Storms, outer space and circuses are just some of the subjects in Darlington-based children’s theatre company Theatre Hullabaloo’s new season.
The season opens with A Hullabaloo in Space, half-day workshops (10:30 to 12:30 and 1 to 3) in which there’ll be craft activities, a planetarium show, stories in the cafe and an opportunity to be one of the first to explore the new creative play installation, Stardust. It’s for all ages on 23 September but tickets are going fast.
Storm (3 and 4 October) is inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest and tells the story of the magician Prospero, his apprentice Ariel and the creature Caliban. Produced by Bamboozle Theatre Company it is aimed at children between 4 and 14 who are on the autistic spectrum and its autism-specific performances are intimate shows for a maximum group size of 6 children accompanied by their teachers, carers, or family group.
On each day, too, there will be a relaxed performance which is open to all families and is particularly suitable for those who would be more comfortable in a relaxed setting where audiences are free to get up, move around and make noise if they want to. These performances will welcome larger audience groups, up to 40 audience members.
No Show (16 to 17 October for ages 9+) deconstructs superhuman circus performers and shows them as vulnerable human beings, putting female strength, skill and power centre stage.
Then on 19 and 20 October, M6 Theatre Company and Andy Manley present Little Gift for ages 3+. Through the use of puppetry and original music, we meet an old soul who lives alone. He likes it that way because it’s quieter and safer. But then, one day, a surprise visitor plants a little seed of hope and turns this lonely life upside down, bringing light into the darkest season of the year.
From 26 to 27 October, Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, which is based at the Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh just outside Edinburgh, returns to Darlington with Martha, a show about friendship for ages 4+. Martha, stubborn, eccentric and highly independent, lives alone by the sea and she has no friends. Not even her secret admirer from across the bay. Then one day, she has an unexpected visitor and her life will never be the same again.
On 14 and 15 November, Australian company Slingsby brings a new stage version of Oscar Wilde’s The Young King to The Hullabaloo. A naïve boy raised by goatherds is discovered to be heir to the kingdom. Treasures and privileges are laid at his feet, but at what cost to others? (Aimed at ages 8+.)
Finally, Hullabaloo’s own production for 2- to 5-year-olds, Luna, is touring nationally from 9 to 30 November before stopping off at The Exchange, North Shields, on 1 December and at the Queen’s hall, Hexham from 2 to 4 before coming home to Darlington from 8 to 29.
Luna is bored up in the sky with no-one to play with. Although she is surrounded by stars, they never quite understand her—it’s very lonely being the only moon.
One night, as she’s racing among the stars, she spots a young boy hiding from the shadows in his bedroom. Billy and his favourite toy, Pig, don’t like the dark and do all they can to distract themselves from the scary shadows.
Luna decides to slide down from the sky to make friends with Billy…