A very warm welcome to Half Moon’s new season of theatre for young audiences, my last as Director of Half Moon. It has been an absolute honour to lead the company, but, after 27 years, I have decided to step down at the end of January to pursue fresh new adventures.
This season we are featuring the work of 24 delightfully creative companies, offering an exciting mix of live music, puppetry, dance, interactive storytelling, physical theatre, poetry, intimate tales and heart-warming adventure. It’s going to be a stimulating and thrilling six month season!
We look forward to welcoming you to your local theatre.
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
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.
Please contact us with your requirements: call 020 7709 8900 or email admin@halfmoon.org.uk
Bookshop @ Half Moon
Party @ Half Moon
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.
For more information, visit halfmoon.org.uk/venue-hire
Gallery @ Half Moon Daydream
By art collective RIOT SOUP
11 January – 9 July 2025
A vibrant mix of new family friendly work by women and non-binary artists of the Global Majority curated especially for Half Moon. Daydream looks at the power of dreams, aspirations and spontaneous thought. An exhibition that asks you to connect with your inner world and embrace the possibilities.
For all our exhibitions, we provide a gallery trail for children. School and community groups can visit free of charge, which can also support young people in gaining Arts Award Discover and Explore. Contact us on 020 7709 8908 or youth@halfmoon.org.uk
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?
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.
If you can help us to offer tickets to local schools, a donation of any size, from £40 to £4,000, would be hugely appreciated. Please help us to ensure children can access the arts locally.
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.
Support us
Would you consider donating to Half Moon? As a registered charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to create brave work and programmes for young people that provoke, inspire and entertain. Please support us to help deliver the life-changing work for young people for which we are known and loved.
halfmoon.org.uk/support-us
Half Moon Newsletter
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Sat 11 Jan 11am & 2pm
Ages 3–8 50 mins
LUMINOUS TALES PRESENTS
The Goose and Mrs Frost
Mrs Frost lives with her goose keeping an eye on the world. She bakes and the sun shines; she hangs up her washing and it rains; and when she shakes out her quilt, soft snowflakes cover the earth in a blanket of snow.
Little Sonia has been sent to find strawberries in the snow. She has no hat, no coat and the wolves are closing in. Her adventure takes her through the seasons, from crisp white paper pages to bright colourful pop-up scenes, in a show about the changes in the seasons, overcoming adversity and the transformative power of kindness.
A gentle story of intergenerational friendship, featuring live action, puppetry and a beautifully illustrated pop-up paper theatre.
THEATRE OF WIDDERSHINS PRESENTS
Pigs and Bears
Don’t Come in Pairs
Straw, wood, brick? Porridge, chairs, beds? Two trios to tantalise and tickle your senses in this double bill of furry tails, where Goldilocks may be scarier than the Big Bad Wolf!
If two’s company and three’s a crowd, then book your place now for these wellloved stories, retold with puppets, original music and a perfectly petite pop-up set.
Sat 25 Jan 11am & 2pm
Ages 4+ 50 mins
Wed 29 Jan 10am, 12pm & 1.30pm Thu 30 Jan 10am & 12pm
Ages 6–18 mths 25 mins + stay and play
LYNGO THEATRE IN COLLABORATION WITH NORWICH PUPPET THEATRE PRESENT
The Little Prince
“Everything is so small where I live”, says the Little Prince and he decides to visit earth, thanks to a passing flock of spacebirds. It’s there that he meets the aviator, the one adult on earth who still knows that nothing in the universe can be the same if, somewhere – we do not know where –a sheep on a star has eaten a rose.
Through mesmerising puppetry and beautiful songs, the boy who fell to earth teaches his friend about love, life and real happiness, in this adaptation of one of the best-selling children’s books of all time. Spanning time and space, it shows us that the most important things in life are invisible and can only be seen with the eyes of the heart.
Soft or Spiky?
Discover a world of soft or spiky with your baby. What question would you want your baby to answer? What would you like them to ask you? In a world full of astonishing unknowns and surprising possibilities, how do you find the right answers or questions?
This playful and interactive new show is full of shapes, sounds and textures, exploring different ways to connect and understand each other.
At the end of the performance there is a stay and play session.
This show has very limited language. This makes it accessible to a range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers.
Also on tour nationally. Visit halfmoon.org.uk/touring for more details.
HALF MOON AND POLKA THEATRE PRESENT
Sat 1 Feb 11am & 2pm
Ages 4+ 60 mins
Fri 7 Feb 10.30am, 12pm & 2pm Sat 8 Feb 11am, 1pm & 3pm
Ages 0–3 25 mins + stay and play
CITY OF LONDON SINFONIA AND LANDMARK THEATRES PRESENT
The Wonderland Garden
Explore the beauty of the changing seasons alongside a curious young person and their new friend, Robin. This show brings together live music and theatre to tell a story of discovery, joy and renewal.
Featuring classical instruments and South Asian percussion, music drives the story, as our characters experience a garden through the seasons, illustrated by a playful set inspired by pop-up books.
At the end of the performance there is a stay and play session in which the audience is invited to interact with the musicians and their instruments.
