EMILY RISING, LET'S FLY and More Set for Little Angel Theatre This Season

The first official season (September 2016 - January 2017) from Little Angel Theatre Artistic Director, Samantha Lane will feature:

- A VERY OLD Man with Enormous Wings returns to Little Angel Theatre in co-production with Kneehigh this Christmas.

- A brand new play called Emily Rising adapted from a radio play by acclaimed playwright Dan Rebellato. Set in London, Emily Rising is a brand new piece of theatre for children and families, following a ten year old girl who wakes up one morning to find her feet don't touch the ground.

- For younger audiences we have Me..., a touching story by much loved children's author Emma Dodd. Meet a young baby penguin who lives in a world where everything else towers above her.

- Let's Fly spins off the idea of the central theme from Emily Rising and takes children aged 2 to 6 on a colourful and magical flight.

- 5 productions from visiting companies based both inside and outside of London.

- Associate Artists - a new body of four professional artists who will support the artistic identity of Little.

MESSAGE FROM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Samantha Lane:

I am thrilled to present my first official season at Little Angel Theatre.

At the heart of this season we've created three brand new puppetry productions: Emily Rising, Let's Fly and Me.... Between them they explore themes of growing up, the thrill of a good adventure and the joys of childhood, and of course they're all unforgettable stories enriched by beautiful puppetry.

If this wasn't enough we've teamed up with world renowned theatre company Kneehigh to bring A VERY OLD Man with Enormous Wings back onto our stage. We debuted this fantastic production in 2011 and people haven't stopped talking about it since.

I am also really excited to be supported in my work by four fantastic associate artists. They were chosen for their outstanding contribution to the puppetry and theatre industry and because I hugely admire their work. I am delighted that they will help to shape the future of Little Angel Theatre.

- Samantha Lane, Artistic Director

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Emily Rising
by Dan Rebellato
Presented by Little Angel Theatre & Goblin Dates: 10 Sep - 20 Nov
Press performance: Sat 17 Sep, 4pm Relaxed performance: Sat 15 Oct, 4pm

Following his acclaimed work with Little Angel Youth Theatre Oliver Hymans will direct Dan Rebellato's Emily Rising. A Little Angel Theatre co-production with emerging children's theatre company Goblin.

"That's beautiful. Sparks in the air. Like glitter hanging in the sky."

Emily wakes up one bright autumn morning to find that her feet can't touch the ground, and no one can understand why. To everyone's surprise Emily keeps rising higher and higher.

From sleeping upside-down on her ceiling and flying above her school playground, to soaring over a starry- skied London, Emily's adventure is just beginning. Emily discovers a world that looks completely different.

She's not scared at all - it's fun being high up. But she's not coming down...

For ages: 7 to adult
Running time: 1 hour
Tickets: £12/£10 children & concessions

Let's Fly

Presented by Little Angel Theatre & Goblin
Dates: 17 Sep - 20 Nov
Press performance: Sat 24 Sep, 11.30am
Relaxed performances: Tues 11 Oct, 11.30am & Sat 5 Nov, 11.30am

Directed by Little Angel Theatre Artistic Director, Samantha Lane

Can you fly? Just Imagine if you could. What does your home look like when you're as high as the birds and the aeroplanes? Or even a spaceship... let's find out!

Emily has a secret; she knows how to fly and she wants you to come on an adventure with her. Hold her hand and soar over cities, float above oceans and glide across mountains.

You've never seen the whole world until you've sat on top of a cloud.

For ages: 2 - 6
Running time; 40 mins
Tickets: £10 / £8 children and concessions

A VERY OLD Man with Enormous Wings

based on a short story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Little Angel Theatre with Kneehigh
Dates: 26 Nov 2016 - 29 Jan 2017
Press performance: Sat 3 Dec, 7pm Relaxed performance: Sunday 4 Dec, 3pm

Debuting in 2011, A VERY OLD Man with Enormous Wings was a creative tour de force to celebrate 50 years of Little Angel Theatre and the creative genius of the Wright family through a dazzling and beautiful co- production with Kneehigh. Directed by Mike Shepherd, designed by Lyndie Wright, puppetry directed by Sarah Wright, original storyboarding by Joe Wright.

The world's been sad since Tuesday.

The child has a fever and is hotter than a fish on a spit, the dog chases its tail, Mother dreams of a new broom and Father gazes out to sea.

The whole village is on the brink.

Then the sky gets frisky, the sea rears up and, in a bolt of lightning, A VERY OLD man with enormous wings crashes to earth in a flurry of feathers.

Nothing will ever be the same again!

For ages: 7 to adult
Running time: 1 hour 35 mins including 15 min interval Tickets: £14/£12 children and concessions

Me...

Presented by Little Angel Theatre
Dates: 8 Dec 2016 - 29 Jan 2017
Press performance: Sun 11 Dec, 11.30am
Relaxed performances: Tues 10 Jan, 11.30am & Sat 21 Jan, 11.30am

The world is a very big place, especially for a tiny baby penguin who is just finding her feet. The shimmering stars and glistening snow spin around our little hero, while the mountains tower high and the wind rushes to and fro. And although baby penguin may be small, her family know she's the biggest thing of all.

This early years favourite is a lovely and touching story about a parent and their love for their child by much loved children's author Emma Dodd.

For age: 2 - 6
Running time: 40 mins
Tickets: £10 / £8 children and concessions

VISITING COMPANIES: OCT - NOV 2016:
28 October: Dan L'Atelier by TOF Theatre
29 & 30 October: Penguinpig by TRAUM Theatre
3 & 4 November: Bookstory by MONSTRO Theatre
24 - 27 November: The Lost Things by Tortoise in a Nutshell

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Little Angel Theatre is a centre of excellence for puppetry theatre and training. Established in 1961, the Little Angel Theatre is a jewel in the UK theatre landscape, flying the flag for puppetry both in the UK and internationally. Dedicated to the celebration and development of puppetry and live animation in all its diverse forms Little Angel Theatre provide excellent, high quality puppetry theatre, participation activities and training for all.