Half Moon Autumn Brochure 2021

What’s On Sep – Dec 2021 Welcome Back Family Season

Celebrating over 30 years of theatre for young audiences 020 7709 8900 | halfmoon.org.uk All Tickets £7

Season diary DATE

TIME

PRODUCTION

AGE

PAGE

Sat 25 Sep Sat 2 Oct Fri 8 Oct Sat 9 Oct Sat 16 Oct Sat 23 Oct Sat 30 Oct Sat 6 Nov Sat 13 Nov Tue 16 Nov Wed 17 Nov Thu 18 Nov Fri 19 Nov Sat 20 Nov Sat 27 Nov Sat 4 Dec Sat 4 Dec Sat 4 Dec Mon 6 Dec Tue 7 Dec Tue 7 Dec Wed 8 Dec Wed 8 Dec Fri 10 Dec Sat 11 Dec Sat 18 Dec

11am & 2pm 10am–4pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 11am, 1pm & 3pm 11am & 2pm 11am & 2pm 11am & 2pm 11am, 1pm & 3pm 11am & 2pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 11am & 2pm 11am & 2pm 10.30am 11.45am 1.15pm 8pm 5.30pm 8pm 5.30pm 8pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 11am, 1pm & 3pm 11am, 1pm & 3pm

Jack and the Beanstalk Fun Palaces We Three We Three Family Folk Show Big Red Bath Beastly Belle Meet Me a Tree The Hug Big Red Bath Big Red Bath Big Red Bath Big Red Bath Big Red Bath The Elves and The Shoemaker Comets Youth Theatre Sharing Sunbeams Youth Theatre Sharing Moonbeams Youth Theatre Sharing Solar Youth Theatre Sharing Eclipse Youth Theatre Sharing Lunar Youth Theatre Sharing Equinox Youth Theatre Sharing Orbit Youth Theatre Sharing Glisten Glisten We All Wobble

3+ All 3–5 3–5 0–8 2–5 4+ 0–2 2–8 2–5 2–5 2–5 2–5 2–5 3+ All All All All All All All All 0–18 months 0–18 months 4+

4 4 5 5 5 6 7 7 8 6 6 6 6 6 8 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 9 9 9

We can’t wait to welcome you back for live performances As part of our recent refurbishment, our theatre has a fresh air ventilation system that changes the air four times an hour.

We allow maximum flexibility for you to exchange your ticket(s) up to 24 hours before the performance, if you have to isolate.

We encourage the wearing of a face covering when in the building, including when watching a performance or visiting the gallery. We also encourage social distancing in our foyer.

Support us As a registered charity, each year Half Moon’s small, dedicated team works hard to raise around two thirds of our turnover through donations and grants – everything raised is used to support our various activities and keep our prices affordable. Now more than ever, we need your help.

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Ways to make a difference

Online: Donate securely via our website: halfmoon.org.uk You can also make a donation when you book tickets By standing order: Pick up a form from our foyer,

download from our website or call 020 7709 8900

Easyfundraising and Amazon Smile: A free way to raise much needed funds for Half Moon, just by shopping online!

Fundraising challenge: Take part in a sponsored event and run, walk or cycle for Half Moon

Welcome back to Half Moon We are incredibly proud to welcome you to our new brochure, with a season of exciting shows almost exactly 18 months since our last performance. When we first closed our doors on 17 March 2020, none of us could ever have envisaged having to wait so long to fully reopen Half Moon as an inspiring theatre for young people. During that time, our commitment to staying connected, creating, sharing and presenting theatre for you to enjoy has never wavered and within these pages we’re sure you’ll find something – if not several things – to interest you.

We’re delighted to be working with Full House Theatre again on the joyous Big Red Bath (23 Oct, 16–20 Nov), which starts its national tour at Half Moon, as well as welcoming back audience favourites Lyngo Theatre with Jack and the Beanstalk (25 Sep), Norwich Puppet Theatre with Beastly Belle (30 Oct), Long Nose Puppets with The Hug (13 Nov), and Theatre of Widdershins with The Elves and The Shoemaker (27 Nov).

