Horse+Bamboo Bring Storm to RET’s Studio

Award-winning theatre company Horse+Bamboo return to Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatrelater this month with their new childrens’ show Storm In A Teacup.

When you live in a lighthouse surrounded by dangerous rocks, towering waves and trouble making seagulls, it’s not always easy to make friends. So when the supply boat comes in, an exciting opportunity for a tea party arises. But with the lighthouse keeper’s nervousness turning what could have been a delight into a disaster, it takes a real disaster in the form of a howling storm for his courage to shine.

Using Horse+Bamboo’s trademark puppetry, musical talents and story-telling skills, audience follow as the lighthouse keeper aims to save the save and rebuild his new found friendship.

Storm In A Teacup was originally written as a 15-minute piece for Horse+Bamboo’s pPod – an architect designed tent that tours throughout the country – and has also performed at the Royal Exchange in 2006 as this original 15-minute piece as part of the Exchange’s festival for Young People, Xtra Time. Since then, the piece has been developed into a full-scale show that has performed for primary schools at Wigan Performing Arts Centre during February and March 2010.

Storm In A Teacup is the fourth show for the Royal Exchange Theatre to showcase and continues the long relationship that the two companies have developed over the past few years.

Horse+Bamboo have previously been at the Royal Exchange with A Strange and Unexpected Event (winner of the Best Special Entertainment Award at the 2004 Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards), In The Shadow Of The Trees  (winner of the Best New Play award at the 2006 Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards) and Little Leap Forward (a creative partnership with Barefoot Books and the Royal Exchange Theatre, Horse + Bamboo).

Founded in 1978 by its current Artistic Director, Bob Frith, and based in Rossendale, Lancashire, Horse+Bamboo make visual theatre, which they tour from regional to international venues, art centres and festivals. Music and story-telling is central to the company’s productions; using masks, movement, puppetry, film, and lighting to present multi-sensory creations for children.

Storm In A Teacup is at the Royal Exchange Studio from 12 – 15 January, 2011.