GOOFUS THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THEATRE PORTO PRESENT
The Tale of Nobody Nose
A fantastical wintery journey, led by three clowns who travel wherever their magical map-of-dreams leads them. Join Boz, Yolo and Flo on their epic adventure across land, sea and skies to help a lone puppet find the most important thing – their own red nose!
Celebrating the art of puppetry, red-noses and snowball fights, this accessible, fun-filled production promises to warm the heart whilst making you laugh out loud. Sometimes, you just need to follow your nose.
This show is non-verbal. This makes it accessible to a range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers.
Fri 14 Feb 10.30am & 1.30pm
Sat 15 Feb 11am & 2pm
Ages 7–12 65 mins
Sat 22 Feb 11am & 2pm
Ages 3–8 50 mins
KID CARPET PRESENTS
The Noisy Garden Centre
Kid Carpet really wants to win the Royal Fancy Garden Contest. The Noisy Animals really want to run a garden centre. It’s a perfect match! Nothing could possibly go wrong. Surely first prize is in the bag?
A hilarious yet meaningful farce enthused with the naivety of the imagination of children. The Noisy Garden Centre offers a direct but soft call for us to provide more wild spaces for the creatures we share our world with and is told by a foolish dad character through super catchy songs, lo-fi puppetry, video magic and audience participation.
TANGLED FEET AND ROWAN TREE PRESENT
Belongings
Cleo arrives into a new home, unsure of what the future holds. She meets the playful Bertie, who brings her out of her shell, and Leila, who she has more in common with than she first thought. Life has been unsettled for the trio. Together they unite to discover a place called home, the value of play and how to own their personal stories.
Developed through working creatively with young people in care over a period of years, this “inspiring, engaging, beautifully evocative production” (Everything Theatre) explores a fundamental need we all share – the need to belong.
Sat 1 Mar 11am & 2pm
Ages 4–11 60 mins
Fri 7 Mar 10.30am, 12pm & 2pm Sat 8 Mar 11am, 1pm & 3pm
Ages 0–2 30 mins + stay and play
PUFFLING PRODUCTIONS AND NORWICH PUPPET THEATRE PRESENT
Puffling Percy
Percy is a puffling who loves his burrow a little too much. Map and Pap want him to venture outside and flap his wings, but Percy has other ideas. What Percy doesn’t realise is that his entire flock are about to migrate south for the winter. If he doesn’t learn to fly, he will be left behind and his life will be in mortal danger.
Along comes a fearless field mouse whose brimming self-confidence makes Percy feel braver. Together, the unlikely pals take off on a perilous adventure that requires every ounce of courage they’ve got.
A show about friendship and trusting your own instincts, with original music, magical puppetry and a heartwarming story that will lift you up, up and away!
Whipped Up!
An interactive performance for the trickiest of audience members – babies! Whipped Up! follows Dottie, an eagerto-please 50s-style diner server on their first day on the job – where the baby is the customer and caregivers are along for the ride.
As the server waits on their ‘demanding’ clientele (imagine babies doing what babies do best – creating adorable chaos) the server grows increasingly frazzled and more and more entertaining. Stimulating for tiny audience members, with sensory play served up throughout the show, and hilarious for parents and adults watching their loved ones take on roles in an unfolding comedy.
At the end of the show, there is a stay and play session.
WATFORD PALACE THEATRE PRESENTS
Sat 15 Mar 11am & 2pm
Ages 5+ 60 mins
Sat 22 Mar 11am & 2pm
Ages 1–4 40 mins + stay and play
LITTLE SEEDS MUSIC, THE LEAGUE OF CURIOSITY AND HORSE & BAMBOO PRESENT
Tales from the Lighthouse
Prepare yourself for a musical voyage full of stories, songs and the sea.
Upon a distant shore, a lonely lighthouse keeper has grown fearful of the sea and its wild and stormy nature. But when a mysterious stranger appears with songs of the sea’s magic and power, the keeper is forced to confront his fears and slowly rediscover the beauty of the ocean that surrounds him.
Featuring storytelling, traditional music, spellbinding puppetry and original songs by Half Moon regular David Gibb, this is the perfect show for anyone captivated by myths, magic, music and folklore.
ASCENSION DANCE PRESENTS
Early Weaves
A heart-warming tale of friendship and reconnecting with loved ones. Two people meet, tentatively at first, then gradually build trust with each other. Using fabulously flexible willow, they explore sound and movement, creating magic and laughter.
A wonderful introduction to dance theatre for early years children, Early Weaves combines sound, play and movement to explore imagination and curiosity in this show made almost entirely from willow.
At the end of the show, there is a stay and play session.
This show is non-verbal. This makes it accessible to a range of people, including d/ Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers.
The Cat-Astrophic Adventures of Dollop and Crinkle
Chill out and watch a digital performance on the big screen in a relaxed and laidback environment.
When Crusty and his scruffy cat Dollop arrive on Supreme Street, things will never be the same again. After meeting their neighbours, Dr. D and her spotless feline Crinkle, things quickly get out of hand. Soon there’s a full-scale battle of words, tinned beans and cooking pots, fuelled by misunderstandings and the inability to listen to others.
