What’s On Jan – Jun 2024
Celebrating world class theatre for young audiences We include. We inform. We inspire. All Tickets £7 020 7709 8900 | halfmoon.org.uk All our performances are relaxed performances
Season diary DATE
TIME
PRODUCTION
AGE
PAGE
Sat 13 Jan Sat 20 Jan Sat 27 Jan Thu 1 Feb Fri 2 Feb Sat 3 Feb Mon 5 Feb Tue 6 Feb Sat 10 Feb Sat 17 Feb Fri 23 Feb Sat 24 Feb Thu 29 Feb Fri 1 Mar Sat 2 Mar Fri 8 Mar Sat 9 Mar Fri 15 Mar Sat 16 Mar Sat 23 Mar
11am & 2pm 11am & 2pm 11am & 2pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 11am & 2pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 10.30am 11am & 2pm 11am & 2pm 10am, 11.15am, 1pm & 2.15pm 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm & 3pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 11am & 2pm 10am, 11.15am, 1pm & 2.15pm 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm & 3pm 1.30pm & 4.30pm 11am & 2pm 2.30pm
The Witch and the Egg The Littlest Yak Make Some Noise Boxed In Boxed In Boxed In Boxed In Boxed In Snowmen The Great Big Dinosaur Show Kaleidoscope Kaleidoscope Luna Loves Library Day – the Musical Luna Loves Library Day – the Musical Luna Loves Library Day – the Musical The Rainbow Builder The Rainbow Builder Breathe Breathe Cinema Chill: Dust
3–8 3+ 5+ 3–6 3–6 3–6 3–6 3–6 2–7 4–11 6–18 months 6–18 months 4–8 4–8 4–8 0–2 0–2 5+ 5+ 4–9
4 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 10
Ten in the Bed You are the Sun You are the Sun Ten in the Bed Ten in the Bed Ten in the Bed Ten in the Bed The Marvellous Myth Hunter The Marvellous Myth Hunter The Marvellous Myth Hunter Claytime
3–8 0–2 0–2 3–8 3–8 3–8 3–8 5–11 5–11 5–11 0–8
11 12 12 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12
Summer 2024 Sat 4 May Fri 17 May Sat 18 May Tue 4 Jun Wed 5 Jun Thu 6 Jun Sat 8 Jun Thu 20 Jun Fri 21 Jun Sat 22 Jun Sat 29 Jun
11am & 2pm 11am, 1pm & 3pm 11am, 1pm & 3pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 11am & 2pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 10.30am & 1.30pm 11am & 2pm 11am & 2pm
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. halfmoon.org.uk/support-us 2
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: Set up a standing order with your bank, then complete our online form (or pick one up from the foyer) so we have all the details Easyfundraising: 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 to our spring season A very warm welcome to Half Moon’s new season of theatre for young audiences, featuring live music, puppetry, snowmen, dinosaurs, spoken word, book adaptations, sensory delights, a play with clay, and more! We are excited to be collaborating with the ground-breaking Disabled-led theatre company Daryl & Co. on Boxed In (1–6 Feb, then touring), which follows the story of someone who struggles to understand the rules that surround us all. We’re also thrilled to be working with award-winning writer Steve Tasane (Child I, Blood Donors) on Ten in the Bed (4 May and 5–8 June, then touring), a powerful new show that explores the child refugee experience. Plus, we highlight our digital strand of theatre for young audiences with Half Moon shows on screen and at home! See you soon. Chris Elwell, Director
Stages of Half Moon Our digital archive exploring the heritage of Half Moon Theatre Discover the history of Half Moon Theatre through photographs, programmes, news stories, documents, videos and filmed interviews with over 100 people. There’s lots to discover!
stagesofhalfmoon.org.uk
Host your event here
Bookshop @ Half Moon
Party @ Half Moon
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.
We are delighted to offer a pop-up bookshop in partnership with the wellloved independent Brick Lane Bookshop. There’s a rolling selection of popular children’s books for all ages on offer, from classic favourites to the hottest new titles, plus contemporary greeting cards.
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.
