Back in October over 300 children and their families enjoyed a range of fun live theatre as it toured across Dorset to village venues through Artsreach. With a mischievous Monkey, a tospy-turvy circus and stunning puppets plus workshop opportunities, another two fantastic family productions will be visiting eleven venues within the County this February half term…
Angel Heart Theatre – ‘Cirkus Spectakular’
From the lands to the east where the Mountain is King and the Forest is Queen they come… Cirkus Spectakular! Led by the mysterious Baba Kalina it is a colourful, topsy-turvy world played out in a wandering marquee of dreams. But for one little boy it becomes more than just a magical show: Cirkus Spectakular offers Pavlo the chance to prove himself and at last to feel like he belongs. Drawing colours and sounds from Eastern Europe, Cirkus Spectakular explores what it means to be ‘outside the box’, yet how we can all find a way to be a part of a circle. Zany and hilarious, yet tender and touching this is a show for all the family to share. Roll up! Roll up! The Cirkus awaits. Recommended 4+
Sun 15 Feb, 4pm. Sandford Orcas Village Hall. 01963 220354
Mon 16 Feb, 4pm. Thorncombe Village Hall. 01460 30994
Tue 17 Feb, 10:30am. Hazelbury Bryan Village Hall. 01258 817212
Tue 17 Feb, 4pm. Sturminster Marshall Village Hall. 01258 857019
Wed 18 Feb, 10:30am. Cerne Abbas Village Hall. 01300 341332
Wed 18 Feb, 4pm. Durweston Village Hall. 01258 453170
Thur 19 Feb, 10:30am. Gillingham School Arts Theatre. 01747 833844
PuppetCraft – ‘Monkey!
Using stunning string puppets, antique shadow puppets and live music, leading UK puppeteers PuppetCraft tell the story of the birth and comic escapades of the much loved trickster and super-hero Monkey. Hatched from a stone egg the mischievous Monkey can fly on a cloud, turn invisible and transform into anything…! Monkey is the main comic character in China’s great classic story Journey to the West, and is still one of the world’s most popular folk heroes, appearing in countless adaptations, from Chinese opera to comic books, even after hundreds of years. PuppetCraft’s director, John Roberts, trained in China for 6 months learning about a puppet tradition that goes back 3000 years. Now, inspired by the classic Chinese epic story, the comic adventures of this fantastical superhero are brought to life by one of Britain’s top puppet companies, with a script written by poet Michael Rosen, Children’s Laureate 2007 to 2009. Recommended 4+. Lantern making workshops also available from Thur-Sat; enquire when booking.
Thur 19 Feb, 4pm. Morden Village Hall. 01929 459431
Fri 20 Feb, 4pm. The Exchange, Sturminster Newton. 01258 475137
Sat 21 Feb, 4pm. Piddle Valley First School. 07775 902516
Sun 22 Feb, 4pm. Evershot Village Hall. 01935 83580