If you’re not quite ready to return to indoor theatre, then our new On Demand service puts your sofa in the front row with beautiful digital productions of some of our recent shows for young people, recorded live at Half Moon. Find out more: halfmoon.org.uk/on-demand I look forward to welcoming you to back to your local theatre and letting you once again experience the complete joy, excitement and wonder only live theatre can offer.

Chris Elwell, Director

Host your event here Do you need a space for a meeting, seminar or book launch?

Or perhaps a studio theatre for rehearsing, filming or a photo shoot? Half Moon has several fully accessible spaces available to hire. With very competitive rates and excellent transport links, we’re a great choice for hosting your event.

Theatre: Up to 90 people, full sound and lighting rig Upper Studio: Up to 30 people Red Room: Up to 10 people Foyer: Up to 60 for a launch, 15 for meetings Workshop: For design and painting Technical assistance available. Please contact us with your requirements: call 020 7709 8900 or email admin@halfmoon.org.uk 3

Sat 25 Sep 11am & 2pm Ages 3+ 45 mins

Sat 2 Oct 10am–4pm All ages welcome Free family fun day

LYNGO THEATRE PRESENTS

Jack and the Beanstalk Fee Fi Fo Fum! It’s a giant of a show, we’d love you to come! This classic fairytale now gets the Lyngo treatment so expect lots of surprises and beautiful images as CBeebies’ Patrick Lynch tells the gripping story of Jack, who sells his cow for five magic beans and finds himself in the land above the clouds.

A show for the over 3’s (and their giants) with something for everyone – enormous shoes, tiny houses, showers of silver and gold and a big, leafy explosion!

Fun Palaces Our free family fun day returns for a sixth event with another selection of fun community activities to get involved in. Join us as we create a Fun Palace throughout our building and garden with an inspiring programme of events for all ages, celebrating arts, culture and science.

Throughout the day, we will have pop-up performances, live music, art sessions and craft workshops. Plus, we’ll have tea, cake and a few surprises along the way.

Dip into one or two events or stay for the whole day.

All events are free. Refreshments are available to buy throughout the day.

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Fri 8 Oct 10.30am & 1.30pm Sat 9 Oct 11am, 1pm & 3pm

Ages 3–5 40 mins

Sat 16 Oct 11am & 2pm Ages 0–8 45 mins

ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE & HALF MOON PRESENT

We Three

For a long time it had just been the two of them. Life was good, mostly. The sun shone, the flowers bloomed and the birds sang. There were ups and downs with squabbling and sulking, then making up and giggling, plus, of course, soaking wet rain! Then one day, unexpectedly, someone else came along.

Now there were three of them. And everything changed.

A captivating and heartfelt new play exploring the pleasures, perils and pitfalls of friendship, created by award-winning theatre directors Sarah Argent and Kevin Lewis with Rosa Higgs, Lois Savill and Ellison Tan, students from Rose Bruford College’s MA Theatre for Young Audiences course.

MEGSON PRESENTS

Family Folk Show Get ready to sway, dance and feel the rhythm as a live music event takes centre stage with an organic, authentic and fun folk concert for big and little music connoisseurs.

Award-winning folk duo Megson blend their infectious mix of heavenly vocals and lush harmonies into a gentle and entertaining concert for all the family, featuring children’s folk songs old and new from their albums, Little Bird and When I Was a Lad. “The most original duo on the British folk scene” The Guardian “I really liked dancing with my sisters at the front! It was REALLY exciting. I want to see them again!” Phoebe (aged 3)

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Sat 23 Oct & Tue 16 – Sat 20 Nov

Sat 23 Oct 11am & 2pm, Tue 16 Nov 10.30am & 1.30pm, Wed 17 Nov 10.30am & 1.30pm, Thu 18 Nov 10.30am & 1.30pm, Fri 19 Nov 10.30am & 1.30pm, Sat 20 Nov 11am & 2pm Ages 2–5 40 mins A FULL HOUSE AND HALF MOON CO-PRODUCTION

Big Red Bath

Rubba-dubba-giggle, rubba-dubba-laugh, there’s magic to be found in the Big Red Bath!

