Book tickets on 020 7226 1787 / www.littleangeltheatre.com

Spring Season 2012 Puppetry for Adults

Little Angel Theatre

March – May 2012

Biting the DustBy Grist to the MillSaturday 24 March, 7.30pm£12/£10 concession A body is laid out on a candle-lit table. Time stands still. Very slowly a glowing china cup floats its tea-and-sympathy ritual. A last cup of tea. Finality. The End… Biting the Dust is a tender and beautifully dark examination of death and rebirth, using objects and evocative puppetry.

The Lonely One By Dotted Line TheatreThursday 29/Friday 30 March, 8pm£12/£10 concession Hot summer night. Past moonlit trees and locked houses. In the ravine a million fireflies flit and dance. In the middle of a thousand warm shadows Lavinia Nebbs stands listening, there are little bits of sudden snow all over her flesh – “Every time I take a step, there’s an echo. Someone’s following me.”

A tale of fear, deliciously dark with a touch of humour, brought to life through shadow play and light manipulation.

Adapted and directed by Rachel Warr.Based on an excerpt from the novel Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury.

Folded Feather’s Twisted VarietyBy Folded FeatherThursday 8/Friday 9 March, 8pm£12/£10 concessionLondon Cabaret Award nominees and hosts of the hugely successful 3K Kaberet underground night, Folded Feather present a night of breathtaking circus, bawdy music and twisted puppetry.

“Outstanding” Time Out

“Magical” The Times

“Very weird, but in a good way” Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

Matthew Robins at Little Angel TheatreFriday 16 March, 8pm & Saturday 17 March, 3pm/8pm£12/£10 concession Matthew Robins and his band perform a new collection of stories, songs, short films and live animations. Creating an on-stage world of lonely mutant boys, insect-operas, biscuit-dinosaurs and knitted monsters. Featuring adventures of regular characters Flyboy, Mothboy and Walter Knitty, Matthew will also be telling the story of Scissor Leg Paul, all-new Alien-Soap-Opera and Salady Brighteyes: super-dog-on-wheels.

“The whole thing feels like watching a silent movie in which every aspect has been created by a wayward child genius.” The Guardian

Productions

Clockwise from top: Folded Feather’s Twisted Variety, Grist to the Mill’s Biting the Dust, Dotted Line Theatre’s The Lonely One and Matthew Robins.

SpiritBy Susan BeattieThursday 19/Friday 20 April, 8pm£12/£10 concession Spirit takes the audience on a captivating journey of ordinary people’s otherworldly experiences, combining personal stories with music and puppetry in an exploration of the extraordinary in everyday life.

With inspired use of shadow, light, movement and manipulation the narratives are humorous, inspiring and in some cases deeply moving.

Jew(ish) By Eye Spy ArtsSunday 22 April, 8pm£12/£10 concession Jew(ish) travels from shtetl to city, from past to present, and from the personal to the political – weaving an imagined heritage with real oral histories. A thought provoking piece centered on an individual’s search for his cultural identity, told through puppetry, object animation a lot of chutzpah!

The Intangible Cities of Margharita Monticiano By NutmegWednesday 18 April, 8pm£12/£10 concessionA sly confection of shadows and projected images – reflections of La Serenissima, the seductive, rapacious city of Venice – personified by Margharita Monticiano, an ageing beauty who sees the world from her own voracious viewpoint.

The Great Puppet HornBy Pangolin’s TeatimeWednesday 25 April, 8pm£12/£10 concessionMore cutting comedy from The Great Puppet Horn. Everyone’s favourite satirical shadow puppet show returns to the Little Angel with a brand new selection of cardboard characters providing up-to-the-minute commentary on everything from global finance to Take That.

“Scathingly funny... this giggle-fest gets my five stars” The Sunday Times

Return to SUSPENSE: another chance to see these hits from last year’s London Puppetry Festival…

Puppetry ProvocationsPuppet Centre in association with Little Angel Theatre presents a new series of small discussion groups.

First provocation Tuesday 6 March, 7pmThe puppeteer – gifted artist or lowly techie? Among the practitioners of the performing arts where does the puppeteer stand? Penny Francis MBE leads the first in the series

Second provocation Tuesday 1 May, 7pmIs there a future for puppetry? What is it?Leader to be announced (see website)

Tickets: £10/£5 students (max 20 places). Ticket includes refreshment.

