HEARTBREAK SOUP
Transplant tales
Spending time in hospital isn't ideal at any age. but for children it's even less appealing. It was while working yvrth children undergoing heart and lung transplant surgery. that Laura Lindow became inspired to write Heartbreak Soup.
'l'm not using any of their stories directly] says Lrndow. ‘But the heart of the piece rs really the experiences I've had with the children and farnrlres I've worked with as a clown doctor.' In the show. i 1 year-old boy. Cuddy rs awaiting his second heart transplant. while f’Z—yeareld Dan helps hrrn prepare for an uncertain future. But despite the delicate Stll)]()(ll matter. the show also has plenty of humour.
‘lt's a hit of a coining of age prece.' says I rndow. About leaving hehrnd the parts of childhood that you might not need anymore. A transplant situation hr‘rngs rnto focus real lrfe and death guestrons. and we resolve them in a playful and lighthearted. but significant wayf lKelly Apterr I P/e.'isarr(:e Courtyard. 33:56 (5:550.
2 {)5} Aug tnot [It (‘4 Hr. 11.30am. 5‘2'.:’)() o‘er.
THE SUN DRAGON
Comic adventure
l-tfllowrng the highly acclaimed [.rtt/e Red 'I'lrrngs. Comrto Productions return with the second instalment in their trilogy. 'ffre Sun [)ragon. Writer director. Rich Rusk rs exerted about the upcorrirng show. which features live rnusrc. puppets zsserrrhled out of household Junk and lots of physical comedy. ‘We're trying to push houndarres and rrrake the show more fulfilling for our audrencesf he says.
lhe story revolves around .Jacol). an intelligent young boy who must save a far-off planet from darkness. looking up at the sky from hrs garden one night. he sees a drstant hlack world. At first. .Jacoli doesn't believe that a
CLOUDCUCKOOLAND
Musical mayhem in the sky
When Greek comic playwright, Aristophanes wrote The Birds in 414 BC, he could scarcely have imagined where his masterpiece would end up. Although given his taste for humour and bad behaviour, chances are he would have loved Cloudcuckooland, a new musical comedy based on his ancient text.
Aimed at 5-12-year-olds, the show centres on two disillusioned city dwellers who head for the skies in search of a better life, only to find a group of disgruntled birds unhappy with the way humans have destroyed their habitat. A mass pooing ensues, with very messy results.
‘Aristophanes’ writing is a fantastic combination of pantomime, music, song and slapstick comedy,’ says the show’s director, Helen Eastman. ‘But his plays are never done for kids because they’re usually really naughty. So we’ve created the equivalent naughtiness for five-year-olds, and rather than talk about sex we talk about bird poo.’
Performed by a talented cast who play over ten instruments between them, the show is a riotous blend of bird costumes and live music. Audience members are encouraged to dream up their perfect world, sing along with songs and blow up balloons to help create a city in the sky, as well as enjoying such ludicrous sights as a flamingo on stilts playing a trombone.
‘The show works best for 5—12-year-olds,’ says Eastman. ‘The little ones love the bird costumes, the puppets and singing along, while the older ones enjoy the fact that it has a strong plot.’ (Kelly Apter)
I l"/eas.‘rn:.r.> Courtyard. {>336 (35x30, 5} 2’5) fir/g. 1250/2/72. S‘h‘x’ft) r’f‘fr. Prevrews (5 (‘4
(if Jul. .‘o.
TALES FROM AN ENCHANTED FOREST The magic of storytelling
dragon has actually eaten the sun. hut soon r'ealrs :s he must take rt upon hrrnsell to stop him.
As Husk points out. there's an underlying message of global warrr‘rrng. but the main message rs to encourage kids to take pleasure in learrrrng. ‘ESczence rs everywheref Husk explains. ‘and it's essentral that kids use their rrriagrnatron and he rnsprred.' lllit:resa Mtlll()/l I l’r’easanct: Courtyard. sot; (bot).
J)‘ Jib/lug Inot 13-} a: Mr. /;’.zl:')prn. l‘f If‘tir. f’lt,"/lt)‘.'/f; (it) ./t// J’ Aug, 5‘5).
Bright i.ghts. hrg sets and fancy costumes are all yery well. but sometimes it's nice to let your imaglnatron do some of the work. life tii'ee storytellers taking part in Ia/es r’rorn Arr f.’ltf/7.’3/l;’t3(t forest are alloy»; ng you to do just that. Lach day. one of their: will impart a selection of stories from home and abroad. all centred around a forest. lhey'll hurld an
atrrrospherrc picture but how rt looks
insrde y0ur head is up to you.
'l think the magic of stOrytelling is that it touches something in all of us.“ says storyteller Ron Fairweather. ‘We've all had hopes and fears and dreams and fantases.’ Fairweather and fellow storytellers. Anne Errington and Allison Galbraith all have their own individual style. and an array of stories at their disposal. so no two shows will ever be the same.
And. as Fairweather says: ‘If people can lose themselves in our stories. then we've done our job.‘ (Kelly Apter)
I Scottish Storytelling Centre, 556 9:379. 3—24 Aug (not 4, ll, 78. 27), lprn. £6 (£4).
NO PLACE FOR DREAMS
Magical love story
No Place For Dreams is Brief Candle Theatre's debut production at the Fringe. and artistic director. Dave Shrmwell is 'absolutely thrilled about this great family show we're putting on.’
The show rs set on a mythical volcanic island. where magical creatures are divided into castes and follow strict rules. Loam. a boy from the lowly Sell group. is not allowed to look directly at Ashe. a girl from the elite Fire group. If they do. both wrll perish. One day. Loam and Ashe discover this isn't true. leading to an exoting journey of self-discovery.
A love story with a twist. No Place For Dreams features creative set design. interesting sound effects and many opportunities for audience participation. Shirnwell hopes that audience members wrll walk away from the show helrevrng that Brief Candle 'is the friendliest theatre company ar0und'. and that their show is about ‘people striving against all odds to be together.‘ (Theresa Munoz)
I The Space La; Venue 45, 556 O4 76. (1—23Aug (not 108 77), 1.05pm. 5‘650 (53.)).
NEXT ISSUE OUT WEDNESDAY 6 AUGUST
.ll .lul .' Aug I’tltltfi THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE 43