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The Wind in The Willows – a Box Tale Soup Production
Sunday 1st July 2018 at 2:30 pm

This event will take place in St George’s Church Hall

25 to 27 Albemarle Road, Beckenham, BR3 5HZ

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats.”

From the peaceful pleasures of Ratty’s beloved River Bank, to the fearful frights and wicked weasels of the Wild Wood, join Ratty and Mole on their marvellous adventures, along with gruff old Badger and magnificent Mr. Toad.

A beautiful new adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s much love classic, The Wind in the Willows features unique handmade fabric puppets and a charming original score.

New in 2017, the show was commissioned by the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.

Suitable for ages 4+
Running time: 60 minutes

Box Tale Soup will transport you into a theatrical world like no other.

“Their beautifully crafted micro-shows are like collector’s items.”

The Stage

Simon Topping of The Reviews Hub writes

Mole comes out of the safety of his beloved home. Tired of spring cleaning he decides to explore. Ending up by the river bank, he meets Ratty (a cultured water vole) and they become firm friends. Ratty shows Mole the joys of the river and their adventures begin. This is the start of Box Tale Soup’s wondrous new adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s much-loved classic, The Wind in the Willows.

From the beginning, there is a magic about this piece. The music of the original score lures the audience into the world of the woods and river bank with warmth and charm; having a tranquil, Nick Drake-like, quality to it.

The actors are wonderful to watch; totally immersed in their characters and the story telling process. The puppets are nicely crafted; the Amazing Toad is a particularly delightful creation and there is a very imaginative use of headgear to represent various modes of transport, including the shiny cars Toad is so much obsessed by.

The darkness of the wild wood and its nefarious inhabitants (stoats and weasels) are represented well; with the smaller ones in the audience momentarily frightened by their appearance. Thankfully, Mr Badger is at hand, as a reassuring presence.

Tickets £10 for one adult including 1 child (under 18) / £20 for 2 adults and up to 3 children (under 18).

We regret that these tickets are only available from the Parish Office in St George’s open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2.30pm.

Refreshments

Refreshments will not be available at this event.

Artist Information

Box Tale Soup

Award wining theatre company

Award winning theatre company Box Tale Soup was formed in 2012. Using their own unique blend of puppetry, physical theatre and traditional performance,

Receiving great critical and audience acclaim wherever they go, their touring calendar has included: the Lyric Hammersmith, Wilton’s Music Hall and the Wigmore Hall, London; Bridgewater Hall, Manchester; and the Broad Stage, California.

They have had three productions commissioned by the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, with the most recent being The Wind in the Willows. We were also commissioned to create a new Oscar Wilde adaptation by the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. We have had the honour of collaborating with world renowned choral ensemble The Sixteen and Guardian Charity of the Year 2016 award winners Music Action International.

Their production The Wind in the Willows has been seen by over 6,000 people to date and Box Tale Soup’s work in general has been seen by around 40,000!

The core of the company consists of Noel Byrne and Antonia Christophers, who created Box Tale Soup and now work for the company at all times.

The original music for our shows is created by Dan Melrose, with occasional help from other musical friends.

www.boxtalesoup.co.uk

Antonia Christophers

Actress

Antonia graduated with a BA Honours degree in Drama and Theatre Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London. She then went on to train as an actor, and gained an MA in Classical Acting from Central School of Speech and Drama.

Her theatre credits include: Anne Prospere in Divine Marquis at the Barons Court Theatre, London; Elaine in The Graduate, Buxton Opera House and UK tour; Louise Kendal in My Cousin Rachel at the theatres of Aldeburgh and Southwold; Juliet in Romeo and Juliet at the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield.

Her television credits include: Mhaegen in the award winning HBO series, Game of Thrones; Miss Peters in the acclaimed BBC drama, The Hour.

Noel Byrne

Actor

Noel graduated with a BA (Hons) in Theatre Arts from Manchester’s highly regarded Capitol Theatre School. Having worked for several years in this field, he then went on to gain a PGCE from the University of Leeds.

Noel has been involved in everything from Shakespeare on stage to voice and motion capture for video games, often creating and devising new work, including pieces for Manchester’s Contact Theatre and London’s Royal Court. Noel has also worked on television, appearing in the BBC’s Doctor Who, The One Show and Mission 2110, among others. He has even been a dinosaur.

In addition, Noel is also an award-winning street performer who has performed around the world, and worked regularly at London’s famous Covent Garden.



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The Arts at St. George's