HeadcaseBy Touched TheatreThursday 26/Friday 27 April, 8pm£12/£10 concessionCassie’s locked herself in with only a goldfish for company, but someone else is battering at the door. Who is she hiding from, what exactly is under the bed and will she make it out of this room alive? Headcase is an original dance puppetry project reflecting some of the experiences of mental health diagnosis. Using object animation, puppetry, miniature theatre and an object-led score mixed live, Headcase is an empathetic, funky and surreal journey into the landscape of our states of mind.

At Little Angel we run 3 evening courses for adults which run for 10 weeks during a term:

PuPPETry BEGiNNErS CourSE Designed for absolute beginners, this is for those who have always wanted to have a go at puppetry but never had the opportunity to do so. Tuesday evenings, 7.30–9.30 pm

PuPPETry PErForMErS CourSEDesigned for people who have attended the Beginners Course or who have a desire to explore performing with puppets. Each term experienced leaders and practitioners give you the opportunity to develop performing skills through puppetry. The term ends with a showing on the Little Angel stage. Wednesday evenings, 7.30–9.30 pm

PuPPET MAkErS CourSEDesigned for people who have attended Beginners Club or who have a strong desire to explore puppet making in more detail. This course gives the opportunity for you to learn how to make a puppet. Each term features a different style of puppetry making and course leaders skilled in the terms chosen style of puppetry. Wednesday evenings, 7.30–9.30 pm

Prices: £165 per term / £115 concessions (includes show visit).

Next term begins in April.

See www.littleangeltheatre.com for full details.

coursEs The Adventures of Thunder and CoalBy Nonesuch TheatreThursday 3/Friday 4 May 8pm & Saturday 5 May, 3pm/8pmThe story of the mice living in the London Underground and the larger creatures fumbling darkly above them. A full-blown musical from Nonesuch, the new company led by the composer-writer behind hit musical The Mouse Queen. Developed as part of the HATCH festival.Praise for The Mouse Queen:

“A marvellous musical” New York Times

“A joy” The Times

“Perfect and witty in every way” Emma Thompson

Left: Touched Theatre’s Headcase. Below: Nonesuch Theatre’s The Adventures of Thunder and Coal. Facing Page: Little Angel Theatre, image by Mike Twigg.

For professional puppeteers, performers and puppet makers

AN iNTroDuCTioN To PuPPETry PErForMANCESunday 4 March/Saturday 28 April, 10am – 5pm Cost £55 / £35 concessionThis one day crash course for total beginners assists you in discovering the essential skills needed to bring puppets and objects alive with movement and emotion. The sessions will include learning about puppet life, breath and focus. An entertaining and comprehensive introduction to the art of the puppeteer, led by Oliver Smart, director of Folded Feather and Little Angel Theatre educationalist.

ShorT STriNG MArioNETTE MASTErCLASS WiTh roNNiE LE DrEWSaturday 3/Sunday 4 March, 10am – 5pmCost £95The course will develop short string marionette manipulation skills particularly focusing on developing character work. Participants must attend both days. Ronnie has performed in most of the Little Angel’s productions over the last 40 years. Film and Television roles includes Zippy from Rainbow, Muffin the Mule, Meerkat commercial, Brains from Thunderbirds, plus Jim Henson’s Labyrinth and Muppet Movies. www.ronnieledrew.com

ProFEssionAL dEVELoPMEnt

MArioNETTE CArviNG WorkShoP WiTh JohN roBErTSMonday 12 – Friday 16 March, 10am – 6pm dailyCost £280John Roberts is one of the most experienced course leaders in Europe having run carving courses since 1980 in the UK and internationally. The workshop will cover design of a marionette, working with wood and tools, and a unique combination of Chinese and European techniques with the aim of producing a fully functioning puppet to take away with you at the end of the week.

TABLE ToP PuPPET CoNSTruCTioN WorkShoP WiTh PETEr o’rourkEMonday 16 – Friday 20 April, 10am – 6pm dailyCost £280Concentrating on the technical aspects of making table top puppets, the emphasis will be on principles of construction to enable the maker to build good movement into puppets through an analysis and understanding of pivot points and jointing. Participants will work from a prototype specifically devised to demonstrate ways of designing good movement. Peter O’Rourke regularly works with Little Angel, most recently designing, making and directing Alice in Wonderland.

