Archive - Children's Theatre
Polar Bears Go Up!
Fish and Game
www.fishandgame.org.uk
Director - Lee Lyford
Creators and Performers - Ivor MacKaskill and Fiona Manson
Design - Claire Halleran
Lighting Design - Kate Bonney
Sound Design - Greg Sinclair
The Polar Bears are back. This time the two intrepid explorers are going up in the world…
There aren’t many balloons in the Arctic. So when you find one, it’s precious. And if it gets lost, you have to go and find it. So now they must step up and explore unknown territory: the sky above their heads. They climb trees, jump on clouds and reach for the stars as they race each other all the way into space (and stop for a sandwich along the way, of course).
Following last year’s exceptional show The Polar Bears Go Wild we bring you the next instalment of their adventures.
A fun, surreal and highly enjoyable treat for children aged 2-5.
'Visually, it’s a stream of imaginative surprises. Wee doors open in towers of boxes, props emerge, including two teeny white bears who scale the mighty heights – by cable car, plane and rocket (on an emblematic wall chart) ...' The Herald★★★★
Images by Richard Davenport
www.fishandgame.org.uk
Director - Lee Lyford
Creators and Performers - Ivor MacKaskill and Fiona Manson
Design - Claire Halleran
Lighting Design - Kate Bonney
Sound Design - Greg Sinclair
The Polar Bears are back. This time the two intrepid explorers are going up in the world…
There aren’t many balloons in the Arctic. So when you find one, it’s precious. And if it gets lost, you have to go and find it. So now they must step up and explore unknown territory: the sky above their heads. They climb trees, jump on clouds and reach for the stars as they race each other all the way into space (and stop for a sandwich along the way, of course).
Following last year’s exceptional show The Polar Bears Go Wild we bring you the next instalment of their adventures.
A fun, surreal and highly enjoyable treat for children aged 2-5.
'Visually, it’s a stream of imaginative surprises. Wee doors open in towers of boxes, props emerge, including two teeny white bears who scale the mighty heights – by cable car, plane and rocket (on an emblematic wall chart) ...' The Herald★★★★
Images by Richard Davenport
The Whirly Bird
Eco Drama
www.ecodrama.co.uk
Directed by Emily Reid
Devised by Caroline Mathison and Beth Kovarik
Design - Claire Halleran
Music & sound design - Greig Sinclair
Dramaturg - Katrina Caldwell
Artwork - Lindsay Scott and Ben Cormack
In a cosy nest, two birds look skyward and get ready for their maiden flight. While flying comes easy for one, the other just can’t get the hang of it. After many failed attempts, inspiration is found in a very special flying seed…
The Whirlybird is a funny and moving story about a bird that yearns to fly, featuring movement, music, bird song and puppetry.
'A delightful show… slips from hilarity to pathos with ease, and keeps the children transfixed. With a colourful, autumnal set festooned with pine cones, a birdhouse, feathers and toadstool and gorgeous wee puppets, both designed by Claire Halleran and featuring magical music from composer Greg Sinclair, it is sure to fly further afield, soar, and keep going' The List ★★★★
'reacting with squeals of delight to the gorgeous, colourful set by Claire Halleran…' The Scotsman ★★★
Images by Eoin Carey
www.ecodrama.co.uk
Directed by Emily Reid
Devised by Caroline Mathison and Beth Kovarik
Design - Claire Halleran
Music & sound design - Greig Sinclair
Dramaturg - Katrina Caldwell
Artwork - Lindsay Scott and Ben Cormack
In a cosy nest, two birds look skyward and get ready for their maiden flight. While flying comes easy for one, the other just can’t get the hang of it. After many failed attempts, inspiration is found in a very special flying seed…
The Whirlybird is a funny and moving story about a bird that yearns to fly, featuring movement, music, bird song and puppetry.
'A delightful show… slips from hilarity to pathos with ease, and keeps the children transfixed. With a colourful, autumnal set festooned with pine cones, a birdhouse, feathers and toadstool and gorgeous wee puppets, both designed by Claire Halleran and featuring magical music from composer Greg Sinclair, it is sure to fly further afield, soar, and keep going' The List ★★★★
'reacting with squeals of delight to the gorgeous, colourful set by Claire Halleran…' The Scotsman ★★★
Images by Eoin Carey
Experts in Short Trousers
Cultured Mongrel Dance
www.culturedmongreldance.com
Direction and Choreography - Emma Jayne Park
Design - Claire Halleran
Experts In Short Trousers is an original immersive dance theatre work landing in
venues to celebrate the knowledge and skills young primary school children already
have.
