The Owl and the Pussycat
2004-2005, UK. Ages 3+
About
The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea…
Following the huge success of The Gruffalo and Something Else, Tall Stories return with the extraordinary tale of the Owl and the Pussycat and their beautiful pea-green boat.
With only honey, money and a small guitar, the two young adventurers set off on a perilous sea-journey. They travel for a year and a day, until they reach the land where the Bong Tree grows…
Exploring is all very well – but who knows what you might find?
Story-telling, comedy and songs create a magical world of nonsense for everyone aged 3 and up.
Tour
March 2005
12 Havant Arts Centre, Hampshire
19 Citizens Theatre, Glasgow
20 Wynd Theatre, Scotland
26 Nottingham Playhouse
29 Blackwood Miners Institute, Gwent
30 Riverfront, Newport
February 2005
5 Octagon, Bolton
12 Vera Fletcher Hall, Esher
17 Regal Arts Centre, Worksop
18-19 Waterside Arts Centre, Sale
27 ADeC, Ely
January 2005
8 Half Moon, Whitechapel
22 Lewisham Youth Theatre
29 Theatre Royal, Winchester
30 Brewery Arts Centre, Cumbria
December 2004
4 Mill Arts Centre, Banbury
Xmas 2004
Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham
Norden Farm, Maidenhead
November 2004
6 Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead
13 Lyric, Hammersmith
27 Cranleigh Arts Centre
October 2004
2 Adam Smith, Kirkcaldy
9 Malvern Theatres
23 Cambridge Crama Centre
24-26 Harrow Arts Centre
27-31 ArtsDepot, Finchley
September 2004
4-5 Artsreach, Dorchester, Dorset
11 Gulbenkian, Canterbury
14-16 Theatre Royal, York
18 Radlett Centre
24-26 MacRobert Arts Centre, Stirling
28-30 Midlothian Schools
August 2004
4-30 C Venue, Edinburgh Fringe Festival
July 2004
3 Arc, Trowbridge
10 Park & Dare, South Wales
11 Abertilly Communtiy Theatre
18 Hat Factory, Luton
24 Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds
26-31 Polka Theatre, Wimbledon
June 2004
1 South Street, Reading
2 Newbury Corn Exchange
3 Ashcroft Arts, Fareham
4 Salisbury Festival
7 Spark Festival, Leicester
8-9 Phoenix, Leicester
11-12 Warwick Arts Centre
13 Komedia, Brighton
19 Lewisham People’s Day
20 Hazlitt, Maidstone
24-25 Beaford Arts, Devon
26 Theatre Royal, Bath
27 Trinity Arts Centre
May 2004
1 Chats Palace, Hackney
8 Warehouse Theatre, Croydon
15 Yvonne Arnaud, Mill, Guildford
16 Watermans, Brentford
22 Tricycle, Kilburn
23 All Saints, Finchley
29 Forest Arts, New Milton
31 South Street, Reading
April 2004
16 The Point, Eastleigh
17 Compass Theatre, Ickenham
24 Chester Gateway
Team
Adapted by the company from the nonsense poem by Edward Lear
Owl
Kai Simmons (original production), Nathan Guy, Nigel Pilkington, Toby Mitchell, Thomas Warwick, Alex Perkins
Pussycat
Morag Cross (original production), Lesley Cook, Hilda Gardner, Becky Kitter
Directors
Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell
Designer
Paul Clarke
Lighting Designer
James Whiteside
Xmas Lighting Redesign
Phil Bentley
Choreography
Morag Cross and the company
Publicity Image
Victoria Wainwright
Musical Director
Jon Fiber
Music and lyrics
Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw
Additional lyrics by Robin Price, Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell
Music production by Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw for Shock Productions
Musicians include: Ben Epstein (bass), Lee Morris (drummer), Lucy Gallantine (French horn)
Thanks to
Artsdepot at the Bull for rehearsal space; Arts Council, England for financial support; Amy Darcy, Nicola Harrison and Thomas Warwick for creative input; Finchley Progressive; the Tall Stories board members.
