Three
At the heart of every family lies a story, and at the heart of every house is its kitchen. Three invites you into the lives of neighbours, Ida, Jaanvi and Ralph, to share their experiences, uncover their pasts, and learn how to make the best cup of tea.
Ida cherishes her time with her granddaughter Sophie, but as her memories fade, she feels her independence slipping away. Jaanvi shares her heritage with Anika, whose love forces her to face a life-changing decision. Ralph, content in his solitude, meets an unexpected visitor who challenges his loneliness.
From multi-award-winning puppetry company Smoking Apples, Three explores the unique relationships between Grandparents and Grandchildren. Using mask for the first time, in combination with striking puppetry and mesmerising shadow play, Three captures the quiet moments that define us.
★★★★ “There is something really beautiful about creating a piece of art that centres on the little joys in life” – Kat Masterson
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Upstream
Lyra lives on the marsh; running, rushing and clambering through the silt, a water explorer extraordinaire. Recently, she has noticed things don’t seem quite right, the water’s getting cloudier and even the otters don’t seem to play here anymore.
Not one to be frightened of the unknown, brave little Lyra camps out under the stars next to the river and her favourite willow tree, hoping to understand. As daylight turns to moonlight, Old Mother River comes to life, a spectacular 3 metre tall puppet, with willow hair and a beautiful creased and crinkled face.
Together they dive into Old Mother River’s memory pool, discovering what has happened beneath the surface, and how everyone can do something, to help protect our waters.
(Illustration by Hattie Field)
(Photo by Tom Flint)
Kinder
Escaping on a Kindertransport train, one small Czech-Jewish girl embarks on a mighty adventure.
Crossing between the past and present, Babi travels across Europe; from bon bons in Germany to the smell of the sea in Margate, she discovers how tiny acts of kindness can change the course of a person’s life.
Joyful, moving and poignant, Kinder features beautiful table top puppetry and cinematic shadow play, as Babi tries to assemble the parts of her broken identity, to find peace in her future.
Kinder is a multi-award winning, from puppetry and visual theatre company Smoking Apples. Inviting you to take a seat inside an immersive set, the story unfolds through a series of playful hatches and openings.
★★★★★ “Unmissable” – Everything Theatre
★★★★★ “A Brilliant Blend of Clever Storytelling” – Broadway World
★★★★★ ” A Symphony of Artistry” – West End Evenings
★★★★★ “A Must See Play” – Fairy Powered Productions
★★★★★ “Deeply emotional and thought-provoking” – Kat Masterson
★★★★★ “Clever and inventive, visually rich and beautifully emotive” – Always Time For Theatre
★★★★.5 “Absorbing and Touching” – The Reviews Hub
Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Enterprise Arts Trust.
Reviews & Awards
“Unmissable” – ✮✮✮✮✮ Everything Theatre
OFFIE Winner for Theatre for Young Audiences – Original Music/Sound 2023
OFFIE Winner for Theatre for Young Audiences – Production 2023
OFFIE Finalist for Theatre for Young audiences – Writing – 2023
Ettie Award Winner for Best Theatre for Young Audiences Production – 2023
For all press enquiries, please contact Chloe Nelkin Consulting on info@chloenelkinconsulting.com