Available for performance in any setting, the young audience arrive to a
disaster; the cast, extra costume and set strewn everywhere you can imagine. Having never ventured to earth before the cast need to be taught how to move, what to wear and how to build their escape vehicle; using all of this information to build impressive routines and tell their own unique story.
Images by Eoin Carey
www.culturedmongreldance.com
Direction and Choreography - Emma Jayne Park
Design - Claire Halleran
Experts In Short Trousers is an original immersive dance theatre work landing in
venues to celebrate the knowledge and skills young primary school children already
have.
Available for performance in any setting, the young audience arrive to a
disaster; the cast, extra costume and set strewn everywhere you can imagine. Having never ventured to earth before the cast need to be taught how to move, what to wear and how to build their escape vehicle; using all of this information to build impressive routines and tell their own unique story.
Images by Eoin Carey
Friends Electric
Visible Fictions
www.visiblefictions.co.uk
Written by Lewis Hetherington
Director - Matt Addicott
Design - Claire Halleran
The Professor has spent her life with robots.
She has built them, tested them, broken them and started all over again.
The Professor has spent so much time with robots that some people say she has prefers them to humans.
Friends Electric is a magical story about a spark of connection igniting between a human (you) and a robot (like you?).
Discover what makes you human, how our hearts can take over our brains and how our brains can do amazing things.
For everyone over 7 years old.
Images by Neil Thomas Douglas
www.visiblefictions.co.uk
Written by Lewis Hetherington
Director - Matt Addicott
Design - Claire Halleran
The Professor has spent her life with robots.
She has built them, tested them, broken them and started all over again.
The Professor has spent so much time with robots that some people say she has prefers them to humans.
Friends Electric is a magical story about a spark of connection igniting between a human (you) and a robot (like you?).
Discover what makes you human, how our hearts can take over our brains and how our brains can do amazing things.
For everyone over 7 years old.
Images by Neil Thomas Douglas
The Adventures of Isabel
Smallpetitklein
www.smallpetitklein.com
Choreography - Thomas Small
Design - Claire Halleran
Animation - Retchy
Lighting Design - Simon Gane
Executive Producer - Rob Dunn
The Adventures of Isabel follows the exciting escapades of the frightfully fearless Isabel as she embarks on an epic adventure , encountering four fearsome foes along the way. Isabel faces many challenges, confronts and overcomes her fears, and learns about her emerging independence. This production is a 'road trip', Beat Generation-like for the under 5's, fable and parable that will expose its young and old audiences with universal truths.
This interactive and immersive performance is an adventure like no other; a captivating and innovative dance experience for the whole family, not to be missed.
'Walking on to the stage (as we’re all encouraged to do) was like entering another world, filled with sailing boats, pretend grass, little benches and lots and lots of colour.
Instantly, the potentially strange and scary world of the theatre was made to feel safe and unthreatening for the two- and three-year-olds surrounding me. It also created a sense of belonging which meant any invitations to join in were readily accepted by almost all.' The Scotsman★★★★
www.smallpetitklein.com
Choreography - Thomas Small
Design - Claire Halleran
Animation - Retchy
Lighting Design - Simon Gane
Executive Producer - Rob Dunn
The Adventures of Isabel follows the exciting escapades of the frightfully fearless Isabel as she embarks on an epic adventure , encountering four fearsome foes along the way. Isabel faces many challenges, confronts and overcomes her fears, and learns about her emerging independence. This production is a 'road trip', Beat Generation-like for the under 5's, fable and parable that will expose its young and old audiences with universal truths.
This interactive and immersive performance is an adventure like no other; a captivating and innovative dance experience for the whole family, not to be missed.
'Walking on to the stage (as we’re all encouraged to do) was like entering another world, filled with sailing boats, pretend grass, little benches and lots and lots of colour.
Instantly, the potentially strange and scary world of the theatre was made to feel safe and unthreatening for the two- and three-year-olds surrounding me. It also created a sense of belonging which meant any invitations to join in were readily accepted by almost all.' The Scotsman★★★★
Up to Speed
Image by Eoin Carey
Rosalind Sydney
Created by Rosalind Sydney and Laurie Brown
Director - Matt Addicott
Design - Claire Halleran
Sound - Danny Krass
Up to Speed is a funny, moving and captivating tale about a boy and a girl and what it’s like to be the odd one out!
Barnaby is completely off the wall!
Jade likes to be in control.
But today Barnaby hasn’t turned up for school.
And it looks like Jade’s got some explaining to do…
Have you ever met a person who is a little unusual? Someone whose mind seems to work a bit differently? Who surprises you? Who is funny and also fun to laugh at? That’s what Barnaby is like.