It’s the end of a busy day and it is almost time for bed, and Ben and Bella are in the bath. Splish!

Splosh! Splash! Bubbles burst and bubbles rise and a frothy feast of animals jump right in to join in the fun. Come with us on a bubbly, barmy bath time adventure around the world and home again, celebrating all things bath time.

Adapted from Julia Jarman and Adrian Reynolds’ popular children’s picture book, this quirky, vibrant and humorous tale for 2–5 year olds features music by Evergreen, an alternative indie-electro-pop trio who bring a blend of folk melodies, electro beats and vocal harmonies.

Big Red Bath is an exciting collaboration between Full House Theatre and Half Moon that will appeal to families, as it blends music, song and humorous character based performances, in a unique take on this well-loved book.

Also on tour nationally. Visit halfmoon.org.uk/touring for more details.

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Sat 30 Oct 11am & 2pm Ages 4+ 55 mins

Sat 6 Nov 11am, 1pm & 3pm Ages 0–2 40 mins

NORWICH PUPPET THEATRE PRESENTS

Beastly Belle

Be charmed and surprised by a new twist on an old tale, inspired by the iconic era of 1920s and 30s cinema.

Our young heroine Belle is plucked from a life of poverty by a greedy film producer who sweeps her off her feet and into fame and fortune in the movies. Caught up in the glitz and glamour, Belle forgets her roots and is ensnared by a world obsessed with good looks – but looks aren’t everything, right?

A journey of discovery which explores perceptions of physical beauty and how two strangers can overcome their differences. Will Beauty come to understand and accept the Beast?

HURLYBURLY THEATRE PRESENTS

Meet Me a Tree

An interactive first opera that takes you and your baby on a multi-sensory journey through a year in the life of a tree: singing with blackbirds, marching through fallen leaves, smelling new blossom and feeling the wind on your cheeks.

With beautiful singing and relaxing music at its core, Meet Me a Tree is an opportunity for new parents, carers and babies to unwind and have fun.

After the performance there is a play session for everyone to enjoy.

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Sat 13 Nov 11am & 2pm Ages 2–8 45 mins

Sat 27 Nov 11am & 2pm Ages 3+ 55 mins

LONG NOSE PUPPETS PRESENTS

The Hug

A tale of hope, empathy and acceptance starring a Hedgehog and a Tortoise, both in search of a restorative hug. They face many rejections along the way from a rather scary badger, a squirrel (who knows a lot about nuts), a shy frog, a fabulous fox and an owl who really wants to be wise.

Based on the heart-warming and funny book by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar, The Hug invites audiences on a journey full of fun, laughter and love, with beautiful and witty music by Tom Gray, of Gomez.

At the end of the performance children are invited onto the stage for a very special hug from the puppets.

THEATRE OF WIDDERSHINS PRESENTS

The Elves and The Shoemaker

Shooooooooooooooes! Ah, new shoes.

Delightful on the feet. Soft, dancing shoes; swarthy pirate shoes; silver buckle and silken soles. No one makes shoes like an elf.

This well-known and well-loved tale has been re-heeled by Theatre of Widdershins in their own inimitable and dynamic style. Beautifully crafted set and puppets, sublime music, a kaleidoscope of miniature shoes and a comic mouse all make this show a magical must-see.

Performed by one of our most popular and regular theatre companies, we expect a high demand for tickets, so don’t miss out!

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Fri 10 Dec 10.30am & 1.30pm Sat 11 Dec 11am, 1pm & 3pm

Ages 0–18 months 20 mins

Sat 18 Dec 11am, 1pm & 3pm Ages 4+ 30 mins

HALF MOON PRESENTS

Glisten

a Daniel Naddafy production An interactive performance for babies aged 0–18 months and their grown-ups.

