The Little Angel Theatre has been a leading light in theatre shows for younger audiences since its inception in 1961.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the theatre was at the forefront of online provision for a continued supply of entertainment for younger ones, to the relief and delight of many thousands of parents tasked with a new way of keeping their kids safely entertained and engaged.
Now that live theatre is back, our youngsters can enjoy work for all age groups. But for those who may need to be cautious about returning to large-group activities, or for those restricted by ongoing health issues, the online offerings from the Little Angel team are still available to surprise and delight young imaginations.
I have featured their shows on this blog many times during the pandemic, and know that you have contributed to the many thousands of views each show has received.
And so I thought it a good time to update you on what’s available online
You can find all the Little Angel Theatre’s online offerings here
After a flurry of shows announced earlier last year, I felt it was time to revisit the wonderful Little Angel Theatre’s programme of online shows for younger audiences.
Here are some of the shows currently available on their YouTube channel – check out the individual listings for making puppet instructions at home and games to play.
TOADSTOOL TALES: TRUFFLE’S IN TROUBLE is a 15-minute show presented by Little Angel Theatre Puppetry Intern Jessica Shead. A performance aimed at children ages 0-3.
The safe comfort of Mossy Glade in the deep forest is disrupted as a band of merry mushroom friends have one of their own snatched away! Penny and Shaggy embark on an adventure into the great unknown to rescue Truffle, encountering many exciting characters, environments and obstacles along the way. Will they be able to use their wits to save the day and return home to Mossy Glade?
DON’T WORRY, LITTLE CRAB is a five-minutes long show from Folded Feather, presenting a puppet-filled version of Chris Haughton’s ‘Don’t Worry, Little Crab’ book, and is currently available.
Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a rockpool. Today, they’re going for a dip in the sea. “This is going to be so great!” says Little Crab. But then Little Crab catches a first glimpse of the water… Oh. The waves! They’re ENORMOUS. “JEEPERS!” Will Little Crab be brave enough to go in?
For ages 3 and over, FANTASTICO is by Ruby Saide and Jessica Shead and presented by Little Angel Theatre.
Elephant is tired, and just in need of a good sleep for 10 minutes or so. His old armchair is comfy but worn out, and he can’t sit down without it making twingy-twangy noises. Determined to get a good sleep, Elephant sets out to find the perfect chair to nod off in. He is lucky enough to get help from his neighbour Anteater and a friendly Kangaroo, who guide him through a series of chair disasters! Despite all the mishaps, Elephant finally returns home to find he had the best chair all along. This is a musical and playful adaptation of Sean Taylor’s work. This show will be available indefinitely.
Although all these wonderful shows are free to watch, please consider making a donation to the Little Angel Theatre which does unique and vital work in helping younger children to access the joy of theatre. A donation of any amount will help them to keep producing work which will keep future generations of theatregoers entertained whilst they are very young. Thank You.
The ever-popular theatre for younger audiences, the Little Angel Theatre, has released another show for younger viewers through its YouTube channel.
Babies are always curious about sound, they make a lot of sound in their daily lives too! Have you ever thought that these sounds they make are actually music? Let Little Bean bring you to the sensory world of Sound Scribbles – babies’ explorations of sound, accompanied with original music.
It is a Little Bean Production, supported by Little Angel Theatre and Chinese Arts Now (CAN) as part of CAN Festival 2021.
This film is now available to watch for free on the Little Angel Theatre YouTube channel until 28th February 2022.
The show lasts approximately 10 minutes and is available for one year.
A Little Bean Theatre production. Music by Gigi Lam Puppetry and visuals by Jessica Andrews, Bonnie Chan and Cynthia Cheung; Little musicians are Zac Adeyemi, Sebastian Brookham, Luca Garofalo, Luna Lun.
Little Bean is the first and only Cantonese speaking family theatre company in the UK. Founded in 2018 by a group of London-based theatre, music and multi-arts practitioners and artists mostly from Hong Kong, they make interactive children’s/ family theatre that involves music, movements, puppetry and sensory elements for children and adult audiences.
CAN – Chinese Arts Now was founded in 2005 as a not-for-profit arts organisation (formerly Chinese/Chinatown Arts Space) to develop, commission and present to the public work exploring contemporary Chinese perspectives and art forms, and work that blends Chinese and other contemporary art forms. In 2019, CAN launched a new annual festival, CAN Festival, the first arts festival across London dedicated to showcasing to the public performing arts that explore contemporary Chinese themes, perspectives and art forms. CAN Festival 2019 showcased a diverse range of art forms (music, drama, live art, dance, films, digital arts) with over 60 events across London.
Young viewers will love this short adaptation of the Icelandic folk legend of The Girl and The Raven. The story is based on events surrounding a huge landslide in Vatnsdalur, Iceland in 1545, laying waste to the farm of Skíðastaðir. Tradition says that one girl survived in an extraordinary manner…
It is a Handbendi Production, supported by Little Angel Theatre.
This film will be released for free on the Little Angel Theatre YouTube channel.
The show lasts approximately 10 minutes and is available for one year.
Created by Greta Clough Performed by Sigurður Líndal þórisson (narrator) and Elín Rannveig Líndal (girl) Music by Paul Mosley Sound design by Sigurvald Ívar Helgasson
Handbendi is a professional puppetry and theatre production company based in Hvammstangi, Northwest Iceland.
Greta Clough is the artistic director and creative producer of Handbendi. Greta is an award winning international performer, director, and playwright. She is the former Associate Artist of Little Angel Theatre and has over a decades experience creating and touring original theatre productions around the world.
Puss-Cat’s First Christmas, available from December 16thThe Christmas Nisse, available in daily chapters from December 1st
London’s world-renowned children’s puppet theatre the Little Angel Theatre, which has presented a number of shows free on its YouTube account over the past eight months for young viewers, has announced that it will make available several more short shows from December 1st
MOTHER CHRISTMAS by Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane, and PUSS-CAT’S FIRST CHRISTMAS by Michael Fowkes – will both be available for families to watch at home for free on the theatre’s YouTube channel in December.
MOTHER CHRISTMAS will be available from December 1st and PUSS-CAT’S FIRST CHRISTMAS will be available from December 16th. You’ll find more details here when they become available
Also starting on December 1st is THE CHRISTMAS NISSE, a story continuing all through December, a sort of “advent calendar story” that will see a new chapter released on the theatre’s YouTube channel each day during December. Patrick Nielsen and Robyn Wilson-Owen’s story is suitable for primary-age youngsters.
The theatre will have other paid-for shows available, which can be found at their website here
More details and direct links will be posted here when they become available – so keep your eyes peeled for the stories starting December 1st!
