Puppet Up! Festival - Events at the Grand

Showing Monday 14 May to Sunday 20 May 2007
Transport | Access

call our box office on 01253 290190

Group bookings call 01253 743232

In the Lawrence House Studio: the GRAND PUPPET THEATRE FOR ONE WEEK!

In the Puppet we have all those elements necessary to interpretation and in the Puppet stage every stage element necessary to a creative and fine art. There is only one actor who has the soul of the dramatic poet. This is the Puppet....So let me introduce him to you.

- Edward Gordon Craig, Gentlemen: the Marionette! 1912.

The Grand Theatre is delighted to present several contributions to the Puppet Up! Festival 2007.

Krazy Kat Theatre Company, Brighton
GROWING, GROWING, GONE... The story of Jack and the Beanstalk

Krazy Kat return with their latest madcap adventure – the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, as you’ve never seen it before! Featuring fully-integrated British Sign Language (BSL) and Signed Supported English (SSE), and suitable for children aged 4 and above, this fast-moving romp is directed by deaf director Robbie Jones. Can only two actors and a watering-can cover this tall tale? Come and see, as the company battles against all odds to bring you puppets, magical transformations, music, and dancing.

Krazy Kat Theatre Company, Brighton
THE VERY MAGIC FLUTE
after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1791)
Directed by Caroline Parker

A lost Prince chased by a Dragon, a mysterious Queen of the Night, a kidnapped Princess, a lonely Bird-Man, and don’t forget the magic Flute…..yet who can you trust, as things are seldom what they seem….? This sparkling new musical is packed with beautiful puppets and masks, costumes and magical transformations, and features Sign Language. Performers Kinny Gardner and Darren Cheek return with this extravaganza.

Thingumajig Theatre, Hebden Bridge
WANT

A Monkey looks for a Messiah, a mother tries to keep pace with her voracious child, a flute-player has the wind taken out of him by today’s headlines. At times hilarious, at times heart-breaking but always strangely entertaining, WANT explores the distance between what we want and what we get. Inspired by Topeng Pajegon, a Balinese tradition of solo mask performance, WANT is told through masks, puppets, clowning, live music, and a highly emotive sock monkey.

Dynamic New Animation, Preston
BALL POND BOBBY

There's a trip to the Ball Pond! Hip Hip Hooray! Off we go to tumble and play!

Bobby's trip to the Ball pond takes us into another world as we dive
deep down into a child's imagination...through the universe of lost socks, hidden games & magic sweets. We swim through spheres and encounter a universe of mislaid toys, goldfish & balloons.

Through DNA's unique style of skilful puppetry, visual theatre, dance choreography, live song & a specially composed soundtrack, this combination of originally-devised performance and special guided activities explores circular movement and the joy of play!

DNA has developed this special event for 2-5 year olds, drawn from research with young children & play.

Puppet State Theatre Company, Edinburgh
THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES

Performers Richard Medrington and Rick Conte make an unlikely yet effervescent double act. Medrington, the straight man, narrates a beautiful, understated version of Jean Giono’s famous story- first published in Vogue in 1954- about a shepherd called Elzeard Bouffier who took it upon himself to grow a forest in an area of the French Alps which had previously lain barren. Conte, meanwhile, gives voice to a hugely likeable puppet called Dog, who, in a nicely-judged bit of preamble, enthusiastically agrees to play the part of Elzeard’s dog in the story.

The drama is peppered with a host of simple but effective touches, including the wafting of smells into the audience at appropriate intervals. And for all the laughs to be had along the way, the ending when it comes, is genuinely touching.

PUPPET UP! FESTIVAL EVENTS AT THE GRAND THEATRE

Monday 14 May 2.00pm and 6.30pm Growing, Growing, Gone

Tuesday 15 May 11.00am and 6.30pm The Very Magic Flute

Wednesday 16 May 4 Workshops in schools Krazy Kat Theatre Company

Thursday 17 May 2.00pm The Very Magic Flute
Thursday 17 May 6.30pm Growing, Growing, Gone

Friday 18 May 11.00am Growing, Growing, Gone
Friday 18 May 6.30pm Want

Saturday 19 May 11.00am Ball Pond Bobby!
Saturday 19 May 2.00pm Ball Pond Bobby!
Saturday 19 May 11.00am to 4.00pm Community Access Weekend

Sunday 20 May 11.00am and 2.00pm The Man Who Planted Trees

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Presented By: The Grand Theatre, Blackpool Business Improvement Districts Limited and the Puppet Up! Festival (Blackpool Festival of Puppetry and Visual Theatre 2007)

Booking information

All Seats: Adults £5 Children £4

BOX OFFICE
Open 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and from 12noon on performance Sundays. All major credit and debit cards are accepted over the telephone and in person. When booking by credit card, a booking fee of £1.50 per transaction is applicable. Debit cards attract no booking fee.

POSTAL ADDRESS
Grand Theatre, 33 Church Street, Blackpool, FY1 1HT. Cheques should be made payable to Blackpool Grand Theatre and remember to add 60p to your total, if you would like your tickets posted back to you.

CONCESSIONS
Concessions, where offered, apply to: Senior Citizens, Registered Disabled, Under 18s, Full-time students, Registered Unemployed, Equity, BECTU and MU members. Please note you may be asked for relevant identification when requesting concessions. Only one concession per ticket is allowed and may not be used in conjunction with
any other offers. Concessions and offers are subject to availability and allocated at the discretion of the Box Office.

PARKING
Parking at the Grand couldn’t be easier… or cheaper! Directly opposite the theatre’s entrance is the secure West Street Car Park where parking is available at a discounted rate. Book your parking ticket when you book your show tickets from the Box Office and you can have parking from 5.30pm until 11.30pm for only £2.50! We are obliged to Blackpool Council for providing this parking facility.

For tickets call our Box Office on 01253 290190

Group Booking: 01253 743232

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