News Story
With the support of house, four theatre shows will tour to 40 independent theatre venues, arts centres and library spaces in the South-East of England this spring.
The spring season has something for all ages, with WHIPPED UP! offering the perfect first interactive theatre experience for babies aged two months to two years and their grown-ups in a hilarious 50s diner setting.
Our second family show THE FARMER AND THE CLOWN is a beautiful tale of friendship and kindness; a wordless theatre show, ideal for ages three upwards.
For adults and older children aged twelve and up, the programme offers two theatre shows with IN OTHER WORDS from TBC Productions set to wow audiences with the love story of Arthur and Jane. The two-hander explores memory and the power of music to connect us to each other, and to our past.
Following its run at Edinburgh Festival this year, DUCK by maatin will transport audiences into the world of Ismail (Smiley to his friends), a British Indian schoolboy about to become the youngest-ever player in his elite public school’s First XI cricket team. DUCK explores the heavy complexities of adolescence, racism and the pressures of competitive sport with charm, wit and compassion.
WHIPPED UP!
Produced by Watford Palace Theatre
Created by Jill Rogatti
Directed by Eva Sampson
WHIPPED UP! follows Dottie, an eager-to-please 50’s-style diner server on their first day on the job – where the baby is the customer, and caregivers are along for the ride.
As the server waits on their “demanding” clientele (imagine babies doing what babies do best – creating adorable chaos!) the server grows increasingly frazzled – and more and more entertaining!
Stimulating for tiny audience members with sensory play served up throughout the show, and hilarious for parents/adults watching their loved ones take on roles in an unfolding comedy.
IN OTHER WORDS
TBC Productions
They call it ‘the incident’ now. What happened when they first met. He always said it was part of his ‘romantic plan’ but they both know that’s rubbish.
Connected by the music of Frank Sinatra, this intimate, humorous, and deeply moving drama examines the power of music, memory, and the nature of enduring love.
Matthew Seager’s five star, 4X Moliere Award winning drama has now been seen by over 300,000 people in multiple languages across the globe.
THE FARMER AND THE CLOWN
Flibbertigibbet
Adapted from the book by Marla Frazee
A story of unexpected friendship told through physical comedy and dance.
An old hard-working farmer lives alone. One day, a baby clown accidentally bounces off a passing circus train and is separated from his family and friends.
Unsure what to do, the farmer takes the clown home. As time passes, they discover that by being with each other, they find something new in themselves.
Can a friendship span the generations? Can old dogs learn new tricks? Can the young clown find its way home?
Adapted from the charming picture-book by author and illustrator Marla Frazee (The Boss Baby), this wordless, heart-warming show is accompanied by an original live score.
THE FARMER AND THE CLOWN touring with house 30 March to 19 April 2025
DUCK
by maatin
It’s the summer of 2005, England prepare to win the Ashes and Ismail (Smiley to his friends), a British Indian schoolboy, is about to become the youngest-ever player in his elite public school’s First XI cricket team.
He sets his sights on immortality, breaking the school batting record and getting his name into Wisden. But things are about to heat up.
From award-winning playwright maatin, DUCK is about adolescence, the pressures of sporting competition and finding your identity in an environment that doesn’t cater for difference.
