Half Moon

Chill out and watch an award-winning digital performance on the big screen in a relaxed and laidback environment. When Little Titch and her scruffy rucksack arrive at the giant, pink house it is not what she expected. Her new home is cold and unwelcoming until she meets Nelly, a flamboyant and loveable hoarder. Together, the pair discover they have more in common than they first thought and that friendship can heal hidden wounds. Written by acclaimed award-winning children’s author Laura Dockrill (Darcy Burdock book series) with music by Hugo White of The Maccabees, Dust, explore a heartfelt story about love, loss, identity and memory and is a joyous reminder about just how playful the world can be. Dust won a 2022 Off West End Theatre Award for Best Theatre for Children Aged 5-11. Dust is a Half Moon production.

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A love song to nature for babies and their grownups that explores the interconnectedness of life on earth. Combining the joy of gentle, classical singing and sensory play, Gift is an invitation to see beauty in the smallest things and to let plants be our guides. Come and help us celebrate the gift of nature as we conjure a world out of breath, water, sunlight and soil in this magical musical adventure. Gift is HurlyBurly Theatre production.

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Have you heard about Jack? Come on, tell us a tale, When you need a good story, Jack never fails! For as long as tales have been told, the character of Jack has been a constant presence in stories. Sometimes clever and cunning, sometimes lazy and foolish, but always coming out on top, fairy tales, folklore and nursery rhymes are full of tales of a lad named Jack. Now, in this new musical for families and children, discover the truth behind the original fairytale hero. Join Jack in his many guises as he seeks his fortune, finds the love of his life, learns the perils of a pail of water and, of course, takes on the fearsome giant. Jack! features traditional stories, original songs, and is performed by three actors/musicians playing piano, double bass and clarinet. With lots of opportunities to join in, families will be singing along before you can say Fee Fie Fo Fum! Jack! is a Little Seeds Music production. Please note: Performances on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 June are currently being held for local schools. Once we have confirmed numbers, we will release tickets to the general public. If you would like to be added to the waiting list for any of these shows, please send a booking enquiry.

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Follow Crock as he embarks on a quest to retrieve his stolen Happy from the wicked Kangalouse. What sinister scheme does the Kangalouse have up his sleeve? Find out as you join the Crockodogopig on this exciting journey! A fresh, fun-filled family show that combines live music, puppetry, comedy and beatboxing to tell the story of a mixed-up creature who has lost his Happy. The Crockodogopig is a Trickyart priduction.

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The Thirteenth Vampire with author Alice Hemming is part of The Big Family Art Event. A hands-on creative opportunity to design your own book cover! Be inspired as you listen to bestselling author Alice Hemming read from her book The Thirteenth Vampire. Enter a world of vampires, scary creatures and creepy-crawly spiders. Children £7. Accompanying adults FREE (please reserve a ticket as space is limited). Join us for an interactive art and literature experience that explores the bright and imaginative world of visual storytelling through live drawing and storytelling sessions, interactive song-based shows, stimulating creative workshops and lots of opportunities to join in! THE BIG FAMILY ART EVENT Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy (CWISL) and Half Moon are delighted to be working with some of the UK’s best-loved and award-winning writers and illustrators on this exciting event, so The Big Family Art Event is not to be missed! This day-long festival celebrates our autumn exhibition Picture a Story, which brings together a collection of illustrations by author-artists whose published work covers an array of genres, from babies to teenagers.

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The Big Improvised Draw with author-illustrator Bridget Marzo, is part of The Big Family Art Event. Join award-winning author-illustrator Bridget Marzo for The Big Improvised Draw as she reads and draws live on stage some of the many human and animal characters in her books, including a sneak preview of the Stone Age family, which features in her new book, Mo’s Best Friend, to be published in 2024. This unique, interactive event culminates in an improvised draw where you, the audience, can share what you think the new characters might do. Shout out your ideas and Bridget will conjure a new picture tale of the most humongous Christmas party ever. THE BIG FAMILY ART EVENT Join us for an interactive art and literature experience that explores the bright and imaginative world of visual storytelling through live drawing and storytelling sessions, interactive song-based shows, stimulating creative workshops and lots of opportunities to join in! Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy (CWISL) and Half Moon are delighted to be working with some of the UK’s best-loved and award-winning writers and illustrators on this exciting event, so The Big Family Art Event is not to be missed! This day-long festival celebrates our autumn exhibition Picture a Story, which brings together a collection of illustrations by author-artists whose published work covers an array of genres, from babies to teenagers.

