National tour for new Hullabaloo play

Published: 24 April 2015
Reporter: Peter Lathan

Bear and Butterfly

Darlington-based children's theatre company Theatre Hullabaloo is to tour its latest production, Bear and Butterfly, to England and Scotland. Aimed at ages 4 to 7, the play is a co-production with Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, and is written by Annie McCourt, based on an original story by Gordon Poad.

One day, Bear’s life changes forever when, deep in the branches of the tree he hears the munching and a crunching of a bright green Caterpillar. The two of them soon become the best of friends, Caterpillar munching happily through tales of Bear’s younger life catching fish, raising cubs and being big, strong and fierce.

But one day Caterpillar stops munching and looks sick. Bear cares for his friend and lays him on a pile of dry leaves, promising him that he’ll get better soon. Bear fears he will lose his friend but, as if by magic, Caterpillar grows and stretches and from the leaves emerges a beautiful butterfly.

Can Bear come to terms with this new version of his friend who flies high above the trees and has stories of his own? Puppetry, live music and storytelling combine in this tale about love, loss and friendship.

Bear and Butterfly tours from 9 October to 24 December:

  • 9 & 10 Oct : Carnegie Theatre, Workington
  • 13 Oct : Arts Centre Washington
  • 14 Oct : Macrobert, Stirling
  • 15 Oct : Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline
  • 17 Oct : Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre
  • 18 Oct : The Civic, Barnsley
  • 19 Oct : Enter CIC, Ferryhill, Co Durham
  • 20 Oct : Middlesbrough Town Hall
  • 21 & 22 Oct : Durham Town Hall
  • 24 Oct : The Witham, Barnard Castle
  • 25 Oct : The Citadel, St Helens
  • 26 Oct : The Atkinson, Southport
  • 27 Oct : Leigh Library
  • 28 Oct : Z-arts, Manchester
  • 29 Oct : ARC Stockton
  • 30 Oct : Derby Theatre
  • 31 Oct : Margate Theatre Royal
  • 1 Nov : Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry
  • 7 Nov : Half Moon, London
  • 8 Nov : artsdepot, London
  • 12 - 14 Nov : Tiverton Community Arts Centre, Devon
  • 15 Nov : 96 Shenley Road, Borehamwood
  • 17 Nov : Phoenix Theatre, Blyth
  • 19 Nov : Caedmon Hall, Gatehead
  • 20 Nov : Northamption University
  • 21 Nov : The Terry O'Toole Theatre, North Hykeham
  • 24 Nov : Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, Halifax
  • 28 Nov : G Live, Guildford
  • 29 Nov : The Junction, Cambridge
  • 4 Dec : Teesside University, Middlesbrough
  • 6 Dec : Seven, Leeds
  • 15 - 24 Dec : Theatre by the Lake, Keswick

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