New plays and more for all the family
Wimbledon's Polka Theatre is running until March, full of new plays for children, adaptations of best-selling books and a new festival.
Polka Artistic Director Peter Glanville directs How to Hide a Lion, based on Helen Stephens’ popular book all about Iris and her attempts to squash a furry friend into a range of sneaky spots.
With original jazz-inspired songs by Barb Jungr and puppets by Sam Wyer, this new adaptation runs in Polka’s Adventure Theatre from 26 October 2016 – 26 February 2017 for ages 3 – 6. Tailor-made toddler performances are available for ages 1 -2.
Meet the little pig with big dreams this winter in Babe, the Sheep-Pig. With a script by David Wood, adapted from the award-winning novel by Dick King Smith, we join an abandoned piglet as he tries to make his way in a dog’s world. Directed by Michael Fentiman (director of RSC’s 2013 Titus Andronicus and Polka’s 2014 Minotaur), this children’s classic will delight ages 5 – 11 from 25 November 2016 – 5 Feb 2017, prior to a national tour in 2017.
Dreams meet reality in a new Polka co-production with Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Drawing from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Toby Hulse’s new play To Dream Again for ages 7 – 11 mixes the magical and the everyday in a story about a young girl coming to terms with her parents’ separation, running at Polka from 10 March – 2 April 2017.
As part of Polka’s visiting season, there is more coming up. New International Encounter race into Polka with Around the World in 80 Days; Little Angel Theatre’s production of Michael Rosen’s We’re Going on a Bear Hunt comes to the Main Stage and The Party offers up endlessly entertaining acrobatics. In Polka’s Adventure Theatre there are a range of visiting shows for ages 7 and under. Polka’s Take Part programme continues to offer a range of opportunities for children to create and explore in drama workshops and courses.
For the full programme, visit www.polkatheatre.com
October 26, 2016