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Little Bear can’t hear Dad Bear calling, but feels the floor vibrate with heavy footsteps. Little Bear can’t catch the funny joke at school when friends are laughing, but feels the crunch of snow on frozen pavements. Join Little Bear and Dad Bear as they learn how there are many ways to communicate love and to find your place in the world. A retelling of a story by Raymond Antrobus and Polly Dunbar, Can Bears Ski? draws on the author’s experience as a d/Deaf child in a hearing world. This show is British Sign Language (BSL) integrated. Can Bears Ski? is a Definitely Theatre and Pied Piper Theatre production.

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Megson’s Family Folk Show Nature Special is an organic, authentic and fun folk concert for big and little music connoisseurs. Award-winning folk duo Megson blend their infectious mix of heavenly vocals and lush harmonies into a gentle, entertaining concert specially for younger children, featuring children’s folk songs about the natural world from their When I Was A Lad and Little Bird albums.

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High-energy interactive theatre meets hard grooving gig! Join a bunch of merry buccaneers on a funk and jazz-fuelled adventure across the seas. A swashbuckling tale of friendship and treasure awaits. A fun mixture of animation, interactive music making and solid groove from the Groove Baby Organ Trio. Grooving With Pirates is an animated and live-action mystical, magical, nautical, musical adventure which follows three pirate friends on a dangerous mission to find some treasure. A tale of friendship, loyalty and a magic chest. Meet monsters and mermaids, take musical challenges and strut your stuff on the gangplank. Blending electro jungle rhythms, infectious pop themes and a heavy dose of 60s Blue Note soul jazz, the Groove Baby Organ Trio creates a non-stop groove, that will have everyone on their feet. Groove Baby is all about fun for the whole family. Created in 2013 to give parents the opportunity to experience concert hall quality music in a child-friendly environment, the shows have developed into a unique – and definitely cool – form of musical theatre event. Grooving with Pirates is a Groove Baby production.

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Half Moon are proud to be part of Festival 14: Family Fun at Crossrail Place Roof Garden on Saturday 29 July 2023. Taking place across parks, plazas and open spaces, Festival 14 will see Canary Wharf burst to life with over 50 performances and events to suit all tastes. Give your family a unique, interactive and engaging play with clay, where the audience are invited to participate, with special performances of Claytime, interspersed with post-performance workshops by Half Moon. CLAYTIME A play with clay, where the audience are invited to participate. Come to a place where the earth’s natural material meets with children’s imaginations: a world of fabulous forms, amazing animals and morphing monsters. Each Claytime is totally unique – creating its own world, its own characters and its own stories drawn directly from its young audience. Truly, interactive theatre at its most engaging. The piece culminates with a short on-stage workshop where the children have their own opportunity for some hands-on clay time. You may therefore want your children to be wearing clothing suitable for getting a bit messy. SATURDAY 29 JULY 2023 11am-11:45am | Claytime performance 11:45am-12:15pm | Post-performance workshop 12:45pm-1:30pm | Claytime performance 1:30pm-2pm | Post-performance workshop All activities take place at the Crossrail Place Roof Garden, which is an outdoor (covered) amphitheatre. Seating is unreserved. All tickets for events at the Crossrail Place Roof Garden are free. A limited number of tickets are available to book in advance with the remainder available on the door. Ticket bookers must arrive 15 minutes before the event is due to start or their seats may be released. PLEASE NOTE: If a performance is SOLD OUT, this just means that all advance tickets have been booked. A number of tickets are released 15 minutes before the start of each performance.

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Love heroes, monsters and mythical tales? Dust off your maps and strap on your jetpacks for a journey around the world. The Myth Hunter needs your help to find the most treacherous, the most astounding and the most disgusting stories known to humankind. Ride along with Jason and the epic Argonauts in ancient Greece, help Rama and Sita defeat the ten-headed demon Ravana in India, and rescue legendary Sailor Sinbad from a Shipwreck. After all, sometimes even the greatest heroes need a little help to get home. Bring your best adventure outfit and join us for daring escapes, swordfights, weird creatures, interactive games and the chance to become an honorary member of The Myth Hunter Academy.