Jade has marvelled and laughed at him, been surprised and confused by him. But he has also made her feel small. And she knows exactly how to get him back…
production images by Eion Carey
Created by Rosalind Sydney and Laurie Brown
Director - Matt Addicott
Design - Claire Halleran
Sound - Danny Krass
Up to Speed is a funny, moving and captivating tale about a boy and a girl and what it’s like to be the odd one out!
Barnaby is completely off the wall!
Jade likes to be in control.
But today Barnaby hasn’t turned up for school.
And it looks like Jade’s got some explaining to do…
Have you ever met a person who is a little unusual? Someone whose mind seems to work a bit differently? Who surprises you? Who is funny and also fun to laugh at? That’s what Barnaby is like.
Jade has marvelled and laughed at him, been surprised and confused by him. But he has also made her feel small. And she knows exactly how to get him back…
production images by Eion Carey
Hickory and Dickory Dock
Wee Stories
www.weestoriestheatre.org
Writer and Director Iain Johnstone
Music - Dave Trouton
Design - Claire Halleran
Lighting Design - Andy Gannon
Hickory and Dickory Dock tells the story of what happens in a remote village when all the clocks go haywire. With original music and puppetry, it’s a tale of ingenuity, invention and surprises.
For children aged 4+ and adults
www.weestoriestheatre.org
Writer and Director Iain Johnstone
Music - Dave Trouton
Design - Claire Halleran
Lighting Design - Andy Gannon
Hickory and Dickory Dock tells the story of what happens in a remote village when all the clocks go haywire. With original music and puppetry, it’s a tale of ingenuity, invention and surprises.
For children aged 4+ and adults
The Sun, the Moon and a Boy called River
Wee Stories
www.weestoriestheatre.org
Directors - Andy Cannon & Iain Johnstone
Design - Claire Halleran
Lighting Design - Gerron Stewart
Music - Jennifer Port
Two babies, born at the exact same moment, under the exact same moon. One born a princess in a palace, the other the son of a poor woodcutter. A prophecy foretells they will marry, but the evil King will stop at nothing to prevent his daughter from marrying a commoner.
'The show features a lovely transverse set by Claire Halleran, with the red plush curtains of the court at one end, and the wide world at the other, presided over by a silvery moon and a great golden sun' ★★★★The Scotsman
'The lovely mystical-cosmic imagery of sun, moon and passing seasons is beguilingly presented through elements of design and puppetry'.★★★★ The Herald
www.weestoriestheatre.org
Directors - Andy Cannon & Iain Johnstone
Design - Claire Halleran
Lighting Design - Gerron Stewart
Music - Jennifer Port
Two babies, born at the exact same moment, under the exact same moon. One born a princess in a palace, the other the son of a poor woodcutter. A prophecy foretells they will marry, but the evil King will stop at nothing to prevent his daughter from marrying a commoner.
'The show features a lovely transverse set by Claire Halleran, with the red plush curtains of the court at one end, and the wide world at the other, presided over by a silvery moon and a great golden sun' ★★★★The Scotsman
'The lovely mystical-cosmic imagery of sun, moon and passing seasons is beguilingly presented through elements of design and puppetry'.★★★★ The Herald
Paperbelle
Paperbelle - Frozen Charlotte Image by Paul Watt
Frozen Charlotte Theatre Company
www.frozencharlotte.com
Director - Heather Fulton
Design - Claire Halleran
Lighting Design - Simon Wilkinson
Sound Design - Ben Talbot-Dunn
Paperbelle's world is blank and plain and she likes it that way.
She's heard of colour, but would prefer things to stay as they are - blank and plain. The colour on the otherhand want to play games and they want Paperbelle to join in. Paperbelle's world is changing - will she try to stop it or might she find it's not as bad as it first seemed...?
'...the whole piece is like a gleeful hide-and-seek adventure.' ★★★★The Herald
'The entire production is ingenious and full of magic and amazement that induced shrieks of delighted laughter from the young audience who were thoroughly absorbed from the get go.' ★★★★★ The Edinburgh Guide
'It’s a simple concept, beautifully worked out; and I’ve rarely seen a toddler audience so happy' ★★★★ The Scotsman
'...this delicate, sweet and funny show' ★★★★★The List
www.frozencharlotte.com
Director - Heather Fulton
Design - Claire Halleran
Lighting Design - Simon Wilkinson
Sound Design - Ben Talbot-Dunn
Paperbelle's world is blank and plain and she likes it that way.
She's heard of colour, but would prefer things to stay as they are - blank and plain. The colour on the otherhand want to play games and they want Paperbelle to join in. Paperbelle's world is changing - will she try to stop it or might she find it's not as bad as it first seemed...?
