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All drama productions for Spring 2009 and beyond qualify for free tickets for under 26's. Check A Night Less Ordinary for details.

Spring 2009 begins on Wednesday 11 Feb 2009 with...

The London Philharmonic Skiffle Orchestra

Don't be fazed by their name; The LPSO are much more than a skiffle band!! To the LPSO, skiffle means ‘anything goes' as long as it is musical, entertaining and fun. Their performances are energetic, colourful, bizarre, tuneful, virtuoso and hilarious, incorporating wealth of instruments, costume changes, audience participation and numerous props.

Expect to hear music from all points of the globe, performed in that unique LPSO style!

'Little Red... You Know Who' by Freehand Theatre

Taking a well-known traditional story (you know which!) as a starting point, the play follows an unconventional path through the woods.... Using beautiful visual effects, inventive puppetry and original music, Freehand Theatre has created a play of special magic with young children in mind.

A reassuring world where wolves are kept safely between the covers of books; a world in which, out of the blue, a red box has a song to sing and a forest grows before your very eyes.

“Freehand Theatre has become one of the most respected and popular touring companies in the country" Oatlands Infant School, Harrogate, Yorkshire Hank Wangford & Reg Meuross

No Hall Too Small

The two lonesome cowboys are back bringing “County to the Country”. Original songs deal with anything from religion, Atomic Power and Class prejudice, to the inevitable Cheatin' Drinkin' and Divorce, with such near classics as “He Forgot to tell you he was a Married Man” and “It's me or Elvis,” There's plenty of humour, with Hank's “you don't have to make it up…!” look at life, and his firm belief that it is possible to cry and dance at the same time.

As well as songs both solo and together, there will be stories and poetry from the highway of life.

Alison Neil - The Shakespeare Ladies Club

Amid the fascinating trivia of mid-eighteenth century life, Mary Cowper De Grey recounts the true story of a group of Ladies of Quality who determined to make Shakespeare fashionable. The success of the Shakespeare Ladies Club echoes down the centuries. Mary also has a very personal tale to recount – her involvement with a young and ambitious would-be actor... David Garrick.

Mrs Cowper De Grey then introduces her surprise guest - and the Lords, Gentlemen and Ladies of the Audience are told a very different tale – of a London unseen by People of Quality.

“18th century London comes alive in the skilled hands of Alison Neil.. unmissable entertainment” DORSET ECHO

Shifting Sands Theatre - The Devil's Doctor

Alchemist, Charlatan, Heretic, Explorer and Genius: Paracelsus claimed that alchemy held the key to life, the universe, and the soul of humanity…Welcome to... The DEVIL'S DOCTOR!

THE DEVIL'S DOCTOR celebrates the riotous life of this mercurial Renaissance man, weaving his fractious, meandering and decidedly tipsy path through the social, intellectual and religious upheavals of his time. From the Arctic wastes to the steamy Nile, as an army surgeon, mystic, and religious heretic, Paracelsus cheats death, works miracle cures, quarrels with priests and kings, and attracts legends galore. He became one of the prototypes of Goethe's Faust and a hero to Mary Shelley's Victor Frankenstein.

Indigo Moon Theatre - The Lost Forest

There's magic and mayhem in the rainforest! Animals homes are at risk as bulldozers and diggers crash their way through trees and foliage. Who will come to the rescue and fight the evil Endorro? Can we save the rainforest?

The Lost Forest takes a vital concern and turns it into a fun and dynamic show, using Wayang Golek (colourful rod puppets from West Java), stunning rainforest projections, shadow theatre and original music.

Suitable for children aged 5 and over.

Indigo Moon Theatre - Alice & The White Rabbit

Join Alice on her magical adventure as she chases the White rabbit back in time on a fantastic spiralling journey into Wonderland. Watch her change in size in this dream-like shadow adaption inspired by the famous tale by Lewis Carroll. On her journey she meets the Cheshire Cat, a two-legged dragon and the March Hare at the mediaeval Mad Hatter's Tea party. But beware the Queen of Hearts or you might just lose your head!

Dautenis - Poland - Baltic Sounds from North East Poland

The name Dautenis comes from the old Baltic language Jatvin. The Baltic pagans believed that the souls of the departed were cleansed in the holy lakes and rivers. For these young musicians this magical name represents the large and almost lost treasure of old lyrics and melodies which they have brought up to date with powerful voices and delicate arrangements.

Ro:Toro – Estonia

Ro:Toro play traditional Estonian melodies with female pipers, an improvising saxophonist and a mad percussionist who plays plastic bowls in a waterbed! You might be forgiven for thinking the whole concept is hard to beat but when you add in electric guitarist Karl Laanekask, who has been collecting traditional songs and will be including some of them in their concert, it will guarantee an enthralling performance.

Akseli Klonk – Finland

Puppet Theatre Akseli Klonk is a professional puppet theatre from Finland. They present the very best in object theatre mixed with mime, dance and puppetry. What is object theatre? It's when everyday objects are used as tools or props.