This spoken word poetry show is heartfelt, provocative and full of quirky humour, telling the action-packed story of new friendships and adventures that go cat-astrophically wrong.
Sat 5 Apr 11am & 2pm
Ages 3–8 60 mins
SPEEDWELL DANCE PRESENTS
The Mountain Witch
An adventurous tale of seasons gone awry, an ancient and powerful witch and the determination of children to put things right. Join musicians and dancers to awaken scampering creatures, tiptoe past the Mountain Witch’s cave and finally convince her to let the sun return.
A playful and inclusive experience for children and their grown-ups, with inspiring dance, songs and live original music played on clarinet, flute and cello.
Fri 23 May 10.30am, 12pm & 2pm Sat 24 May 11am, 1pm & 3pm
Ages 1–5 50 mins + stay and play
THE LAST BAGUETTE PRESENTS
A Woodland Wonder
Ratty has a lot of ideas but sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Can you help her by playing along and working together? Join Ratty and her friends as they learn about the environment, in this fun and gentle introduction to theatre with storytelling, original music, puppetry, theatre games, movement and lots of imaginative play.
There’ll be silliness, play-acting, games and music in this play-along theatre adventure. Expect to play, move, watch and laugh.
At the end of the show, there is a stay and play session.
FLIBBERTIGIBBET THEATRE PRESENTS
The Farmer and the Clown
An old hard-working farmer lives alone. A baby clown bounces off a passing circus train in the middle of nowhere, now separated from family and friends. Unsure what to do, the farmer takes the clown home. Can a friendship span the generations? Can old dogs learn new tricks? Can the young clown find its way home?
The Farmer and the Clown is a story of an unexpected friendship for all ages, told through physical comedy and dance, and performed with an original live soundtrack.
Thu 19 Jun 10.30am & 1.30pm
Fri 20 Jun 10.30am & 1.30pm
Sat 21 Jun 11am & 2pm
Ages 4–11 50 mins
SIMON MOLE AND GECKO PRESENT
The Great Big Dinosaur Show
Which dinosaur had teeth as big as a banana? Which dinosaur weighed the same as 10,000 cats? And what could a chicken possibly be doing in 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! Come and get your groove on to some Jurassic Classics!
Thu 26 Jun 10.30am & 1.30pm
Fri 27 Jun 10.30am & 1.30pm
Sat 28 Jun 11am & 2pm
Ages 4+ 50 mins
WRONGSEMBLE PRESENTS
Three Little Vikings
Once upon a time in a Viking village, everything seems to be going wrong. Chickens are disappearing, trees are falling down and there’s lots and lots of crashing and bashing. The silly Chieftain won’t listen to the three littlest Vikings, but can they work together to figure out what’s going on and save the day?
Three Little Vikings is all about cooperation, bravery, and getting your voice heard!
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 £8 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
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
5 reasons to join
→ Great value! Just £7 per session (£3.50 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
Schools & teachers can also participate
Last year, Half Moon worked with nearly 27,000 workshop participants in 1,500 creative learning sessions, including working with 65 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
Early Years Creative Play: Sessions for children and adults 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 and use the pictures as a 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.
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 us on 020 7709 8908 or email schools@halfmoon.org.uk
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:
→ 41,800 people engaged
→ 26,500 participatory engagements
→ 15,000 audience members
→ 1,500 creative learning sessions
→ 859 volunteer hours
→ 184 performances
→ 122 freelancers, 9 core staff
→ 65 schools worked with in Tower Hamlets
→ 1 Off West End Theatre Award finalist
We couldn’t do it without:
We are also extremely grateful for support from:
Action for Bow
The Arts Society
Backstage Trust
Benevity Causes
Blackwall Reach Trust
Canary Wharf Group
Chesterhill Charitable Trust
City Bridge Foundation
Clarion Futures
CMS Social Impact Fund
Derek Shuttleworth Educational Trust
East End Community Foundation
easyfundraising
The Fitton Trust
Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation
The Henry Smith Charity Investec
The Isle of Dogs Grants Chest
Jack Petchey Foundation
The Leche Trust
The National Lottery Community Fund
NCEL Compass Wellbeing
Ocean Regeneration Trust
Queen Mary University of London
St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation
Save the Children
Souter Charitable Trust
The Steel Charitable Trust
THAMES
The Worshipful Company of Coopers
Also a big thanks to our many individual donors
Book tickets
By
All tickets £8. 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 mainline and DLR station (2 stops from Bank and Tower Gateway). Follow signs for Bekesbourne Street when exiting station.
By bus: Buses stop 1 minute away on Commercial Road junction with White Horse Road. Numbers 115, 135 & D3. Other buses stop by Stepney Green tube (25) and Ben Jonson Road (309, 339).
By bike: There is a Santander Cycles docking station just 2 minutes’ walk away on Flamborough Street (at the junction with Yorkshire Road and Commercial Road).
By car: Street parking is free at weekends and from 5.30pm on weekdays. Meter parking is available at all other times. Street parking is free to disabled patrons at all times. We are not within the congestion zone.
Visit tfl.gov.uk to check latest accessibility details and to plan your journey.
Access
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.