Please contact us with your requirements: call 020 7709 8900 or email admin@halfmoon.org.uk
For more information, visit halfmoon.org.uk/venue-hire 3
Gallery @ Half Moon
Sat 13 Jan 11am & 2pm Ages 3–8 50 mins
Come Along With Me By Danni Leach 13 January – 15 July 2024
A striking collection of colourful and playfully dramatic images that use pencil, ink, paint, collage and photography to springboard you into your own creative adventure. Come on a journey of partially told tales, fragments of stories and glimpses of the unusual. Imagine what has happened and what might happen next. For all our exhibitions, we provide a gallery trail for children. School and community groups can visit free of charge to support young people in gaining Arts Award Discover and Explore. Contact Androulla on 020 7709 8908 or androulla@halfmoon.org.uk
LUMINOUS TALES PRESENTS
The Witch and the Egg Witch is miserable and bad-tempered. Every night she flies around the town frightening people. One day Witch finds an egg in her nest and has no idea what to do with it. All the other birds have plenty of advice, but Witch decides to go it alone. This takes her on an adventure that changes her life forever.
In addition to our foyer exhibition space, Half Moon has two permanent exhibitions in our garden and on the first floor that explore the history of our company and the changing face of Tower Hamlets. Have you seen them? 4
Adapted from the book by Madeleine Edmondson, The Witch and the Egg uses humour, audience engagement and shadow puppetry to tell a heartwarming story about friendship, laughter and flying the nest. After the performance, the audience is invited to stay and play with the shadow puppets.
Sat 20 Jan 11am & 2pm Ages 3+ 45 mins
Sat 27 Jan 11am & 2pm Ages 5+ 60 mins
LASTHEATRE PRESENTS
The Littlest Yak Gertie is great at being the littlest yak, with the curliest, whirliest wool and the grippiest of hooves for clip-clopping up cliffs. Only Gertie doesn’t want to be the littlest. She’s in a rush to grow up and be just like the big yaks. But what if there are some things that only a Gertie can do? A rollicking, heart-warming tale for everyone, this musical adaptation of the award-winning children’s book will delight audiences young and old with beautiful puppets, catchy tunes and an uplifting tale of self-acceptance for all the family.
DOMMY B PRESENTS
Make Some Noise Noise can be gentle, quiet, loud, lots of fun and full of feelings. Join poet Dommy B as he shares a surprising story about growing up, finding a brilliant (but naughty) imaginary friend, becoming ‘Junk the Punk’ and joining a great school band – Whizzkid and the Veggie Burgers! There’ll be rhymes, jokes and lots of opportunities to make some noise in a celebration of the power of sound and friendship.
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Thu 1 Feb – Tue 6 Feb
Thu & Fri 10.30am & 1.30pm, Sat 11am & 2pm, Mon 10.30am & 1.30pm, Tue 10.30am Ages 3–6 45 mins DARYL & CO. AND HALF MOON PRESENT
Boxed In
Who says a line should always be straight? What’s wrong with zig zags? How about curves? Boxed In follows the story of someone who struggles to understand the rules that surround us all. Sometimes stop means go and go means stop. Are you supposed to go this way or that? Sometimes it’s up and sometimes it’s down. In a world where everyone else seems to understand, it can all get a bit confusing. And when you get it wrong, you’re made to sit out, but you don’t understand why. It seems so unfair. Boxed In is about being made to feel naughty, just because the rules don’t make sense. This heartfelt story explores the unspoken barriers of attitudes, social etiquette and behaviour that surround us. Boxed In is a Daryl & Co. and Half Moon co-production; an exciting collaboration by a ground-breaking Disabled-led theatre company and the UK’s leading small-scale young people’s venue and touring company. Boxed In is largely non-verbal. This makes it accessible to a wide range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing, BSL users and non-English speakers. It is presented by companies experienced in providing Relaxed Performances suitable for Disabled audiences. Also on tour nationally. Visit halfmoon.org.uk/touring for more details.
