PUPPEI coMt—‘ov PREVIEW BODGER AND BADGER Badgers, mash and mayhem
Anyone gi'ovving tip in the 90s could hardly miss the CBBC series Rodger and Badger. in which puppeteer Andy Cunningham (Bodgerl and an over-excitable striped glove puppet (Badgeri strugg'jled to prepare a range of mashed potato-related dishes. getting into all sorts of difficulties on the way. This festival. the pair will be doing it live. 'I obviously have to hold him in the theatre.' explains Cunningham, 'and the kids who've seen it on telly are used to him going through tunnels and so on. and shout: “Let him run around". because they don’t realise he's a glove puppet. But the good thing with doing a run is that you can see what the audience like and adjust the show as you go along'
The performance will involve a bit of magic. a few stunts. a dog called China and lots of mashed potato. 'Tickets will disappear at the spud of knots. so book early.' Cunningham says merrily. ‘I know. I have no shamef iJames lvlacklin)
I Southside. (562 0900. 3—2:") Aug met :3- 74 (‘4 IO). times vary. 575.50 “7130/.
PUPPhT CINDERELLA Modern twists for modern kids
She's one cra/y lady and that's Just the godii‘other. Actually. the godmother is Shona Reppe who is also Cinders. two ueg sisters and Prince Charming. Gone is the traditional puppet booth. discarded in favour of a ll‘iOl't,’ upfront approach. Reppe fr's caught Donald Smith. director of the Netherbox‘r Arts Centre's attention in Of) when she was first emerging. 'The key thing.‘ he says. ‘5; she is both a performer and a designer. She takes very /any angles on things and delivers them ‘.'/llll great panac'rie.' l‘he orin actual puppet
in the show is Cinderella. The other characters are extensions of her hands and limbs. A hit show in the recent Bank of Scotland International Children's Festival. Shona Reppe is tipped for similar success here and it looks as though she and Cinderella may go to the ball.
(Ruth Hedgesl
I Netherhow Theatre. 556 9:3 79. 5— I 7 Aug. noon. 575 (533.50).
THEATRE THE TROLL KING’S MIRROR
Nonrvegian woods
With its three brothers. one capricious king. one beautiful princess. assorted trolls. wood nymphs and magic items. The Tro/I King's Mirror sOunds like a hundred fairy stories rolled in to one. There's a reason for that. explains organiser Mette Scarth Hansen in impeccable English: "It is a modern play: there are loads of different smail folk tales put together in it. In Norway everyone knows these tales. we inherit them. but in Britain you don't know them so we are telling you what Now-ray is about through storres.’
The Drarnmen Kids and Youth School performers are based near Oslo. and play at professional theatres despite their amateur status: the company took When the Robbers Came to Cardamom Town to last year's Fringe. 'They're between 13 and 16] says Hansen. ‘and they translated the whole play themselves. so the English is quite Norwegian. but that does keep it more real.‘ rJames lvlacklini I Gilded Ba/loon Tet/rot. 226 21:31. 5—4 I Aug. 70.30am, 5‘5 rf‘z’li.
i'i-itA’i RE; THE
SPOOKMASTER
Leave the light on
It was Rurnp/estr/tskin that did it for me. It's the one story I remember from childhood that still makes me feel uneasy. But being scared is fun; why else would we terrorise ourselves wrth Doctor Who or Darth
POETRY JOHN HEGLEY: MY DOG IS A CARROT
Rhyming maverick now with live vegetables
Although it may come as a surprise to find John Hegley in the Kids pages, this is actually where his career began and has kept him interested ever since. ‘Their laughter to words comes from a different place than adults,’ he says. ‘It’s just finding the things that make them laugh: “I was in a bank and I hit my knee and I went ‘Ah, m’knee, m’knee’ and someone gives me some money.” They just go mental at that one, but adults, it leaves them
cold.’
Does the show have a theme? ‘I think iconising the ordinary,’ says Hegley. ‘The potato, the carrot are god and dog. You don’t need to have mega-million bucks productions on video to feed your imagination. A carrot is sufficient.’
But does he find it hard competing against an MTV culture? ‘The human being is bigger than any video. So you’ve got a bit of a head start.’
John has exclusively revealed that there may also be real live carrots as part of the show.
In addition, Simon Munnery will be taking on different members of Hegley’s family, but he assures: ‘A lot of it will just be me rabbiting on. I am going to get the audience to do some drawing as well. Or they’re out.’ Or they don’t get a carrot? ‘No, they certainly don’t, there’s no carrots for non-drawers.’
You have been warned. My Dog is 3 Carrot will be full of gags, possibly carrots, and will definitely keep you hanging on every word. (Ruth Hedges)
I P/easance Dome. 5:36 case. (S 78 Aug. noon, 5‘)" i.“:'>'i.
Vader? Mark Pencak agrees. The founder of BlueBoat Theatre Company has seen too many safe children's theatre productio is. and his fourth festival offering. The Spookrnaster. is set to put the frighteners on.
"It's been the hardest thing I've ever written.. says Pencak. “trying to find lots of safety nets so that the audience can participate at different Ievels.‘
Aimed at ages over eight. The Spookmaster is BlueBoat's most adventurous production ,‘_,‘,j\.h...h.,,_,.\NO“.51., i.” to date and should up My, am...“ a; UK the adrenaline ante from ‘ -'>~ =' last year's acclaimed Monsters in My l/‘i/ardrohe. It integrates live performance. puppetry and digital film to tell the story of a young boy whose troubled brother confronts his fears in his dreams.
"The Spookmaster is a symbol of all the
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I The Stand. 5:38 7272. 2-26 Aug (not 12). 3.30pm. 5‘4— 5‘5) (SQ—5‘3).
“ONE OF THE WACKIEST. LOVELIEST AND MOST IMAGINATIVE THINGS I'VE SEEN!"
Post Standard. New York
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. THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 35