The audience are taken on a sparkling and shimmering immersive journey exploring the world of reflective materials.

Watch as the empty space of the theatre fills with colour, sounds and surprises, creating a multi-sensory landscape ready to explore after the performance is over.

At the end of the performance, babies, parents and carers are invited onto the stage for an interactive play session.

Early booking is advised as Glisten is performed to a very small audience.

Also on tour nationally. Visit halfmoon.org.uk/touring for more details.

ACÁ THEATRE PRESENTS

We All Wobble Join our two lovable clowns as they weeble and wobble their way through a chaotic picnic. This life-sized roly poly spectacle is full of hilarious slapstick, near misses and messy chaos for the whole family. Falling hither and thither, these human sized clown weebles never topple. A bold and colourful performance celebrating the wobbly-ness of life, because we all wobble!

Using nonsensical language, physical storytelling and colourful costumes, this visual treat, by award-winning Kentbased clowning company Acá Theatre, is accessible to all.

“An abundance of silly acrobatic fun” Edinburgh Festival for Kids

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Gallery @ Half Moon

Snapped 1990 | 2020 Exploring 30 years of local history through photography.

Same scene, 30 years apart.

Until 23 October 2021 2020 marked the 30th birthday of Half Moon Young People’s Theatre. As part of a series of activities to celebrate this milestone, some of Half Moon’s young people took part in a photography project to explore the changes in the landscape of Tower Hamlets over 30 years. The result is Snapped 1990 | 2020, an exhibition of photographs taken in 1990 by local residents and professional photographers alongside images taken at the same locations, 30 years later, in 2020, by some members of Half Moon’s Youth Theatres, with photographer Emma Brown.

Party @ Half Moon Celebrate your child’s special day at Half Moon. Book tickets for your group to see the afternoon show on the Saturday of your choice and hire our Upper Studio space (max. 25 children) for a post-show 90 minute party, for an additional £150.

For more information, or to book, please call 020 7709 8900 or email us: admin@halfmoon.org.uk

Find out more about the project by visiting stagesofhalfmoon.org.uk and searching ‘Snapped 1990 | 2020’ Snapped 1990 | 2020 is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Bookshop @ Half Moon We are delighted to offer a pop-up bookshop in partnership with the well-loved Brick Lane Bookshop.

There’s a rolling selection of popular children’s books for all ages on offer, from classic favourites to some of the hottest new titles. The bookshop also stocks contemporary greeting cards, so Half Moon is the perfect place to buy that special gift or new bedtime story. bricklanebookshop.org

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Half Moon On Demand Put your sofa in the front row with digital productions of some of our recent productions for young people, recorded live at Half Moon Theatre and professionally filmed and edited. Our new On Demand service allows you to watch a show for £7 whenever you want, and as many times as you like for 48 hours.

Join us for an online performance that puts the best seats in the house into your own home.

Shows available include: Dust (ages 4–9), The House That Jackson Built (ages 4–10), Paper Aeroplane (ages 3–7), Rolling Down the Road (ages 3–11) and What Once Was Ours (ages 13+).

Stages of Half Moon Explore the history of Half Moon Theatre online at stagesofhalfmoon.org.uk through photographs, programmes, news stories, documents, videos and filmed interviews with over 100 people, including Frances de La Tour, Steven Berkoff and Linda Marlowe. With over 500 pages of information on productions, projects, people and buildings there’s a lot to discover!

Watch online now: halfmoon.org.uk/on-demand All productions have closed captioning for d/Deaf and hard of hearing audiences.

Dust, The House That Jackson Built and Paper Aeroplane are also available with British Sign Language.