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Sat 10 Feb 11am & 2pm Ages 2–7 50 mins
Sat 17 Feb 11am & 2pm Ages 4–11 45 mins
HERD THEATRE PRESENTS
Snowmen
Two snowmen are on a mission not to melt when they discover their perfect home, an ice arena. It’s cold, the music’s great and the slushies taste delicious. They just need to remember one thing; they can’t be discovered by the humans. Packed with visual comedy and told with a handful of words, Snowmen is a brand new show for families about friendship, home and hope. Snowmen is largely non-verbal. This makes it accessible to a range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers. All performances are BSL integrated.
SIMON MOLE PRESENTS
The Great Big Dinosaur Show Join poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for a family show full of poems, raps and songs about all your favourite prehistoric protagonists, and some you haven’t heard of yet! Which dinosaur was barely the size of a dog? Which made a noise like a goat playing a didgeridoo? And what could a chicken possibly be doing in The Great Big Dinosaur Show?! Expect spine-tinglingly amusing scares in this fun show and get your groove on to Jurassic Classics!
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Fri 23 Feb
10am, 11.15am, 1pm & 2.15pm
Sat 24 Feb
10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm & 3pm Ages 6–18 months 25 mins
Thu 29 Feb 10.30am & 1.30pm Fri 1 Mar 10.30am & 1.30pm Sat 2 Mar 11am & 2pm Ages 4–8 60 mins
FILSKIT THEATRE PRESENTS
Kaleidoscope
Blink. Blink again. What do you see? Day by day your world is filling up with colour, little one. Reds and blues, yellows and greens. Twinkling lights that glisten and gleam. Your reflection is staring back at you. Wide-eyed and full of hope. Mirrors, lights, colours and sounds. The world is your Kaleidoscope. Inspired by research into how a baby’s sense of sight develops and how they instinctively begin to categorise colour, watch as a multi-coloured Kaleidoscope is brought to life for you and your baby. At the end of the performance there is a stay and play session.
LITTLE SEEDS MUSIC AND Z-ARTS PRESENT
Luna Loves Library Day – the Musical Luna looks forward to one special day – Library Day! It’s the day when she discovers magic among the library shelves, from dinosaurs to mummies, from unexplained mysteries to monsters and magic. But for Luna, Library Day is also a chance to spend time with Dad, making it all the more special. Join Luna and Dad for an adventure among the library shelves in this exciting new musical for families, based on the book by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho and illustrator Fiona Lumbers, with music and lyrics by David Gibb. 8
Fri 8 Mar
10am, 11.15am, 1pm & 2.15pm
Sat 9 Mar
10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm & 3pm Ages 0–2 30 mins
Fri 15 Mar 1.30pm & 4.30pm Sat 16 Mar 11am & 2pm Ages 5+ 55 mins
MOULDED THEATRE AND DISCOVER CHILDREN’S STORY CENTRE PRESENT
The Rainbow Builder A sensory experience for babies and their grown-ups, exploring our world through the eyes of someone whose job it is to find the colours. But how will The Rainbow Builder find the colours when everything is so dirty? Can The Rainbow Builder clean up in time and restore the environment around them to full colour? Told through a mixture of storytelling, gentle sensory interactions, sights, and sounds, The Rainbow Builder is an accessible production for curious minds and budding explorers. Together, looking around, can you all find a rainbow? At the end of the performance there is a stay and play session.
HALF A STRING THEATRE PRESENTS
Breathe
An extraordinary journey through a busy forest told from the perspective of an acorn – the hectic forest floor, thrumming underworlds and dazzling heights of icy branches. Discover bizarre larger-thanlife fungi, connecting creaking tree roots and majestic guardians watching over a delicate cycle. Beautifully realised through puppetry, intricate sets, folk music and live camera work, join three storytellers as they lead you through an enchanting experience like no other. Find the epic in the tiny in this celebration of trees, nature and finding space in a buzzing community. 9
Half Moon on Film: On Screen and at Home Sat 23 Mar 2.30pm Ages 4–9 55 mins HALF MOON AND Z-ARTS PRESENT
Cinema Chill | Dust Chill out and watch an award-winning digital performance on the big screen in a relaxed and laidback environment. When Little Titch and her scruffy rucksack arrive at the giant, pink house it is not what she expected. Her new home is cold and unwelcoming until she meets Nelly, a flamboyant and lovable hoarder. Together, the pair discover they have more in common than they first thought and that friendship can heal hidden wounds. Written by acclaimed award-winning children’s author Laura Dockrill (Darcy Burdock book series) with music by Hugo White of The Maccabees, Dust, explore a heartfelt story about love, loss, identity and memory and is a joyous reminder about just how playful the world can be.
