PRESS RELEASE
20 January 2016
Immediate release
A WOOLLY WONDERLAND OF A SHOW WITH SPINNING,
WEAVING, LIVELY PUPPETRY, MUSIC AND STORYTELLING COMES
TO HALF MOON THEATRE ON SATURDAY 30 JANUARY FOR
AGES 3-8 AND THEIR FAMILIES
Two leading lights of UK puppetry, Ripstop Theatre and Norwich Puppet Theatre, have joined forces
to bring a fairytale favourite to Half Moon Theatre on Saturday 30 January. Spun before your very
eyes, Rumpelstiltskin is a woolly wonderland for families and children aged 3 and over.
The story begins with Auntie who is spinning as hard as she can to make the wool for the King’s special
jumper. But the royals are out of cash, the girl is useless at spinning and the prince just wants to be a
shepherd. Everyone starts to get their threads in a twist and then Rumpel-you-know-who steps in.
Who is he, where does he come from and can they guess his real name before he gets them all in a
spin?
Rumpelstiltskin is a lively mix of puppetry, music and storytelling with a design inspired by all things
wool, weaving and knitting.
Zannie Fraser of Ripstop Theatre had the initial inspiration for the show: “I’ve always loved knitting
and sewing and I had the idea to knit a whole show and Rumpelstiltskin seemed like a good story to
tell in wool. Hopefully, the show will be as woolly, fleecy and fluffy as a sheep!”
The set, characters and stage are all created or embellished with knitted creations including over 100
squares created by volunteers from the Norfolk Knitters and Stitchers. The knitted squares and a host
of textiles takeover the stage and transform into the different locations of the story. The puppet of
Rumpelstiltskin himself is made of bobbins and spools with weaving shuttles for feet.
Chris Elwell, Director of Half Moon, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome two of the UK’s leading
puppet theatres to Half Moon Theatre with their latest production, Rumpelstiltskin. This inventive and
creative show offers stunning rod and rod marionette puppet work and cleverly weaves in beautiful
textiles to create a highly patterned show that will leave you in a spin.”
Rumpelstiltskin runs for two performance on Saturday 30 January at 11am and 2pm and is a treat the
whole family can enjoy together. All tickets are £6 and can be booked through Half Moon’s website at
www.halfmoon.org.uk or by calling 020 7709 8900.
ENDS
LISTINGS DETAILS
Ripstop Theatre and Norwich Puppet Theatre present
Rumpelstiltskin
Saturday 30 January 2016
Ages 3-8 | 45 minutes
Half Moon Theatre
43 White Horse Road, London E1 0ND
Tickets: £6
Box Office: 020 7709 8900 or online at www.halfmoon.org.uk
ON SALE NOW
NOTES TO EDITORS
CAST
Puppeteer - Gemma Khawaja
Puppeteer - Gretchen Maynard-Hahn
PRODUCTION TEAM
Co-Director and Designer - Zannie Fraser
Co-Director - Bob Percy
Composer - Adrienne Quartly
Puppet Maker - Jan Zalud
Puppet Maker - Iain Halket
Maker - Addya Panayiotou
Maker - Pete Butler
Basket Maker - Jonathon Carrie
FURTHER DETAILS
For further information or to arrange interviews, photographs and press tickets please contact
Stephen Beeny on 020 7709 8907 or stephen@halfmoon.org.uk
A selection of images can be downloaded from Dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/9joyjng4kowowhp/AACtJXe1h7NHaS7665PgD-ZWa?dl=0
ABOUT HALF MOON
Half Moon is a local organisation with a national remit, committed to supporting young people at
every stage of their creative development. Working from their base in Limehouse and throughout the
community in Tower Hamlets, Half Moon makes a big impact on the lives of young people. Half
Moon’s wide-ranging programme reaches 49,000 people annually and engages those who are often
excluded from arts activity. Half Moon’s activity includes a season of professional plays for young
audiences, national touring productions and an extensive creative learning programme, including
seven youth theatres. Half Moon receives regular funding from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
and are a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England.
Website: www.halfmoon.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/halfmoontheatre
Twitter: @HalfMoonTheatre
For press enquiries please contact: Stephen Beeny
Communications Manager
stephen@halfmoon.org.uk
020 7709 8907