Patch Theatre Takes Cranky Bear from Page to Stage

Patch Theatre Takes Cranky Bear from Page to Stage

How do you stop a cranky bear being grumpy? You bring together the bear, a zebra, a lion, a moose and a sheep, then put them in front of an audience full of 4-8-year-old kids. The result is a rollicking cabaret style show that blows away crankiness through mayhem, surprise and laughter.

With the creation of their latest production Cranky Bear, South Australian children’s theatre company Patch Theatre is producing an inspirational new work, based on Australian author and illustrator Nick Bland’s best-selling picture book, The Very Cranky Bear.

The Australian Premiere of the show will be staged at Norwood’s Odeon Theatre from August 9, for a strictly limited season. There will be public performances at the Odeon during this limited season, as well as school performances. Additional school seasons at other venues will follow, including for metro and regional schools.

Patch Theatre Artistic Director Dave Brown says, “Nick Bland’s wonderful book is about a trio of vain but affable friends, Zebra, Lion and Moose, who try to solve Bear’s grumpiness by offering things that make them happy. It takes a humble and empathetic sheep with an open heart and a listening ear to solve Bear’s problem. In this Patch Theatre production we juxtapose the telling of Nick Bland’s story with the story of the bear wanting to represent himself in the performance as something more than just a ‘grump that roars’.”

The Very Cranky Bear has delighted children around the world and Nick Bland is excited his book now has a new lease on life. “I’ve been looking forward to seeing the Patch adaptation of The Very Cranky Bear ever since it was proposed,” he says. “The creative team at Patch have a great eye for detail. I can’t wait to see the Cranky Bear characters after they’ve had their roles expanded.”

Running in conjunction with Patch Theatre’s preparation for the show’s performances is a Creative Education Partnership with Sturt Street Primary School, entitled ‘Kind Hearts and Listening Ears’. Children and teachers are to work with Patch Theatre throughout the second term to investigate the same artistic idea the Patch performers pursued when creating the performance: How can we dramatically share stories that help us ‘feel’ empathy and comprehend the meaning of compassion?

The methods and outcomes of the Sturt Street Primary School investigation will be shared with schools attending Patch Theatre’s production in the hope that the process will inspire similar creative endeavours amongst other schools and kindergartens.

Whatever the outcomes of the Creative Education Partnership, there’s one thing for sure- the audience attending Cranky Bear won’t contain any cranky children. They’ll be having too much fun to be grumpy.

Lesley Reed

WHEN and VENUE:

Odeon Theatre, Norwood, General Public Season 2014

Saturday 9 & Saturday 16 August, 1pm & 3.30 pm.

Saturday 23 August, 3.30 pm ONLY.

Odeon Theatre School Season 2014

Monday-Friday 4-22 August, 10.30 am &1pm.

Regional School Season 2014

Keith Michell Theatre, Port Pirie- Tuesday 26 August, 10 am & 12 noon.

Middleback Theatre, Whyalla- Thursday 28 August, 10 am & 12 noon.

Chaffey Theatre, Renmark- Tuesday 2 September, 10 am & 12 noon.

Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, Mt Gambier- Friday 5 September, 10 am & 12 noon.

Metro School Season 2014

Barossa Arts & Convention Centre- Tuesday 9 September, 10 am & 12 noon.

Golden Grove Arts Centre- Thursday 11 & Friday 12 September, 10.30 am & 1 pm.

Hopgood Theatre, Noarlunga Centre- Tuesday 16 – Friday 19 September, 10.30 am & 1pm.

BOOKINGS:

Online at http://www.patchtheatre.org.au/bookings.html or by phoning 08 8333 0444.

Image: Jude Henshall.

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