Two Theatre Companies Present Children's Political Theatre in Greenwich

Two theatre companies that believe young children are more than ready to be entertained by shows that look at serious global issues are scheduled to appear at Greenwich Theatre this April.

First, Me & My Bee by ThisEgg will be performed on Monday, April 2, followed by Where's My Igloo Gone? by The Bone Ensemble on Sunday, April 29.

"I think over the years children's theatre has often been seen as an easy sell or as a cheap form of theatre, but it has so much more potential," said James Haddrell, Greenwich Theatre's artistic and executive director.

"Children are not daft. They are younger versions of us. They have less experience of the world, but they are just as able to formulate opinions and that is something that should be encouraged in every part of their development, not just at school."

"These shows are also a call to arms about risk. Parents, carers, producers and theatres including ours welcome great shows like The Gruffalo and We're Going On A Bear Hunt, but there's also a real need for us all to take more risks and engage in bigger issues."

Media attention around the plight of bees got ThisEgg thinking about how they could make a show to help. "Apparently, Albert Einstein said that without the bees, humans have four years left to live," said writer/performer Josie Dale-Jones. "We rely on bees to pollinate one third of the crops we use as food. It doesn't take an Einstein to see that as a serious problem.

"Me & My Bee is a political party, disguised as a party party, disguised as a show. This somehow came about through trying to galvanise the audience to make a difference, but we wanted them to have a good time as well. Very simply, the play on the word party was a lot of fun.

"The bees dying out is a serious issue but we always try to take a more positive angle. To us that comes hand in hand with laughter. With comedy you can be more brutal or honest because it's done in a funny way."

The audience will share the stage with The Bone Ensemble for Where's My Igloo Gone? the idea following on from their participatory piece called Caravania! that took place in a 1980s caravan and was for six people at a time. "We wanted to carry on with this more intimate participatory work but had also begun to think about ecological themes, especially climate change," said co-artistic director Adam Ledger.

"We allied a strong central character, Oolik, to a storyboard to help the devising. Music and voice is important to us too, so some of the devising concerned finding sounds - for example, travelling motifs - to help the action. We also figured out how the nature of the audience's participation could shift and develop as the piece continues.

"We have also made the work accessible for d/Deaf and EAL audiences, so had people in rehearsal helping with that."

A key to the show is Oolik finding out things as she makes her way and the audience making the discoveries with her. "We just try to make good theatre," said Adam, "and make sure it's done with skill, inventiveness, meaning and is engaging.

"It might be that some aspects are particularly thought provoking, and some are a bit silly; ideally both. However, with work that has a very real connection with the world, and our place in it, the challenge becomes to deal with a theme that can be a bit abstract and make it into a story, and tell it well, yet without losing important points along the way."

"Our work probably would always be full of colourful characters, but seek to make meaningful encounters with its audience."

As for sharing the stage with the audience, Adam said: "We like to create a sense of place and make spaces. So, the audience sits within the set, either on the floor on cushions or on chairs. At times, there's a bit of fun joining in, and then one or two people can do things like go into Oolik's igloo.

"Sometimes, everyone can join, like in the protest scene at the end, when we can all make a racket! The action is always very close to the audience - there are times when you can touch things too - and the performers are very good at making everyone feel welcomed and included.

"Audiences have loved it so far! The reason we do this is because, although we have been impressed by it, we found that a lot of climate change theatre was all 'doom and gloom' and didn't really offer any positive message or alternative. Getting people involved is not only more interesting but makes them feel that they have contributed in some way."

FIND out more at www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk. For tickets to the shows call the box office on 020 8858 7755.

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