THE LYRIC Hammersmith has announced its 2016 Little Lyric Autumn season and it includes stories of beanstalks, giraffes and space travel specially chosen to delight young audiences aged from 2 to 11.
For the October Half Term there’s a new adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, while Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas returns for the festive season.
The season also includes the travelling story circus, STORYSTOCK. This two-day festival (October 27 and 28) is packed with bookish fun, bringing stories to life through shows, storytelling, author talks and creative workshops.
Highlights of STORYSTOCK include Roald Dahl’s The Imagination Seekers, an interactive theatrical workshop, plus In Conversation Events with children’s authors Judith Kerr, OBE (writer and illustrator for Mog and The Tiger Who Came to Tea) and John Burningham (writer of There’s Going to Be a New Baby) and much much more.
FULL SEASON
Christopher Nibble from Topsy Turvy Theatre – Saturday, September 10 at 11am and 1pm. Running time: 60 minutes. Suitable for ages 2 – 7.
The guinea pigs of Dandeville love munching dandelion leaves so much that all the dandelions have disappeared from town. Does Christopher Nibble, a plucky little guinea pig, have the flower power to save the day?
The Girl and the Giraffe, a Half Moon and Floods of Ink Production – Saturday, September 17 at 11am and 1pm. Running time: 45 minutes. Suitable for ages 3 – 6.
One day whilst Girl is playing in her garden she comes face to face with… Giraffe! Follow their friendship in this uplifting show told from a child’s perspective.
Jack and the Beans Talk from Garlic Theatre – Saturday, September 24 at 11am and 1pm. Running time: 45 minutes. Suitable for ages 3 – 7.
A charming and inventive retelling of this classic tale involving magic beans, an enormous beanstalk, bags of gold and a giant that sniffs out small boys.
The Boy Who Climbed Into The Moon from the book by David Almond – Saturday, October 1 at 11am and 2pm. Running time: 60 minutes. Suitable for ages 5 – 11.
Paul has a GINORMOUS idea. The moon is a hole in the sky and he’s going to climb into it! Anything’s possible in this warm and very funny story.
A Theatre Alibi Production, The Boy Who Climbed Into The Moon is part of the Get Creative Family Arts Festival.
The Ugly Duckling, part of the Get Creative Family Arts Festival – Saturday, October 8 at 11am and 1pm. Running time: 50 minutes. Suitable for ages 4 – 10.
This is the story of a little bird who sets off on an adventure to find out who he is; is he just a different duckling, or is he something else?
Chicken Licken – Saturday, October 15 at 11am and 1pm. Running time: 45 minutes. Suitable for ages 3 – 8.
A baby chick is born and thinks the sky is falling down. Chicken Licken grows up to be the Little Red Hen and asks her friends to help her make bread, but no one wants to play! This one-person show is a trilogy of classic tales from the Ladybird books – Chicken Licken, The Little Red Hen and The Fox and the Hen told with shadow and rod puppetry.
A DNA Puppetry and Visual Theatre Production, Chicken Licken is part of the Get Creative Family Arts Festival.
Alfie White Space Explorer, a Tall Stories production – Saturday, October 22 at 11am and 1pm. Running time: 50 minutes. Suitable for ages 5 – 9.
Alfie White is crazy about space and his dad is training to be the first man on the moon. A cosmic tale of adventure and discovery from the creators of The Gruffalo.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Monday, October 24 to Saturday, October 29 (except Friday) at 11am and 1pm. Running time: 55 minutes. Suitable for ages 4 – 11.
Join Alice on her remarkable journey…Find magic in Wonderland and make it safely home again. The only danger is, you may not want to leave.
A Box Tale Soup Production, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is part of the Get Creative Family Arts Festival.
STORYSTOCK – Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28. Suitable for ages 2 – 11. The Festival includes:
Underneath a Magical Moon , a Tutti Frutti and York Theatre Royal Production – Saturday, November 5 at 11am and 2pm. Running time: 55 minutes. Suitable for ages 3 – 7.
Through her open window Wendy Darling gazes out at the night sky dreaming of blue lagoons, magical moons and the stories that she can tell. But tonight, like no other, has magic in the air…
Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas, a Lyric Hammersmith and Pins and nedles Production – Friday, November 18 to Saturday, December 24. Suitable for under 6s.
Join Father Christmas as he gets ready for his busiest day of the year, Christmas Eve. Watch as he prepares his Christmas deliveries, feeds his reindeer and finally takes flight into the snowy night. Full of merry touches with plenty of live music, songs and playful puppetry, this is a perfect festive treat for under 6s and their families.
For full details of the Festival, visit www.lyric.co.uk/whats-on/production/storystock-circus-of-stories/.