THE VERY CRANKY BEAR Goes From Page to Stage at Patch Theatre, Beginning Today

Leading South Australian children's theatre company, Patch Theatre, continue their leadership position in producing inspirational new work for 4-8 year olds with the creation of their latest work Cranky Bear based on the best-selling children's picture book The Very Cranky Bear by Australian author and illustrator Nick Bland. The Australian premiere will be at Odeon Theatre from today, 9 August, for a strictly limited season.

Zebra, Lion and Moose each think they know how to solve the Bear's crankiness but their shenanigans just make him even crankier! It takes a humble and empathetic Sheep with an open heart and listening ear to solve the Bear's woes.

Cranky Bear is a rollicking new cabaret style show for 4 - 8 year olds packed with laughter, surprise and mayhem.

Patch Theatre Artistic Director Dave Brown says, "THE VERY CRANKY BEAR story, a-la Nick Bland's wonderful book, is about a trio of vain but affable friends, Zebra, Lion and Moose, who try to solve the BEAR's grumpiness by offering things that make them happy. It takes a humble and empathetic sheep with an open heart and a listening ear to solve the BEAR's problem. In this Patch Theatre production, we juxtapose the telling of Nick Bland's story with the story of the BEAR wanting to represent himself in the performance as something more than just a 'grump who roars'.

Award winning author Nick Bland is excited THE VERY CRANKY BEAR is getting a new lease on life, his creative tales have captured children's hearts across the globe, "I've been looking forward to seeing the Patch adaptation of The Very Cranky Bear ever since it was proposed. The creative team at Patch have a
great eye for detail. I can't wait to see the Cranky Bear characters after they've had their personalities and their roles expanded. I hope the show comes to Darwin!" he said.

Running alongside Patch Theatre's preparation for performances is a Creative Education Partnership with Sturt Street Primary School called 'Kind Hearts and Listen Ears'. Children and teachers will work with Patch Theatre artists throughout term 2 to investigate the same artistic idea that the Patch performers pursued when devising the performance. The provocation they will unravel will be: How can we dramatically share stories that help us "feel" empathy and comprehend the meaning of compassion?

The methods and outcomes of the Sturt Street investigation will be shared with schools attending Cranky Bear in the hope that it will inspire similar creative learning endeavours in other schools and kindergardens.

2014 GENERAL PUBLIC SEASON

Saturday 9 & Saturday 16 August 2014 1:00pm & 3:30pm
Saturday 23 August 3.30pm ONLY
Cost: $18.00 all tickets
Bookings can be made online http://www.patchtheatre.org.au/bookings.html or by phone 08 8333 0444

ODEON THEATRE SCHOOL SEASON 2014

Monday - Friday 4 August - 22 August 10:30am & 1pm

REGIONAL SCHOOL SEASON 2014
Keith Michell Theatre, Port Pirie - Tuesday 26 August, 10:00am & 12 noon Middleback Theatre, Whyalla - Thursday 28 August, 10am & 12 noon
Chaffey Theatre, Renmark - Tuesday 2 September, 10am & 12 noon
Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mt Gambier - Friday 5 September, 10am & 12 noon

METRO SCHOOL SEASON 2014
Barossa Arts & Convention Centre - Tuesday 9 September, 10am & 12 noon Golden Grove Arts Centre - Thursday 11 & Friday 12 September, 10:30am & 1pm Hopgood Theatre Noarlunga Centre - Tuesday 16 - Friday 19 Sept, 10:30am & 1pm

For more information about Cranky Bear visit www.patchtheatre.org.au/cranky.