'...the whole piece is like a gleeful hide-and-seek adventure.' ★★★★The Herald
'The entire production is ingenious and full of magic and amazement that induced shrieks of delighted laughter from the young audience who were thoroughly absorbed from the get go.' ★★★★★ The Edinburgh Guide
'It’s a simple concept, beautifully worked out; and I’ve rarely seen a toddler audience so happy' ★★★★ The Scotsman
'...this delicate, sweet and funny show' ★★★★★The List
The Forgotten Orchard
Eco Drama
www.ecodrama.co.uk
Director - Emily Reid
Dramaturg - Katrina Caldwell
Designer - Claire Halleran
The Forgotten Orchard is a funny
and emotional tale that uses the inspirational apple to ask questions about the food we eat; where does it come from, how far has it travelled, what does it taste like, and, crucially can we grow our own?
'Packed with facts though the Forgotten Orchard might be, it succeeds by putting its story and characters first.' ★★★★ The Scotsman
www.ecodrama.co.uk
Director - Emily Reid
Dramaturg - Katrina Caldwell
Designer - Claire Halleran
The Forgotten Orchard is a funny
and emotional tale that uses the inspirational apple to ask questions about the food we eat; where does it come from, how far has it travelled, what does it taste like, and, crucially can we grow our own?
'Packed with facts though the Forgotten Orchard might be, it succeeds by putting its story and characters first.' ★★★★ The Scotsman
Luvhart
Starcatchers
www.starcatchers.org.uk
2-4year olds
Director - Sacha Kyle
Design - Claire Halleran
A magical tale about a man with a bowler hat and a snow angel, whose lives though separated by earth and sky, are brought together through the changing seasons. A visually quirky and humorous piece of physical theatre accompanied by live cello for the very young, exploring what it means to be lonely and the importance of friendship.
'Whimsical, charming...nicely stylised, almost like an early-years animation brought alive and life-size.' ★★★ The Herald
www.starcatchers.org.uk
2-4year olds
Director - Sacha Kyle
Design - Claire Halleran
A magical tale about a man with a bowler hat and a snow angel, whose lives though separated by earth and sky, are brought together through the changing seasons. A visually quirky and humorous piece of physical theatre accompanied by live cello for the very young, exploring what it means to be lonely and the importance of friendship.
'Whimsical, charming...nicely stylised, almost like an early-years animation brought alive and life-size.' ★★★ The Herald
The Ceilidh Tree
Giant Productions
Director - Katrina Caldwell
Design - Claire Halleran
'Claire Halleran deserves praise for her set. Through simple screens and incorporating the seating onto the stage, she mimics the traditional story-telling circle, leaving enough to the children’s imagination while suggesting a midwinter forest.' The Stage
First Light
Starcatchers
www.starcatchers.org.uk
macrobert arts centre, Stirling as part of the Strctchers Symposium
North Edinburgh Arts Centre as part of The International Childrens Festival
Director - Matt Addicott
Design - Claire Halleran
Lighting Design - Lizzie Powell
Sound - Scott Twynholm
First Light is a show for 0-3 year olds and their carers and tells the story of the Man in the Moon and a woman called Dawn.
'This is a magical performance that absorbed the very young audience' ★★★★ Edinburgh Guide
www.starcatchers.org.uk
macrobert arts centre, Stirling as part of the Strctchers Symposium
North Edinburgh Arts Centre as part of The International Childrens Festival
Director - Matt Addicott
Design - Claire Halleran
Lighting Design - Lizzie Powell
Sound - Scott Twynholm
First Light is a show for 0-3 year olds and their carers and tells the story of the Man in the Moon and a woman called Dawn.
'This is a magical performance that absorbed the very young audience' ★★★★ Edinburgh Guide
My House
Starcatchers, Edinburgh
www.starcatchers.org.uk
www.andymanley.com
Created and Directed by Andy Manley
Design - Claire Halleran
Sound Design - Danny Krass
My house is orange
The ceiling is furry
The walls are jaggy
The faces are shiny
I like my house
It's a lot like me
'Andy Manley's beautiful new toddler show' ★★★★The Scotsman
'A charmingly simple and quirky piece. Deeply silly, yet enchantingly accessible to toddlers.' ★★★★ The Sunday Herald
'...the perfect introductory stage experience for budding broadway babies.' Time Out Kids, New York
'For a little under 30 minutes, performer Andy Manley builds a world with such a slow and gentle development that Beckett would have been proud. He takes the barely furnished room upstairs at NEAC and simply but deliberately, builds another world there - but one which really only exists in the imaginations of its audience, mums and toddlers alike.' The Edinburgh Evening News
