COVER STORY

Hey Duggee The Snow Queen The Everyman Theatre

Dick Whittington Fri 25 Nov-Sun 8 Jan The Snow Queen Thu 24 Nov-Sat 31 Dec The Nosy Little Troll Sat 18 Feb Hey Duggee Tue 21-Wed 22 Feb Tweedy’s Musical Mayhem Thu 23-Sat 25 Feb Tales from Acorn Wood Fri 3-Sat 4 Mar Unexpected Twist Tue 18-Sat 22 Apr

everymantheatre.org.uk/box-office

Family theatre comes alive at The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, this winter, with new productions added to the programme, offering even more...

Reasons to cheer loudly

This winter Gloucestershire’s legendary clown Tweedy dons purrs, furs and spectacularly coloured wellington boots to become the feline companion of perhaps the county’s most famous cultural export, Dick Whittington. Tweedy the Cat is joined by Sam Holmes as Fairy Bow Bells, Kevin Brewis as Sarah The Cook and Phoebe Samuel-Gray as Alice Fitzwarren, who help Dick “turn again” to seek his fortune in London. Can Dick and his friends defeat the dastardly rodent King Rat, cleanse the capital of vermin and win the hand of the fair maiden? Only a trip to this all-dancing, gag-filled pantomime in the Everyman’s Main House from Fri 25 Nov - Sun 8 Jan will tell.

But the theatrical fun doesn’t stop there. The Everyman’s Irving Studio Theatre hosts a brilliant show for families seeking alternative Christmas fare, with Hammerpuzzle Theatre Company’s production of ‘The Snow Queen’ (Thu 24 Nov - Sat 31 Dec). Best friends Gerda and Kai enjoy a life of play, song and roof-top hopping before being embroiled in a magical adventure as the Snow Queen steals a piece of Kai’s heart. Join Gerda on this gripping journey which celebrates the enduring love of friendship and the discovery of light in the darkness.

Next year, on Sat 18 Feb, children aged 3 to 8 and their grown-ups can enjoy a magical, funny interactive show ‘The Nosy Little Troll’, who lives deep in the heart of the Norwegian forest with other trolls of all shapes and sizes. Our hero, famed for his amazingly sensitive nose, decides to investigate the source of an especially stinky pong. Garlic Theatre promise spellbinding antics with wonderfully crafted troll puppets, in a show featuring live music and lots of joining in.

Shortly afterwards, the hit BBC and AKA TV series ‘Hey Duggee’ starts its first ever theatre tour of the UK, running at the Everyman from Tue 21Wed 22 Feb. It sees this big loveable dog, his friends the squirrels and other favourite characters in an interactive production bursting with music, puppets and laughs: Betty, wants to make costumes, Happy wants to sing, Tag wants to make music, Norrie wants to dance, Roly wants jelly and they all want you to join them at the Clubhouse.

That’s followed by a second helping of our favourite clown in ‘Tweedy’s Musical Mayhem’ on Thu 23 – Sat 25 Feb. Expect visual gags, slapstick and hilarity aplenty.

And then the magical Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler series ‘Tales from Acorn Wood’ comes alive from Fri 3 – Sat 4 March, reintroducing us to its wonderful cast of characters. Who can forget ‘Hide and Seek Pig’, ‘Postman Bear’, ‘Rabbit’s Nap’ and the rest of those colourful stories?

Finally, Michael Rosen’s ‘Unexpected Twist’ brilliantly blends a modern story into the plot of ‘Oliver Twist’ by Charles Dickens: the new girl at school, Shona, is trying hard to stay out of trouble when she is unexpectedly handed a new mobile phone by a stranger, raising her suspicions about some new boys she’s met. The Children’s Theatre Partnership bring this thrilling production vividly to life from Tue 18 to Sat 22 Apr.

Whatever else you do, book your family theatre experiences at The Everyman early this season.

sponsored by The Nosy Little Troll

Everyman Theatre Box Office

T: 01242 572573 W: everyman theatre.org.uk/box-office