Nottingham Playhouse has commissioned Noah and the Peacock, a new form of live, at-home theatre written and created especially for Zoom by Jeff James.
Noah and the Peacock is aimed at primary schoolchildren and their families, with a cast of four actors performing the play live from their homes. Families will be invited to appear in the show by dressing up as Noah’s animals and creating their own sound effects.
The story is about Peacock, who is extremely pompous and talks only about his beautiful feathers, and Peahen who is much more modest and longs to make friends with other animals.
When the pair hear that a huge flood is on the way, Peacock refuses to leave the roost and risk ruining his perfect plumage in the rain. So Peahen sets off alone on a journey through the forest and along the river.
Nottingham Playhouse artistic director Adam Penford said, “we're so excited to be announcing Noah and the Peacock. Jeff's play is witty, intelligent and playful.
“We’ve moved most of our participation work online during lockdown and commissioned digital work by local theatre-makers, but it felt crucial to develop a full production specifically created to be experienced online.
“I'm sure the interactive element will delight audiences. It's also vital that we continue to offer employment opportunities to freelance actors and creatives during this tough financial climate.”
Noah and the Peacock will run from Friday 19 until Sunday 21 June. Tickets cost £9 which gives access to the Zoom link for each household and a show activity pack. There will be a pay-what-you-can performance on Sunday 21 June at 10:30AM and a BSL-interpreted performance on the same day at 2.30PM. The show is recommended for children aged from five to nine and their grown-ups. Tickets are available at the Nottingham Playhouse web site.