Specialist young people's venue Polka Theatre has announced its spring and summer programme of productions.
The programme begins in February with an adaptation by Simon Reade of children's author Michael Morpurgo's Twist of Gold, an epic adventure story set during the Irish famine for ages 9 to 13 years.
In June, Run! A Sports Day Musical by Lisa Evans with songs and music by Julian Butler for ages 7 to 11 years asks: is it really the taking part that matters?
July and August are busy at the Polka with two productions running side-by-side: Inside Out for ages 2 to 5 years in the Adventure Theatre and Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play adapted by Jonathan Lloyd from the popular literary and TV characters created by Lauren Child for ages 4 to 7 in the main theatre. Just preceding these in July is a one-off performance of Kid Carpet and the Noisy Animals, a new rock 'n' roll musical for ages 4 to 8.
The series of "Visiting Adventures" in the Adventure Theatre includes Gingerbread! and Remember the Umbrella, both from Hand to Mouth Theatre for ages 4 to 7; Circles in the Sand from Tam Tam Theatre for ages 6 months to 3 years; One Little Word from M6 for ages 3 to 6; Ruby Red from Theatre Iola for ages 3 to 5; No 7 Dandelion Street from Major Mustard for ages 3 to 6; Thumbelina from Norwich Puppet Theatre for ages 3 to 5; Treasure from Puppetship for ages 6 months to 2 years; Videk's Shirt and The Little Red Hen from The Puppetellers, both for ages 2 to 5; The Elves and the Shoemaker from Theatre of Widdershins for ages 4 to 7; Mr & Mrs Sommerflüegel from Florshütz & Döhnert for ages 2 to 5; Fiddlesticks from Garlic Theatre for ages 4 to 7.
The Polka is also hosting a variety of free events including the London Book Swap in February, Pop-Up Polka Fair on the first Sunday of each month from March, Climate Week in March, Polka Sports Day in June and World of Stories and Music, a series of spoken word performances on the first Sunday of each month, plus a series of holiday workshops at Easter and over the summer.
For more information, see www.polkatheatre.com.