Reviews
You probably think you know all there is to know about the owl and the pussycat and their marine adventure, but this ebullient show tells us much more. The pussycat is actually a stowaway, while the owl is running away from home in shame because he can’t fly.
Tall Stories have a knack for making thoroughly entertaining shows from the slimmest of original materials. Edward Lear’s poem may have less than 200 words, but this adaptation gently expands the story while keeping all the familiar phrases in place. The set is merely a boat, but what a beautiful pea green boat it is! All the children want to touch it at the end.
Owl and Pussycat gleefully embark on their moonlit voyage, breaking into occasional songs and nifty little dances. Although the tiny boat is only the size of a bath tub, they play daft games of hide-and-seek and sardines in it, to the chortling delight of the audience.
Nathan Guy is a joyfully bouncy Owl, nicely partnered by Morag Cross as the slightly tetchy Pussycat. With a neat switch of their hats they become the Turkey and the Piggy-wig too.
A cheerfully zippy production that will appeal to grannies and youngsters alike.
Scotsman
Another show that’s sure to be a hit with youngsters and accompanying adults alike is a cheerful retelling of Edward Lear’s nonsense poem, The Owl and the Pussycat.
Lear’s bedtime classic is only 230 words long, but directors Olivia Jacobs and Toby Mitchell have built upon the lines of the poem to create a wonderful piece of children’s theatre.
The pre-school parable is the extraordinary tale of the two best friends – Owl (Nathan Guy) and Pussycat (Morag Cross) – who set off on a perilous sea journey in their beautiful pea-green boat.
Along the way the tetchy twosome burst into quirky songs, dances and play silly games in their tiny boat.
A production full of wonderful storytelling, comedy, songs and talented performers adds up to another Tall Stories success.
Edinburgh Evening News
Edward Lear would be proud. Tall Stories (who previously staged The Gruffalo) have managed to stretch The Owl And The Pussycat, his most famous nonsense poem, to an hour. On the page it takes barely a minute to read, but in this adaptation, Lear’s tale of interspecies nautical frisson is a sleek, polished production that manages to find new angles and charming nuggets within a slight tale.
The company have added the themes of acceptance and overcoming fear, which the feathered and furry characters find in each other. And, in an inventive twist, Turkey and Pig – inhabitants of the the bong tree covered island on which the famous pea-green boat runs aground – narrate the Owl and Pussycat’s tale of honey, money and dancing by the light of the moon, the moon.
The acting is tight and effervescent, even in the face of screeching toddlers, while the sparse stage is used to good effect. Even when Owl and Pussycat are confined to their boat for the play’s initial 20 minutes the action doesn’t remain static. It’s a play for all, regardless of age, gender or breed.
Sunday Herald
The Owl and the Pussycat went to C Venue in a beautiful take on Lear’s poem. The clever set and adorable characters plus lively song and dance routines make this tremendous fun for folks of any age… The superb actors engage well with their audience of wee ones… Tall Stories have turned out another delight.
Three Weeks
An enchanting nonsense tale with songs.
BBC.co.uk
This is children’s theatre at its best. Both young and old are sure to find The Owl and the Pussycat irresistibly charming.
The Ellesmere Port Pioneer
Publicity
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Brochure copy
Tall Stories presents
The Owl and the Pussycat
based on the poem by Edward Lear
‘The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea…’
Following the huge success of The Gruffalo and Something Else, Tall Stories return with the extraordinary tale of the Owl and the Pussycat and their beautiful pea-green boat.
With only honey, money and a small guitar, the two young adventurers set off on a perilous sea-journey. They travel for a year and a day, until they reach the land where the Bong Tree grows…
Exploring is all very well – but who knows what you might find?
Story-telling, comedy and songs create a magical world of nonsense for everyone aged 3 and up.
“A cheerfully zippy production” (Scotsman )
“Tall Stories have turned out another delight” (Three Weeks )
“The Owl and the Pussycat oozes charm” (Metro )
“A wonderful piece of children’s theatre” (Edinburgh Evening News )
“A play for all, regardless of age, gender or breed” (Sunday Herald)