24 June – 12 September, 2009
The stage adaptation of Nina Bawden’s wartime drama Carrie’s War will commemorate the anniversary of the start of World War Two on 3 September by offering tickets to that evening’s performance for just five pence.
The unusual ticket price, the equivalent of one shilling in old money, is offered to the first 100 theatregoers who come along to the Apollo theatre at 19:00 on 3 September dressed in 1940s period costume.
Carrie’s War was written in 1973 and is based on Bawden’s own experiences as a wartime evacuee in Wales. The story centres on young Carrie Willow and her brother Nick, who are evacuated from London and billeted with strict old Mr Evans and his kind sister Lou in the mining valleys of South Wales. There, they meet Mrs Gotobed, Hepzibah the witch and eccentric Mister Johnny, and hear about the curse of an ancient skull.
Emma Reeves’s stage adaptation of the novel stars Sarah Edwardson as Carrie, Prunella Scales as Mrs Gotobed and Kacey Ainsworth as Lou.
Carrie’s War opened at the Apollo theatre on 24 June and ends its run on 12 September.
December 11 2009 – January 18 2010
A new stage adaptation of The Cat In The Hat, aimed at three to six year olds is to opens at the National Theatre this Christmas.
The Cat In The Hat will play from 11 December over the Christmas period and is based on the popular picture book by Dr. Seuss, which tells the tale of a cat in a red and white striped hat who pays a visit to Sally and her brother. The trio gets up to all sorts of mischief together, but then mum comes home…
The production is something of a departure for director Katie Mitchell, a regular at the National, whose work normally comprises multi-media adaptations of classics aimed firmly at adult audiences, such as the recent …Some Trace Of Her, The Seagull and Waves. Her other piece for the National this autumn is an adaptation of Ferdinand Bruckner’s Pains Of Youth.
The theatre has a history of producing theatre for young adults and family audiences, including successful productions of His Dark Materials, Coram Boy and, most recently, War Horse, which transferred to the West End where it is still playing. This year’s family offering is an adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s adventure novel Nation, suitable for ages 10 and over, which plays in the Olivier from 11 November.
The Cat In The Hat plays in the Cottesloe theatre until 18 January, before transferring to the Young Yic from 28 January to 13 March.
29 August – 31 August, 2009
Over the August bank holiday weekend the National Theatre will be holding their annual Bank Holiday Dance Weekend, which forms part of their outdoor Watch This Space festival, from Saturday 29 to Monday 31 August.
Anyone interested in learning more about different dance styles, and having a go themselves, should turn up at Theatre Square to witness free al fresco demonstrations and performances of a variety of dances, including jive, tango, ballroom, Bollywood, salsa, Indo-British and bellydancing.
Salsa band Conjunto Sabroso, the Bollywood dancers of Taala, The Jay Craig Orchestra and Argentine tango expert Guillermo Rozenthuler will be among the dance specialists encouraging visitors to join in a mass dance session in Theatre Square.
Visitors can also watch performances by StopGAP dance company, the professors of the Cockney Awkestra – who hope to revive the dying art of the Cockney Knees-Up – and Motionhouse Dance Theatre, which presents a dance piece about life on the London underground.
For more information and to view a full schedule of events over the weekend, visit the Watch This Space website.
14 August – 28 August, 2009
Kids’ Week, which gives children aged 5-16 the chance to see an incredible selection of dazzling shows for free as long as they are accompanied by an adult paying full price begins today and runs until 28 August.
Kids’ Week is run by the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and has been running for twelve years and has proved a massive success.
Alongside the chance to get free tickets for shows there will be a raft of free show related activities and workshops. Children can peek backstage, learn to dance, sing with the cast and enjoy exclusive post show Q&As.
For more information please visit, http://www.kidsweek.co.uk/
TANABATA ‘Star’ Festival at TARA Studio
26 August – 29 August, 2009
TARA Arts are bringing the Japanese Tanabata Star Festival to south London! This is a unique opportunity for children and families to experience the magic of Tanabata and provides enchanting storytelling theatre for children aged 4-8 and their families.
Tanabata is an annual festival celebrating the legend of stars Hikoboshi and Orihime, who fall in love, the stars are separated by the Milky Way and only allowed to meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month. Which this year , according to the Japanese lunisolar calendar, falls on 26 August. Children and adults will be captivated by the enchanting storytelling and children will learn the Tanabata song and make a wish to hang on the bamboo tree.
The performance is directed by TARA’s Artistic Director Jatinder Verma who comments, ‘We’re aiming for an intense, theatrical delight for children and their parents’ and has been developed with TARA’s International Associate Artist, writer & designer Nanako Kume from Tokyo, Assistant Producer Yuriri Naka and performer Elizabeth Chan.
The project is supported by JAPAN-UK 150, The Japan Society and The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and is part of the Japan UK 150 year, a series of events in the UK organised to celebrate 150 years of friendship between the two countries.
Wed to Fri 10.30am, 1.30pm
Sat 10.30am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm
Tickets: £5.50 & £4.50 concessions
Booking: 020 8333 4457 / www.tara-arts.com
Venue: TARA Studio, 356 Garratt Lane, London SW18 4ES
Shakespeare 4 Kidz are launching a new movie series beginning with tuning Shakespeare’s Hamlet into a 3D musical, it will be the first of six movie adaptations of the musical versions of the Bard’s plays originally created by the acclaimed UK theatre company Shakespeare 4 Kidz.
Not only will the story of Hamlet be told in a unique and exciting way, but the addition of the latest 3D technology brings added excitement to cinema audiences: a ghost that hovers in front of your eyes, cannon-fire that flies into the auditorium and a final sword-fight that seems to literally be all around you, are just some of the features promised in the first film, which is firmly targeted at the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and High School Musical market.
The film, which is produced by Mark Thomas and Elsinore Films, will be directed by double BAFTA winner John Godber, who is reuniting his partnership with Thomas, the producer of Godber’s film version of Up ‘n’ Under.
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26 September – 5 December, 2009
Between September and December the Little Angle Theatre in Islington will be running puppet courses for kids and teenagers.
SATURDAY PUPPET CLUB
For ages 5-10
Their most popular club, see a performance of ‘Cindermouse’ before undertaking a 9 week challenge to create your own puppets and develop a short play. The term ends with a show for friends and family. Saturday Puppet Club has two age groups, 5-7s, 8-10s. The class runs on a Saturday from 26 September till 5 December and costs £80 (£55 concession) which includes the show ticket.
For the younger children there’s
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