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Gertie is feeling stuck in her smallness – she wants to grow UP and have BIGNESS and TALLNESS! Join Gertie on her adventures through the Himalaya in this beautiful adaptation of the award-winning children’s book by Lu Fraser and Kate Hindley (Winner Book of the Year and Best Picture Book at the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards 2021). With beautiful puppets and catchy tunes, The Littlest Yak is an uplifting musical tale about a tiny yak who wishes she was bigger. It celebrates self-acceptance and the extraordinary inside all of us. Supported by The Marlowe Theatre, Arts Council England, Backstage Trust, Folkestone Town Council and Kent County Council. The Littlest Yak is a LAStheatre production.

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Half Moon are proud to be part of Festival 14: Family Fun at Crossrail Place Roof Garden on Sunday 30 July 2023. Taking place across parks, plazas and open spaces, Festival 14 will see Canary Wharf burst to life with over 50 performances and events to suit all tastes. Give your family a gentle and entertaining concert specially for younger children, with special performances of The Nature Special Folk Show, interspersed with pre-performance workshops with Half Moon’s popular host, Jade Dowsett-Roberts. THE NATURE SPECIAL FOLK SHOW Award-winning folk duo Megson blend their infectious mix of heavenly vocals and lush harmonies into a gentle, entertaining theatre and story based style concert specially for families, featuring children’s folk songs about the natural world from their albums When I Was a Lad and Little Bird. The Nature Special Folk Show is supported by participatory and child-centred workshops lead by Half Moon’s workshop team using themes from the show. SUNDAY 30 JULY 2023 11am-11:30am | Pre-performance workshop 11:30am-12:15pm | The Nature Special Folk Show, plus post-performance meet the company 12:15pm-12:45pm | Pre-performance workshop 12:45pm-1:30pm | The Nature Special Folk Show, plus post-performance meet the company All activities take place at the Crossrail Place Roof Garden, which is an outdoor (covered) amphitheatre. Seating is unreserved. All tickets for events at the Crossrail Place Roof Garden are free. A limited number of tickets are available to book in advance with the remainder available on the door. Ticket bookers must arrive 15 minutes before the event is due to start or their seats may be released. PLEASE NOTE: If a performance is SOLD OUT, this just means that all advance tickets have been booked. A number of tickets are released 15 minutes before the start of each performance.

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An immersive dance show that follows four performers on a journey into the world of packaging materials, exploring the impact of online shopping on the environment. In a visually engaging spectacle, parcels and cardboard boxes are built and dismantled to create temporary sculptures and shifting landscapes. Children and their families can actively participate in the show by building new structures and learning about waste production, inspiring a new generation of eco-consciousness. 1 Click Away is a Follow Through Collective production.

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Bathe in sound and light with your baby as you explore the wonders of how their senses develop. Sit, lie down or stand while sharing this intimate and immersive experience together. Inspired by babylab research into the expanding vision of children from birth until 18 months, this 15-minute installation distils the world of awakening perception into a unique experience. Real-life soundscapes and harmonies echo a newborn’s hearing, as lights twinkle and colour slowly fills the performance pod. Co-created by theatre-maker Daniel Naddafy (Glisten) and artist and lighting designer Marty Langthorne, this fascinating and absorbing piece is designed for a baby between 0-18 months to experience with their adult. Co-commissioned by the Barbican London and developed with support from Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts and Half Moon Theatre Each ticket will cover a group of up to 4 people (including the baby) to come into the performance pod. A maximum of two tickets will be available per time slot. Please arrive 10 minutes before your time slot as latecomers will not be permitted. Early booking is advised as this show has an extremely limited capacity.

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Two snowmen are on a mission not to melt when they discover their perfect home, an ice arena. It’s cold, the music’s great and the slushies taste delicious. They just need to remember one thing; they can’t be discovered by the humans. With a caretaker lurking around every corner, the snowmen must do everything they can to hold onto their new home and not melt. Packed with visual comedy and told with a handful of words, Snowmen is a brand new show for families about friendship, home and hope. This show has integrated British Sign Language. Snowmen is a Herd Theatre production. Snowmen is largely non-verbal. This makes it accessible to a range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers.

