Puppetmongers to Present TEA AT THE PALACE, 12/26-29

Puppetmongers presents Tea at the Palace, created and performed by Ann Powell and David Powell, and directed by Sharon Weisbaum at Tarragon Theatre Extra Space, 30 Bridgman Avenue, Toronto, from December 26 - 29, 2013 at 2 pm. Tickets at Tarragon Theatre Box Office - 416.531.1827 or www.tarragontheatre.tickets.com.

Puppetmongers' winter holiday performances have been charming families and theatre-goers in Toronto since 1990. Tea at the Palace began the tradition 24 years ago, and after this year, will be retired from Puppetmongers' Toronto holiday family show cycle.

Tea at the Palace is a lively and sumptuous retelling of two intertwined medieval Russian folktales. A hapless peasant is brought to the Tsar's court and charged with treason simply for making tea in a samovar. Meanwhile, the Tsar becomes smitten with a clever peasant girl when she arrives at court to request settlement of a dispute. To thwart the budding romance, the Tsar's meddlesome servants resort to ridiculous antics, but are defeated at their own game when the Tsarina-to-be solves a series of riddles.

Staged in Puppetmongers' signature style with zest, humour and delightful ingenuity, the show features magical pop-up scenery and an array of puppets based on antique toys and dolls ranging from 6 inches to 6 feet tall! Exuberant music by David Anderson and Nuno Cristo draws on Russian songs and folk instrumentation.

Tea at the Palace is suitable for ages 5 and up and is a perfect holiday treat for families.

The brother and sister team of Ann and David Powell (aka Puppetmongers) are internationally recognized as leaders and innovators in the field of puppetry. Since 1974 they have developed a dozen new plays for both young and general audiences which have earned a combined total of 11 Dora nominations. They have been short-listed twice for the Chalmers New Canadian Play for Young Audiences Award and have received 5 Citations of Excellence from l'Union International de la Marionette (US). They have received the Award for Artistic Excellence from the Puppeteers of America for "contribution of a body of work to the art of puppetry" and the President's Awards, a medal which has also been awarded to Jim Henson (Muppets), Julie Taymor (Lion King), and fellow Canadian puppeteers Ronnie Burkett and Coad Canada. They have toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, and the Middle East.