Half Moon On Demand Unmissable children’s theatre, whenever you want it
A streaming service offering unforgettable theatre for young audiences, recorded live at Half Moon, available to watch any time, anywhere. On Demand 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 your sofa in the front row! British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted productions, Audio Descriptions and closed captions are available.
halfmoon.org.uk/on-demand 10
This Summer Sat 4 May 11am & 2pm Tue 4, Wed 5 & Thu 6 Jun 10.30am & 1.30pm Sat 8 Jun 11am & 2pm
Ages 3–8 50 mins HALF MOON PRESENTS
Ten in the Bed Is it a bed? Or a boat? Or a giant slice of toast? For Naz and Iggy and their eight friends, their bed is a place where imagination can fill their tummies with tasty treats and take them to familiar warm places. Well, sometimes. Join the boat-bed’s disparate crew as they dream up playful tales of pirates, misunderstood sharks and fishing trips that hook some unexpected catches. But what happens if the bed is not big enough to fit everyone in? How do they decide who gets to stay and who has to go? This humorous and inventive new show celebrates the power of imaginary play and proves there’s always enough room to have fun, even when the world is at its most daunting. Written by award-winning teenage fiction writer Steve Tasane (Child I, Blood Donors), Ten in the Bed sensitively explores the child refugee experience, where the power of invention offers an escape from reality. Framed by an evocative soundscape, it is the latest exhilarating production from Half Moon. Also on tour nationally. Visit halfmoon.org.uk/touring for more details.
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Fri 17 & Sat 18 May 11am, 1pm & 3pm Ages 0–2 30 mins HURLY BURLY PRESENTS
You are the Sun A very first opera for babies and grownups that explores the magic of nature. Combining the joy of gentle classical singing and sensory play, it is an invitation to see beauty in the smallest things and to let plants be our guides.
Thu 20 & Fri 21 Jun 10.30am & 1.30pm
Sat 22 Jun
11am & 2pm Ages 5–11 60 mins WEIRD FOLK PRESENTS
The Marvellous Myth Hunter Dust off your maps and strap on your jetpacks for a journey around the world. Help the Myth Hunter find the most astounding and the most disgusting stories known to humankind.
Theatre Passport Launched as part of our 30th birthday celebrations in 2020, we need your help to continue Theatre Passport, a free ticket scheme for Tower Hamlets school and community groups. 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. → £30 would let 4 young people visit Half Moon → £300 would allow 40 children and adults to come → £3,000 would enable 400 children and adults to attend 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. 12
Sat 29 Jun
11am & 2pm Ages 0–8 45 mins INDEFINITE ARTICLES PRESENTS
Claytime
A play with clay, where the audience is invited to participate. Come to a place where the earth’s natural material meets with children’s imaginations: a world of fabulous forms, amazing animals and morphing monsters
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: Sat 10am–11am Sunbeams: Sat 11.15am–12.15pm Moonbeams: Sat 12.45pm–1.45pm
School Years 4 – 6
Eclipse: Tue 4pm–5.45pm Equinox: Wed 4pm–5.45pm
School Years 7– 9
Lunar: Tue 6.30pm–8.30pm
School Years 10 –13
Orbit: Wed 6.30pm–8.30pm
Teenagers with disabilities (specialist group)
Solar: Mon 6.30pm–8.30pm
For more information about our Youth Theatres visit halfmoon.org.uk/yt or contact us on 020 7709 8900.