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Join two intrepid explorers who are full of stories and full of hope, but dangerously low on baked beans. Two travellers journey across the barren and dusty world that is their home. They make up songs and tell stories, inspired by the treasures they’ve collected from a time gone by. One day they happen upon something extra special, a lucky find that promises to breathe life back into the empty land that surrounds them – is it a chance for change or will their hopes be dashed once again? With live music, puppetry and clowning, Stories in the Dust is a funny, heartfelt family show that takes you to another world. One where an ancient book guides your way, a drop of rain changes everything and a mighty lion holds his secrets in an old clay pot. Join two intrepid explorers who are full of stories and full of hope, but dangerously low on baked beans. Originally created with a seed fund from MAST Mayflower Studios and with support from Wiltshire Creative and Pound Arts. Stories in the Dust is a Anna Harriott and Iona Johnson production.

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Father Christmas Needs a Wee with author-illustrator Nicholas Allan is part of The Big Family Art Event. The best-selling picture book Father Christmas Needs a Wee is brought to life by author-illustrator Nicholas Allan as he draws and tells this famous bearded man’s story on Christmas Eve. At each different house that Father Christmas visits, he eats and drinks all the goodies left out for him. Before long he really, really, really needs a wee. Hilarious, and peppered with some real, YES REAL magic moments. THE BIG FAMILY ART EVENT Join us for an interactive art and literature experience that explores the bright and imaginative world of visual storytelling through live drawing and storytelling sessions, interactive song-based shows, stimulating creative workshops and lots of opportunities to join in! Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy (CWISL) and Half Moon are delighted to be working with some of the UK’s best-loved and award-winning writers and illustrators on this exciting event, so The Big Family Art Event is not to be missed! This day-long festival celebrates our autumn exhibition Picture a Story, which brings together a collection of illustrations by author-artists whose published work covers an array of genres, from babies to teenagers.

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Is it a bed? Or a boat? Or a giant slice of toast? For Naz and Iggy and their eight friends, their bed is a place where imagination can fill their tummies with tasty treats and take them to familiar warm places. Well, sometimes. Join the boat-bed’s disparate crew as they dream up playful tales of pirates, misunderstood sharks and fishing trips that hook some unexpected catches. But what happens if the bed is not big enough to fit everyone in? How do they decide who gets to stay and who has to go? This humorous and inventive new show celebrates the power of imaginary play and proves there’s always enough room to have fun, even when the world is at its most daunting. Written by award-winning teenage fiction writer Steve Tasane (Child I, Blood Donors), Ten in the Bed sensitively explores the child refugee experience, where the power of invention offers an escape from reality. Framed by an evocative soundscape, it is the latest exhilarating production from Half Moon.

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This new story for babies and their grown-ups begins with a red moon rising. But why is the moon red? Now it’s turned blue and it’s crying. Do the ladybirds know why? Perhaps the little pond can tell us? Or maybe the rabbits have the answer. Made in consultation with paediatricians, English Touring Opera’s Under the Little Red Moon explores the development of language with the help of music and movement.

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Noise can be gentle, quiet, loud, lots of fun and full of feelings. Dommy B shares a surprising story about growing up, finding a brilliant (but naughty) imaginary friend, becoming ‘Junk the Punk’ and joining a great school band (Whizzkid and the Veggie Burgers)! There’ll be rhymes, jokes, and lots of opportunity to make some noise in a celebration of the power of sound and friendship. Make Some Noise is a Dommy B production.

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Fairy Tales for the Fearless with author Gareth P Jones and illustrator Loretta Schauer, is part of The Big Family Art Event. A fantastical musical journey through the hilariously re-imagined fairy tales of Gareth P Jones and Loretta Schauer, including songs from Rabunzel: The Musical – a unique performance featuring live drawing, rapping and interactive songs played on a variety of instruments. Expect Kung Fu rabbits, disco dancing gorillas and catwalk strutting cats! THE BIG FAMILY ART EVENT Join us for an interactive art and literature experience that explores the bright and imaginative world of visual storytelling through live drawing and storytelling sessions, interactive song-based shows, stimulating creative workshops and lots of opportunities to join in! Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy (CWISL) and Half Moon are delighted to be working with some of the UK’s best-loved and award-winning writers and illustrators on this exciting event, so The Big Family Art Event is not to be missed! This day-long festival celebrates our autumn exhibition Picture a Story, which brings together a collection of illustrations by author-artists whose published work covers an array of genres, from babies to teenagers.