To book for all workshops call our box office on 020 7226 1787

STAGE LiGhTiNG For PuPPETry ThEATrESunday 11 March, 10am – 5pmCost £30 / £20 concessionExplore the fascinating relationship between lighting and puppetry in this one day workshop with Little Angel Theatre’s resident Lighting Designer, David Duffy. Practical exercises will include hands-on access to theatre lighting equipment, and a detailed look at puppetry movement in different lighting states. This course is ideal for performers and directors from new and emerging puppetry companies, and those wishing to explore the visual relationship between puppet and puppeteer.

LittLE AnGELsLittle Angel Theatre presents a range of exciting performances and puppetry activities for children and teenagers from age 2 – 16 throughout the year. We also work closely with schools and nurseries. If you’d like to find out about our programme of work for younger audiences please pick up one of our children’s brochures or see www.littleangeltheatre.com.

Your suPPortAs a charity Little Angel Theatre relies on the generosity of our supporters to make sure we keep our doors open and our puppets in work! Without our friends and supporters we simply couldn’t put on our productions or run the vast range of educational, participative and professional development activities that we do. There are various ways you can help:– make a donation, either regularly each month or as a one off gift– join our Company of Angels (details below)– come to one of our gala performances– leave a bequest– join our Corporate Membership scheme or sponsor a production

BEcoME An AnGEL!Want to be part of everything that goes on at Little Angel Theatre? Join our Company of Angels from just £60 per year to get exclusive benefits for you and your family, such as free tickets, priority booking and invitations to special events, as well as supporting the theatre’s work in a sustainable way. To find out how to join see www.littleangeltheatre.com or call the box office and ask for an application form.

BooKinG inForMAtion

hoW To BookBook tickets via our website or by calling the box office on 020 7226 1787. The box office phone line is open 10am – 6pm week days and 10am – 4pm at weekends. We always recommend advance booking as we cannot guarantee availability on the door.

A £1.50 credit/debit card booking fee will be added to each purchase. Once purchased tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. AGE PoLiCyThe productions featured in this brochure are suitable for adult audiences and we recommend that they are not suitable for under 12s. If in doubt please ask the box office for more information.

KEEP uP to dAtE…

JoiN our E-NEWSLETTErmarketing@littleangeltheatre.com

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WEBSiTE www.littleangeltheatre.com

diArY

table top workshop startsthe intangible cities… 8pmspirit 8pMspirit 8pMJew(ish) 8pmthe great pUppet horn 8pmheaDcase 8pmheaDcase 8pmintroDUction to pUppetrY workshop

M 16W 18t 19F 20s 22W 25t 26F 27s 28

MarchMarionette Masterclass startsintroDUction to pUppetrY workshoppUppetrY proVocation 7pmfolDeD feather’s twisteD VarietY 8pmfolDeD feather’s twisteD VarietY 8pm pUppetrY lighting workshop carVing workshop starts Matthew robins 8pm Matthew robins 3pm & 8pm biting the DUst 7.30pm the lonelY one 8pm the lonelY one 8pm

april

MaYpUppetrY proVocation 7pmthUnDer anD coal 8pmthUnDer anD coal 8pmthUnDer anD coal 3pm & 8pm

t 1t 3F 4s 5

s 3s 4t 6t 8F 9s 11M 12F 16s 17s 24t 29F 30

GEttinG to LittLE AnGEL tHEAtrE

Tube: Angel (Northern Line) or Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line)

Bus: Essex Road 38, 56, 73, 341 / Upper Street 4, 19, 30, 43

Train: Essex Road or Highbury and Islington

Little Angel Theatre14 Dagmar PassageOff Cross StreetLondon N1 2DNT. 020 7226 1787 www.littleangeltheatre.com

‘Wonderful work that celebrates the possibilities of theatre’ The Guardian

The Little Angel Theatre is supported by The 1970 Trust, The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, Arts Council England, Ampelos Trust, Anthony and Rachel Williams, Charitable Trust, B G S Cayzer Trust, Cripplegate Foundation, Chairman’s Charitable Trust, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Foyle Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Golsconcott Foundation, Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, Help a Capital Child, Idlewild Trust, Mercers Company, Monument Trust, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Royal Victoria Hall Foundation, The Worshipful Company of Curriers

Little Angel Theatre would like to thank all members of our ‘Company of Angels’ scheme and our Annual Fund supporters for their generous and sustained support.

ticKEt inForMAtionA £1.50 credit/debit card booking fee will be added to each purchase. Once purchased tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Book tickets on 020 7226 1787 or at www.littleangeltheatre.com

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