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
Too young for Youth Theatre? We have sessions at local Children and Family Centres for under 3s and parents/carers. For more information visit halfmoon.org.uk/early-years
Interested in after school drama where you live? We have a group for School Years 4–6 in Bow and three groups for School Years 7–9 in community spaces around Tower Hamlets. For more information visit halfmoon.org.uk/after-school-drama
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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: → 44,500 people engaged → 28,000 workshop participants → 16,500 audience members → 1,500 creative learning sessions → 1,444 volunteer hours → 285 performances
We couldn’t do it without: We are also extremely grateful for support from: Action for Bow Aldgate & Allhallows Foundation The Arts Society Greater London Area The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust Backstage Trust Benevity Causes Blackwall Reach Trust Buzzacott Stuart Defries Memorial Fund Charterhouse Charitable Trust Chesterhill Charitable Trust City Bridge Foundation Clarion Futures CMS Social Impact Fund The Coln Trust Co-op Local Community Fund Derek Shuttleworth Educational Trust East End Community Foundation easyfundraising 14
→ 126 freelancers, 9 core staff and 5 trainees employed → 73 schools worked with in Tower Hamlets → 67 venues visited on tour → 1 Off West End Theatre Award
The Fitton Trust Garfield Weston Foundation The Henry Smith Charity Investec Isle of Dogs Grants Chest Jack Petchey Foundation The Leche Trust Merchant Taylors’ Charity The National Lottery Community Fund The Noël Coward Foundation Ocean Regeneration Trust The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund Prudential Foundation Royal Victoria Hall Foundation Sir Ian McKellan Souter Charitable Trust St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation Tesco Community Grants THAMES Unity Theatre Trust University of Manchester The Worshipful Company of Coopers Also a big thanks to our many individual donors
Schools & teachers can also participate Last year, Half Moon worked with over 28,000 workshop participants in 1,500 creative learning sessions, including working with 73 schools in our home borough of Tower Hamlets. We work with nurseries, children and family centres, schools, colleges and community and youth organisations on a range of engaging projects, including curriculum-focused workshops, afterschool activities and initiatives to encourage young people to get into theatre, as well as professional development opportunities for teachers and other school staff, in partnership with Tower Hamlets Arts and Music Education Service (THAMES).
Projects include Careers in Theatre: A hands-on, projectmanagement 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
Dramatic Maths or Science: Innovative projects using drama and storytelling to engage children in KS2 maths or science
DramaWorks: Bespoke experiential residencies in non-mainstream settings for young people with additional needs or life limiting conditions
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 Next Steps: A programme using drama to support Year 6 students with their transition to secondary school, with continued support in Years 7–9. Part of Tower Hamlets Youth Service Speech Bubbles: A year-long intervention programme working with KS1 children to develop their communication skills through drama We also support young people and schools in gaining Artsmark and Arts Award.
Early Years Creative Play: Sessions for children and adults to explore their physicality and imaginations and to feel confident with creative play For more information visit halfmoon.org.uk/learning. To discuss any of the projects or suggest other ways you would like to work with us at Half Moon, contact Androulla on 020 7709 8908 or email androulla@halfmoon.org.uk
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Book tickets
Get in touch
By phone: 020 7709 8900
Half Moon Theatre 43 White Horse Road London E1 0ND
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
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5.30pm on weekdays. Meter parking is available at all
Commer cial Rd
Buses 15, 115, 135, D 3 Cable St
just 2 minutes’ walk away on Flamborough Street (at the junction with Yorkshire Road and Commercial Road).
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By bike: There is a Santander Cycles docking station
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to plan your journey.
Access
BSL
Commercial Rd
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Visit tfl.gov.uk to check latest accessibility details and
All our performances are relaxed performances. Blind and visually impaired audiences can pre-book touch tours prior to all performances. Some of our shows are non-verbal, or have limited dialogue, and are accessible to a range of people including d/Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers. We have baby changing facilities, space for buggies and an adult changing table.
9, 339 Buses 30
B
Ben Jonson Road (309, 339).
at all times. We are not within the congestion zone.
Rd End Mile
Stepney Green
mainline and DLR station (2 stops from Bank and Tower
other times. Street parking is free to disabled patrons
halfmoon_theatre halfmoontheatre
TOUCH TOUR
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. Printed by Park Lane Press on FSC® certified paper, using fully sustainable, vegetable oil-based inks, power from 100% renewable resources and waterless printing technology. Print production systems registered to ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and over 97% of waste is recycled.