TakeOff takes off this month

Published: 3 October 2014
Reporter: Peter Lathan

TakeOff Festval

The annual TakeOff Festval of theatre for children and young people returns to the north east this month with performances in Durham, Stockton, Washington, Ashington, Bishop Auckland, Darlington, Ferryhill, Hamsterley, Middlesbrough, Seaton Delaval, Hartlepool, Wingate and Barnard Castle from 20 to 26 October.

It is organised by Darlington-based children's theatre company Theatre Hullabaloo; the company's creative producer, Miranda Thain, said, "TakeOff Festival has been thrilling children, young people, their families and friends across our region with world-class theatre experiences for the last 16 years, so we are delighted to include more schools and families than ever before. Join us for a fantastic programme of drama, music, storytelling and play that will inspire the imaginations of our youngest audiences."

The Festival takes place from Monday 20 to Sunday 26 October 2014 and includes shows from 9 theatre companies in 18 venues showing 70 performances across one week. There is theatre for ages 0–16 and their families, all of which is made by companies who specialise in making work for young people.

The smallest members of their audience can take part in Replay Theatre’s TiNY for babies aged 0–12 months, immersing them in a sensory first theatre experience. Fevered Sleep dashes into ARC Stockton with Dusk in which children aged 4–7 put on their tails and explore the heart of a forest with other curious creatures while London’s Unicorn Theatre brings The Secret Life of Suitcases with the award winning puppeteer Ailie Cohen in a quirky adventure of flying suitcases.

The classic Hansel and Gretel comes to life in a new version by Horse + Bamboo for ages 5+ with music, film, puppets and masks. Ages 6+ will be delighted by Handmade Tales from Tap Tap Theatre whose lively ensemble storytelling of well-known tales is full of music and fun. Alice from Metta Theatre takes young people on a timely journey through WWI through the eyes of Lewis Carroll’s classic character.

Darlington’s Theatre Hullabaloo tours Angel for a second time, highlighting the impact of dementia on the life of a gutsy young girl and the old woman she befriends. Educating Ronnie from Macrobert tells the incredible journey of Joe Douglas as he helps his friend in Uganda raise funds for his education. And finally, young people aged 14+ can enter an interactive experience with Zest Theatre’s Gatecrash as they don wireless headphones and step into Sam’s houseparty.

The full programme of public performances is:

  • Alington House, Durham
    TiNY (0 – 12 months)
    Fri 24 Oct: 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00
    Sat 25 Oct: 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00
  • ARC, Stockton-on-Tees
    Dusk (4 – 7 years)
    Sat 25 Oct: 11:30, 14:30
  • Arts Centre Washington
    TiNY (0 – 12 months)
    Tue 21 Oct: 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00
  • Ashington Children’s Centre
    TiNY (0 – 12 months)
    Thu 23 Oct: 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00
  • Bishop Auckland Town Hall
    Angel (10+ years)
    Wed 22 Oct: 13:00
    Handmade Tales (6+ years)
    Fri 24 Oct: 18:30
  • The Dolphin Centre, Darlington
    Handmade Tales (6+ years)
    Thu 23 Oct: 10:30, 13:00
  • Durham Johnston School
    Gatecrash (14+ years)
    Thu 23 Oct: 19:00
  • Enter CIC, Ferryhill
    Alice (10+ years)
    Sat 25 Oct: 14:00
  • Gala Theatre, Durham
    Handmade Tales (6+ years)
    Wed 22 Oct: 13:00, 18:30
    The Secret Life of Suitcases (4+ years)
    Fri 24 Oct: 10:30, 13:00
    Sat 25 Oct: 11:30, 16:00
    Hansel and Gretel (5+ years)
    Sat 25 Oct: 11:00, 14:00
  • Hamsterley Village Hall
    Hansel and Gretel (5+ years)
    Thu 23 Oct: 13:45
  • Middlesbrough Town Hall
    Gatecrash (14+ years)
    Wed 22 Oct: 18:00, 20:00
    The Secret Life of Suitcases (4+ years)
    Thu 23 Oct: 10:30, 13:30
  • Quaker Meeting House, Darlington
    Educating Ronnie (12+ years)
    Fri 24 Oct: 13:30, 19:00
  • Seaton Delaval Arts Centre
    Hansel and Gretel (5+ years)
    Sun 26 Oct: 11:00
  • Town Hall Theatre, Hartlepool
    Hansel and Gretel (5+ years)
    Sun 19 Oct: 11:00, 14:00
    Gatecrash (14+ years)
    Mon 20 Oct: 18:30
  • Wingate Children’s Centre
    TiNY (0 – 12 months)
    Wed 22 Oct: 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00
  • The Witham, Barnard Castle
    Hansel and Gretel (5+ years)
    Tue 21 Oct: 18:30

*Some links, including Amazon, Stageplays.com, ATG Tickets, LOVEtheatre, BTG Tickets, Ticketmaster, The Ticket Factory, LW Theatres and QuayTickets, are affiliate links for which BTG may earn a small fee at no extra cost to the purchaser.

Are you sure?