MOLE & GECKO: THE SHOW Comes to Canada Water Theatre and the Albany

Poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko have joined forces to write and perform a new show for children, aged 5+, and families. Mole & Gecko: THE SHOW tells the story rather aptly of a mole and a gecko, with the help of the audience. There are live songs, rap stories, instant poems and a weasel with a serious biscuit problem. Join our heroes as they discover that what they thought they were searching for might be less important than what they find along the way.

Mole & Gecko: THE SHOW will play Canada Water Theatre on Saturday 2 March at 1pm and 3pm (www.canadawatertheatre.org.uk / 020 8692 4446) and the Albany in Deptford on Sunday 3 March at 1pm and 3pm (www.thealbany.org.uk /020 8692 4446).

Studio recordings of two songs from the show, The Name Song and The Friend Ship, have been released on YouTube, giving a sneak preview of the interactive rap musical.

Simon Mole is a Poet, Emcee, and Theatre-maker. He built his skills on the Brighton hip-hop scene and has shared the bill with Simon Armitage, John Cooper Clarke and Kate Tempest. He has also been featured on BBC Radio 3's The Verb. Simon co-founded Chill Pill Collective, curating and hosting popular poetry nights at Soho Theatre and the Albany, and was the first ever Poet Laureate for the London borough of Brent. Simon is an experienced facilitator with over 10 years' experience working with rap and poetry in community and education settings, including projects with Great Ormond Street Hospital and Arsenal FC.

In 2012 he established Simon Mole Presents with immersive performance director Peader Kirk and producer Maeve O'Neill, since creating three full length shows for theatre spaces. Their partnership takes spoken word performance in a bold direction, with Simon's intricately crafted poetic stories at the core of immersive entertainment and integrated participation. Indiana Jones and the Extra Chair toured nationally with sell out shows at Southbank Centre and Brighton Dome. No More Worries had a two week run at the Albany and sold-out shows at the Bush Theatre. Simon's first family show Friends For All, was commissioned by the V&A and toured with Half Moon Presents. Since becoming a Dad, Simon writes increasingly for young people. His first book for children is a collaboration with illustrator Oamul Lu, and will be published by Quarto/Lincoln Childrens Books later this year.

Gecko is a Singer, Storyteller and Musician. A North London based artist, his playful lyrics cover the big things in life; think iPhones, libraries & Guanabana fruit juice to name but a few. Gecko has previously appeared at Glastonbury, Bestival, BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, BBC Scotland, BBC London and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In November 2017 he launched his debut album Volcano with a sold out London show, a session with John Kennedy on Radio X and a tour of Sofar Sounds shows across the UK and the Netherlands. Volcano was made 'Album of the year' in the Morning Star. Gecko has shared stages with the likes of Ed SHeeran, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Robin Ince, Josie Long, John Hegley and Billy Bragg.

The show is written and performed by Simon Mole and Gecko, with direction and design by Peader Kirk and project management by Rua Arts. The production is funded by Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants and supported by Apples and Snakes, the Albany, artsdepot, Half Moon Theatre, Norden Farm, Roundhouse and Rua Arts.

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