The UK website offers a wealth of suggestions for engaging with the work and history of black culture. www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk
Zoos and Animal Sanctuaries Throughout the production Handa meets animals large and small from the Kenyan wild. You might wish to make contact with your local zoo or animal sanctuary to collaborate and work on bringing audiences together and informed by new animals.
Fruits of the World Handa’s Surprise features lots of fruits from Africa, you might want to see if you can work with local supermarkets or grocers to donate these fruits to show the audience, or let them try them after the performance.
Book Links Eileen Browne has written several other children’s books including ‘Handa’s Hen’ which is the follow on for ‘Handa’s Surprise’. You could talk to your local book shop or library about linked activities at their venues following the performance.
Puppetry Make sure you check out the Little Angel Theatre website to see and learn about
puppetry. There are resources available including education packs, previous shows, blogs and
media. www.littleangeltheatre.com
BOX OFFICE INFORMATION
Who do we send weekly sales/financial figures to?
Please send them to [email protected]
Who is presenting it?
Little Angel Theatre. Directed by Marleen Vermeulen, with puppets made by Peter O’Rourke
and the set designed by Sophia Lovell Smith.
What is it about?
The show follows Handa who goes to see her friend Akeyo, she is taking her lots of delicious
fruits as a present. On the way to Akeyo’s village lots of different animals come and steal the
fruit from Handa’s basket, will there be anything left for Akeyo? The show is told through
African song and dance with magical puppetry. Children and their carers are encouraged to
sit on the floor and engage with the puppets and performers when invited to do so.
Who wrote it?
The original book was written and illustrated by Eileen Brown and it was originally published
by Walker Books.
Creative Team
Devised by the company Directed by Marleen Vermeulen Puppet Design by Peter O’Rourke Set Design by Sophia Lovell Smith Age Range Suitable for ages 2 – 6 years Running Time 35 minutes Interval None
IMAGES
Other images and higher res images are available upon
request. Please contact: [email protected]
All images credited to Ellie Kurtz.
LOGOS All the logos printed below must be included as part of any print or publicity materials.
Please can proofs of all publicity material be sent for approval to:
Generally the logo should be placed top left of any document
EPS version attached to the email should be used for print.
JPG version attached should be used for screen.
RECOURCES
We at Little Angel will support the marketing in whatever way possible.
Please contact our Marketing Officer, Martin Walsh about PS swaps // social media
connections:
[email protected] // 0207 359 8581 ext 204
For any press enquiries please get in touch with Kaya Stanley-Money, Production & Touring
Coordinator:
[email protected] // 0207 359 8581 ext 205
There is an education pack available. Please contact [email protected] if you
haven’t received it. Please feel free to distribute this to your schools and teachers.
Here is a link to the trailer for the show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CTgpX7cSjg&list=UUmAEEtplnZ3YkZ3FWfbwJPQ
Hattie Callery, Tour Manager
[email protected] Direct Dial: 020 3780 5976
078757 97827
Connect with Little Angel Theatre
@littleAtheatre #Handa
Facebook.com/LittleAngelTheatre
YouTube.com/TheLittleATheatre
Flickr.com/littleangeltheatre
www.littleangeltheatre.com