The exciting and varied programme at Norwich Puppet Theatre this spring means there really is something for everyone to enjoy. The two March productions, The Vertigo of Sheep and Jack Pratchard, showcase superb puppetry and storytelling ideal for adults and young people (ages 12+). Also during March, there are a host of workshops suitable for pre-school and young children, and adults which include a puppet carving course with master puppeteer John Roberts. Looking ahead to April, tickets are already selling fast for the four fantastic family shows during the Easter holiday.

“I am delighted that Norwich Puppet Theatre is able to offer such a varied and exciting programme. I am particularly pleased that we have two shows during March that are ideal for adults and young people. In recent years puppetry has experienced a resurgence in interest and is currently seen regularly on television as part of major advertising campaigns and forms a key part of some major theatre productions. I’d encourage anyone to come and along and see what they’ve been missing!” – Ian Woods, General Manager.

The first show for adults and young people (ages 12+) is The Vertigo of Sheep on Saturday 7th March. The production by Thingumajig Theatre combines household objects, puppets, physical theatre and live music to create a world in which profane objects are sacred and the sacred is hilarious. The second show for this audience is Jack Pratchard on Saturday 13th March. This charming and strange new story about a man who dies and discovers what is on the other side of life, is told through paper theatre using beautifully coloured scenes and characters like an animated painting.

During the Easter holidays there are four magical productions for families to enjoy. The holiday begins with an original adaptation of the well-loved tale, Goldilocks! 6th – 8th April The show uses traditional glove puppetry and live music and is sure to delight young and old. This is followed by a wonderful new musical adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic tale The Ugly Duckling 10th – 11th April. The second week of the holiday begins with The Cat that Walked by Himself 13th – 14th April, a show which uses light and shadow (the most ancient of puppet arts) to tell this Just-So story by Rudyard Kipling. The week is rounded off with a big fishing adventure full of amazing sea creates, shadow puppets and songs with Oshima and the Big Sea 17th April. For more information about these shows see listings.

Productions
Thingumajig Theatre presents:
The Vertigo of Sheep
Saturday 6th March at 7.30pm Ages 12+ Tickets: £10 & £8 (concessions)
A well-meaning but unreliable clown attempts to explain the Book of Genesis. Were Adam and Eve set up to fail? Did Abraham truly intend to sacrifice his son? Why did Lot’s wife really turn into a pillar of salt? Through household objects, puppets, physical theatre and live music, Thingumajig Theatre creates world in which profane objects are sacred and the sacred is hilarious.

Jonathan Storey presents:
Jack Pratchard
Saturday 13th March at 2.30pm Ages 12+ Tickets: £7 adult, £5 child, £5.50 con, £20 family, £3 Go4less child
He has been waiting a long time to tell his story and now he is ready. For close to thirteen years he has been hiding himself away in his shed: building, writing, painting and practising the telling of his story. He hopes it is good. He hopes it is not too late…and so…he steps out of the darkness…..

Hand to Mouth Theatre presents:
Goldilocks!
Tuesday 6th – Thursday 8th April at 2.30pm Ages 3+
An original adaptation of the well-loved tale: Hand to Mouth’s Su Eaton and Martin Bridle have woven extra drama and humour into the well-loved tale of Goldilocks, stitching together traditional glove puppetry and live music to create a patchwork of delights which is……..just right!

Sea Legs Puppet Theatre presents:
The Ugly Duckling
Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th April at 2.30pm Ages 3+
Float downstream with the Story Man in Sea Legs Puppet Theatre’s new musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of belonging and identity. Set on the banks of a magical river, brilliant storytelling, fantastic puppets and wonderful music lead to a happy ending for our humble hero.

Noisy Oyster presents:
The Cat that walked by Himself
Tuesday 13th & Wednesday 14th April at 2.30pm Ages 6+
This play of light and shadow, the most ancient of all the puppet arts, tells the classic Just-So story by Rudyard Kipling. Inspired by traditional paintings of north-east India, these moving shadows beautifully re-create the story of the time when the world was young; when woman tamed man, dog, horse and cow but . . did she tame cat?

Angel Heart Theatre presents:
Oshima and the Big Sea
Saturday 17th April at 2.30pm Ages 3+
Every day Oshima goes fishing in his little tub boat. He hopes he will catch a really big fish. . . . . but he never does. Maybe it is because Oshima’s pet frog, Ito, is always playing tricks! Or maybe Oshima is just too busy day-dreaming about what it must be like under the Big Sea…
One day Oshima has a big adventure and gets the chance to find out! A tale about kindness, trusting the unknown and dancing with turtles, full of amazing sea creatures, shadow puppetry and live sound-songs of the ocean. Dive in!
Workshops
4th March at 1pm
Pre-Schoolers Workshop Ages 2-5, price £7.50
A workshop in which pre-school children and their mum/dad/gran/guardian can make a simple puppet

6th March at 10.30am
All-day Workshop for Adults Ages 16+, price £30
A chance for the grown-ups to have a go!

20th March at 11am
Bug Puppet Ages 5+, price £7.50
Create a bug, beastie or beautiful butterfly with this rod-operated puppet

25th March at 10am
Pre-Schoolers Workshop Ages 2-5, price £7.50 accompanying adult FREE
A workshop in which pre-school children and their mum/dad/gran/guardian can make a simple puppet

Masterclass
15th – 19th March
Puppet Carving Course with John Roberts £325 for 5 day course
A chance to work with a master puppeteer and learn his unique carving technique, whilst creating your own puppet in the process.

Non-puppetry events
4th March at 7.30pm
Talk of the Dead presents:
An Evening of Clairvoyance Tickets £12 (£10 in advance)
An evening with two mediums – Carole Wilson & Phil Griggs

10th – 15th March at 7.30pm
Spooky Kid presents:
Happy Ever After Tickets £6
Local theatre company Spook Kid presents their take on the events after Little Red Riding Hood, set in gangland London!

26th – 27th March at 7.30pm
Theatre101 presents:
Tears & Laughter Tickets £8 / £6
An evening of songs and dance from the musicals, with a little light comedy in between

Booking
Box Office – call 01603 629921 or visit www.puppettheatre.co.uk
The box office is open Monday – Friday 9.30am to 5pm and from 9.30am on performance or workshop Saturdays. An answerphone service operates at other times.

Please note that children under the age of 3 years can only be admitted to specified ‘baby friendly performances’.
Tickets unless otherwise indicated
Adults £7, children £5
Concessions £5.50, Go4Less child £3, Family ticket £20