Slightly surreal and very, very funny, Akseli Klonk are highly energetic young performers working alongside beautifully crafted wooden puppets.

The show will appeal to adults and children alike.

"Puppet Theatre Akseli Klonk is one of the most ingenious and inventive companies I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing".

- Gretchen Van Lente, Director, Drama of Works theatre (New York)

A double bill of Scandinavian Dance and music with Frikar Dance and Harald Haugaard Trio

Frikar Dance: This is Norwegian folk dance taken to the extreme. It is dynamic and accessible ‘lausdans' with animation and live musicians on stage and interacting breakdance with comtemporary, ancient LAUS style of acrobatic dance.

Harald Haugaard Trio: The Danish violin and guitar & percussion trio have been celebrating their 10th anniversary during 2008 as one of the most acclaimed Danish folk and roots bands ever. During those ten years Haugaard & Høirup have toured worldwide. They play Danish music, blending traditional with new innovative acoustic sound.

Ian McMillan & Tony Husband - A Cartoon History of Here
The one that makes up poems on the radio and the one that makes you laugh in Private Eye.

Yorkshire poet, braodcaster & comedien Ian McMillan, described as "the Shirley Bassey of performance poetry" by the Times Educational Supplement joins with Tony Husband who received the Pont Award from The Cartoon Art Trust for depicting the British Way of Life. Their talents will unite to form a unique evening.

Created with the audience Ian and Tony produce a fast-flowing, rapid-rafting adventure in which two top funny men reflect upon local stories, legends, rivers and romance. Poems & cartoons to go.

Suitable for adults and children over 7

‘One of my all-time heroes - he's such a talented bloke, I could kill him' Mike Harding

MsFits Theatre Company - Fur Coat & Magic Knickers

One actress, 3 characters, a compulsive shopping pensioner out of control, aPersonal Shopper who just has to SELL and... with a hot date looming for herdaughter's wedding we have the Mum who even recycles the recycled toiletpaper (only joking!). Yes it's the brand new comedy drama from The MsFits.Laughter and tears from the award winning duo actress Fiona Knowles and playwright Rona Munro.

Motus ‘O' - Canada - Carmina Burana

Fate or freedom? Divine rule or personal fulfillment? A band of renegade monks journey through colourful landscapes and drink deeply of the offerings of this world. Along the way they meet Fate herself, an angel, a devil, lovers, a cowboy, a askmaster -- even a barmaid! These figures and many more illuminate the shadow and light found in the human soul.

So come and soar through the themes of spring, tavern life and love and plunge into the magical imagery of Carl Orff's CARMINA BURANA. Through MOTUS O's succinct weaving of an operatic score, live video footage, stunning costumes and the physical realm of dance theatre this production brings to you a total theatrical experience!

Chuck & Albert - Canada

Barachois alumni, Chuck & Albert, are no strangers to the art of total entertainment. Their performances are a mixture of all-out sketch and caricature comedy routines and the unbeat foot-stomping music of their indigenous Prince Edward Island Acadian roots. Equipped with generous portions of faces, flying feet and fiddle fauz-pas, these Island Acadian funny-men pack as much ESI (entertainment-per-square-inch) into a show as an Acadian has relatives…

“one great night of entertainment” The Guardian

Daniel Smith and John ‘T Bone' Taylor

Daniel Smith is one of the most exciting talents to emerge on the British blues scene in recent years. In 1994, he first shot to prominence with Sonny Black, gaining rave reviews from press, audiences and fellow musicians alike. 1999 saw him launch his own solo career and form The Daniel Smith Blues Band.

He is joined by searing blues guitarist, John ‘T Bone' Taylor. Together they are a class act not to be missed that will crash through classic blues, boogie woogie and jazz-blues material, old and original, and invoke a good-time feel of an old-fashioned speakeasy.

"Undoubtedly one of the UK's leading blues and boogie woogie keyboards players today." The Stage

Contemporary Craft Tour 2009 - Paper Trail

Spring 2009 will be touring the work of two contemporary makers who work with paper in sculptural form – Julie Roberts and Peter Rush.

Julie Roberts creates vessels, lampshades, mirrors, larger scale installation pieces and, more recently a range of jewellery, from an innovative and specially developed method of papermaking. Her sculptural forms are constructed by combining paper with textile fibres, which are then moulded, dyed and often hand stitched. Julie exhibits nationally, provides textile and arts based workshops to children and adults and is also an educator. To see more of Julie's work visit her website at www.julieroberts.co.uk

Peter Rush uses softened paper as a modelling material directly applied to a wire framework to make figures – humans, birds and animals. Many of Peter's sculptures are instantly recognisable as figures in the public arena, popular and unpopular, now caricatured and parodied. Peter applies his magic to various scales - life-size, smaller cased and interactive sculptures, some humorous, some satirical.