We’re still looking for memories and memorabilia, particularly from our time at Alie Street and Mile End Road in the 1970s and early 1980s. If you can help, email history@halfmoon.org.uk stagesofhalfmoon.org.uk #HalfMoonHistory

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About Half Moon

we include, we inform, we inspire Half Moon is a local organisation with a national remit, committed to supporting artists and young people at every stage of their creative development. Our activity includes a season of professional plays for young audiences, new writing and artform development, and an extensive Creative Learning programme, including eight Youth Theatres.

Half Moon also tours professional work for young audiences across the UK under our producing arm, Half Moon Presents. For current productions and tour dates, visit halfmoon.org.uk/touring

A snapshot of last year’s achievements: » 2 new shows created during lockdown » 7 productions filmed for young people » 7 filmed shows nominated for Off West End OnComm Awards » 8 productions made available to watch online » 52,500 people viewed these productions at home

We couldn’t do it without: We are also extremely grateful for support from: Action for Bow Amazon Smile ATG The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund Barratt London Community Fund Basketmakers’ Charitable Trust BBC Children in Need Benevity Causes Charity Bank Charles S. French Charitable Trust Chesterhill Charitable Trust City Bridge Trust Clarion Futures Clifford Chance The Clothworkers’ Foundation The Coln Trust Derek Shuttleworth Educational Trust East End Community Foundation 12

» 8,000 people engaged in our online participatory activity » 3,500 people attended participatory sessions » 618 volunteer hours donated » 411 face-to-face participatory sessions held » 84 freelancers and 10 core staff team employed

easyfundraising The Fitton Trust Fund 4 Ruby Garfield Weston Foundation Hadley Property Group The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation Jack Petchey Foundation The Leathersellers’ Company Charitable Fund London Community Response Fund M&G Prudential National Lottery Heritage Fund Ocean Regeneration Trust Prudential plc Small Donations Fund RTR Foundation Schroder Charity Trust Sir Ian McKellan SLA Europe The Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust Souter Charitable Trust St James’s Place Charitable Foundation The Unum Community Fund Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Also a big thanks to our many individual donors

Theatre Passport

Unlock a Child’s Creative Journey

Half Moon is your local theatre and has been providing professional plays for young people aged 0–18 since 1990.

Theatre Passport was launched as part of our 30th birthday celebrations in 2020. This free ticket scheme for Tower Hamlets school and community groups was based on schemes in other areas of the UK and proved very successful. We need your help to continue Theatre Passport so we can ensure children in our borough don’t miss out.

Working together with businesses, organisations and individuals, we can give local children the opportunity to experience the magic of live theatre, many for the first time, and start them on their creative journey.

Attending live performances can provide a host of benefits, including improving emotional wellbeing and giving opportunities to discuss challenging subjects. Enjoyment and education rolled into one!

Please help us to ensure children can access the arts locally.

A DONATION OF:

would let four young people visit Half Moon would allow an entire class to come* would go towards a whole school outing† 40 children and adults †400 children and adults

*

To find out more, or for donations of £3,000, please email jackie@halfmoon.org.uk or call 020 7709 8903.

You can donate online at halfmoon.org.uk/passport or send a cheque made payable to Half Moon Young People’s Theatre to: Half Moon, 43 White Horse Road, London E1 0ND 13

Get involved!

Why not join one of Half Moon’s Youth Theatres? It’s a brilliant way to explore drama, create performances and make lots of new friends at the same time. We have eight groups that run during term time.

Half Moon’s Youth Theatres School Years 1–3

Comets: Saturday 10am–11am Sunbeams: Saturday 11.15am–12.15pm Moonbeams: Saturday 12.45pm–1.45pm

School Years 4–6

Eclipse: Tuesday 4pm–5.45pm Equinox: Wednesday 4pm–5.45pm

School Years 7–9

Lunar: Tuesday 6.30pm–8.30pm

School Years 10–13

Orbit: Wednesday 6.30pm–8.30pm

Teenagers with disabilities (specialist group)

Solar: Monday 6.30pm–8.30pm

Autumn term begins on Saturday 25, Monday 27, Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 September 2021.

