PRESS RELEASE
24 February 2015
Immediate release
HALF MOON AND ROSE BRUFORD COLLEGE OF THEATRE AND
PERFORMANCE COLLABORATE FOR THE FOURTH YEAR RUNNING ON
WORLD PREMIERE OF UP, UP AND AWAY, AN ENCHANTING NEW SHOW
DEVELOPED WITH THE HELP OF 40 CHILDREN FROM ST ANNE'S
CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL IN WHITECHAPEL
Half Moon is collaborating with Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance, one of the UK’s leading
university drama schools, to create a brand new piece of theatre for young people aged 3-7. Up, Up and Away is
being devised and developed in direct consultation with over 40 young people from St Anne's Catholic Primary
School, in Whitechapel, and will have its world premiere on Tuesday 10 March at Half Moon Theatre.
Up, Up and Away features a cast of twelve second year students at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and
Performance on the BA Acting and BA Actor Musicianship course. It is the fourth year running that Half Moon
has worked with Rose Bruford's students to conceive and create a piece of theatre for young people and is an
invaluable aspect of their professional training.
Featuring live music played on a variety of instruments, including accordion, trumpet, saxophone, guitar and
drum and base, Up, Up and Away will take you on a journey into the enchanting world of a child’s imagination.
Close your eyes and fly up high, soar above the clouds and float gently in the breeze, dreaming of adventures far
below. Join us for a birds’ eye view amongst multi-coloured balloons, brollies and an assortment of feathery
friends in this magical and touching show, full of laughter and the unexpected.
As part of the show’s development process the cast will visit two Year 1 classes at St Anne's Catholic Primary
School to develop the production and explore some of the show’s themes. For many of the students this will be
the first time that they have worked with young people and it offers the ideal opportunity for them to connect
with their audience, who will then feedback into the creative process before watching the show at a special
school’s performance at Half Moon Theatre.
Chris Elwell, Director of Half Moon and Director of Up and Up Away said: “I’m delighted that we’re continuing our
collaboration with Rose Bruford’s undergraduate students to create a brand new piece of theatre, which will be
both entertaining and stimulating.
“The three week development process is an important aspect of the students training and it’s been a pleasure
working with them on this exciting collaboration that has seen the actors come face to face with their young
audience for the first time. The script has been developed in direct consultation with children from St Anne’s
Catholic Primary School, ensuring that the voice of the show is authentic and will speak directly to the target
audience. We look forward to taking you up, up and away.”
Up, Up and Away will run for 12 performances from Tuesday 10 March until Saturday 14 March. 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
UP, UP AND AWAY
Sat 10 – Sat 14 Mar
Ages 3-7 | 40 minutes
Tues 10 -Wed 11 at 10.30am and 1.30pm
Thu 12 at 10.30am, 1.30pm and 6pm
Fri 13 at 10.30am. 1.30pm and 4.30pm
Sat 14 at 11am and 2pm
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
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 rehearsal images and the show’s marketing image can be downloaded from Dropbox:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kwqrn2c55cdt7jw/AAAjJAIU9MZWTWBeg9OepLlma?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 our base in Limehouse and throughout the community in Tower
Hamlets, we make a big impact on the lives of young people. Our work reaches almost 50,000 people annually
and engages those who are often excluded from arts activity. Our activity includes a season of professional plays
for young audiences, national touring productions and an extensive creative learning programme, including six
youth theatres. We receive regular funding from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and are a National
Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England.
For press enquiries please contact: Stephen Beeny
Communications Manager
stephen@halfmoon.org.uk
020 7709 8907