Youth Theatre Sharings will take place between Saturday 4 and Wednesday 8 December 2021, check the season diary for more information.

For more information about our Youth Theatres visit halfmoon.org.uk/yt or contact us on 020 7709 8900.

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Inclusive All of our Youth Theatres are open to young people with disabilities and our venue is fully accessible.

5 reasons to join » Great value! Just £6 per session (£3 concession) » Run by friendly and experienced tutors » No auditions » See shows at Half Moon and visit other London theatres » Performances each term for friends and family

Arts Award We are able to support our Youth Theatre members to gain a Discover, Explore, Bronze and Silver Arts Award. The Arts Award is a nationally recognised qualification that has been developed by Arts Council England and Trinity Guildhall and aims to inspire young people to develop their arts and leadership talents.

Schools & teachers can also participate In the past year, despite Coronavirus (COVID-19), Half Moon delivered 411 face-to-face participatory sessions with over 3,500 attendances and an estimated 8,000 people engaged in our online participatory activity. Young people from all levels of education took part, from pre-school to further education. In our home borough of Tower Hamlets, despite the restrictions of the pandemic, we still managed to work with over 50% of the nurseries, children’s centres, schools and colleges, with over half of these engaging with at least two projects.

Projects include

Careers in Theatre: A hands-on, project-

management style experience for 13–17 year olds of all aspects of professional theatre

CPD for Teachers: A series of practical

training sessions for primary and secondary school staff

Early Years Creative Play: Sessions for children to explore their physicality and imaginations and to feel confident with creative play Gallery @ Half Moon: A chance for schools to experience the art in our gallery, meet the artist and use the pictures as stimulus for art, literacy and other curriculum work

Dramatic Maths: An innovative project using drama and storytelling to engage children in KS2 maths

Next Steps: A programme using drama to

DramaWorks: Bespoke experiential

Speech Bubbles: A year-long intervention programme working with KS1 children to develop their communication skills through drama

residencies in non-mainstream settings for young people with additional needs or life limiting conditions

support Year 6 and 7 students with their transition to secondary school

We also support young people and schools in gaining Artsmark and Arts Award.

For more information visit halfmoon.org.uk/learning and subscribe to our e-newsletter. To discuss any of the projects or suggest other ways you would like to work with us at Half Moon, contact Beccy on 020 7709 8908 or email beccy@halfmoon.org.uk

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Book tickets

By phone: 020 7709 8900 Online: halfmoon.org.uk In person: Mon–Fri 10am–6pm

Sat 10am–4pm All tickets £7. No booking fees. Group discounts available. Free tickets for babies under 12 months, unless the show is specifically for their age range.

See our website for booking conditions.

Getting to us

By train/tube: Just 2 minutes’ walk from Limehouse

Get in touch Half Moon Theatre 43 White Horse Road London E1 0ND admin@halfmoon.org.uk Sign up to our e-news at halfmoon.org.uk

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D3. Other buses stop by Stepney Green tube (25) and Ben Jonson Road (309, 339).

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5.30pm on weekdays. Meter parking is available at all

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just 2 minutes’ walk away on Flamborough Street (at the

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junction with Yorkshire Road and Commercial Road).

Visit tfl.gov.uk to check latest accessibility details and

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By bike: There is a Santander Cycles docking station

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Commercial Rd

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to plan your journey.

Our blind and visually impaired audiences can pre-book touch tours prior to all performances.

Some shows have British Sign Language for Deaf and hearing impaired audiences. Half Moon is a fully accessible building. We have adult and baby changing facilities and space for buggies.

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By car: Street parking is free at weekends and from at all times. We are not within the congestion zone.

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Stepney Green

mainline and DLR station (2 stops from Bank and Tower

other times. Street parking is free to disabled patrons

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Half Moon Young People’s Theatre Ltd is a registered company in England & Wales (2479179).

Registered office: 43 White Horse Road, London E1 0ND. Registered Charity: 1010192.

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