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Shy twelve-year-old Alfie decides to go in search of his missing older brother, Jacob, who has disappeared moments before an all-important boxing match. Can Alfie safely return his brother to the ring in time? Or will he have to take his big brother’s place? What will happen to the Shields’ family if they fail to win the fight? Inspired by award-winning children’s author Oliver Sykes’ experiences growing up without a mum and being coached as an amateur boxer by his dad, Alfie’s First Fight features boxing action, surprising plot twists, compelling characters and an inspiring boy-hero. On the surface, it’s a simple adventure story. But it’s also about love, loss, family and learning how to fight for what you want. Alfie’s First Fight is an Oliver Sykes production.

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An extraordinary journey through a busy forest told from the perspective of an acorn – the hectic forest floor, thrumming underworlds and dazzling heights of icy branches. Discover bizarre larger-than-life fungi, connecting creaking tree roots and majestic guardians watching over a delicate cycle. Beautifully realised through puppetry, intricate sets, folk music and live camera work, join three storytellers as they lead you through an enchanting experience like no other. Find the epic in the tiny in this celebration of trees, nature and finding space in a buzzing community. Breathe is a Half a String Theatre production. All seating is unreserved. All performances are relaxed performances. Find out more about how to find us, access and some FAQs about your visit. If the show you want to see is sold out, you can join our waiting list and we will get in touch if any tickets become available.

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Viva la punk! A loud, wild and unapologetic joyride of live original punk music and high-energy dance. Enter the world of the Lazurr Tuts, a guitar-wielding punk band made up of misfits and outcasts. They’re in the business of making music and speaking out, and you have been invited into an exclusive acoustic rehearsal. Come on a journey of self-expression in this loud, wild and unapologetic joyride of live original punk music and high-energy dance. No matter how loud or soft, the Lazurr Tuts want you to discover that what you have to say is important. Set your inner anarchist free and celebrate the joys of being you in a safe, caring environment in which everyone is equal. Punk Alley is a theatre show full of heart, creating a vibrant and fun space for young people to explore their voice and what’s important to them. Let’s make some noise! The show is British Sign Language (BSL) integrated. Punk Alley is a Moxie Brawl production.

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It’s summer. It’s hot. Like really hot. Like ice pop after melting ice pops hot. Like orange midday sun hot. Across the divide of a scorched basketball court two girls meet, shoot hoops and discover their shared obsessions make them inseparable friends. But will faith, growing pains and the darker reactions of others get in the way of that long, hot, orange summer? A decade later the past walks back into view when 18-year-old Amina is confronted by her childhood best friend Tandeki. Can they reignite the spark of friendship by untangling their hurt feelings, or are some heartbreaks just too hard to mend? Hot Orange follows Amina and Tandeki as they navigate what it takes to sustain love and friendship beyond childhood idealism and the moment you fall in love. Hot Orange, by Amal Khalidi and Tatenda Naomi Matsvai, is the latest production from Half Moon, the UK’s leading small-scale young people’s venue and touring company. It will be presented in their multi-award winning immersive theatrical style, exquisitely framed within an evocative soundscape. After the performance there is an onstage Q&A session with the company. Content warning: Hot Orange includes references to attitudes and language choices expressing negative opinions about same-gender relationships.

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A heartfelt story about being made to feel naughty, just because the rules don’t make sense. Boxed In follows the journey of someone who can’t make head nor tail of the unspoken rules that surround us all. Sometimes stop means go and go means stop. Are you supposed to go this way or that? Sometimes it’s up and sometimes it’s down. In a world where everyone else seems to understand, it can all get a bit confusing. And when you get it wrong, you’re made to sit out, but you don’t understand why. It seems so unfair. Boxed In explores the unspoken barriers of attitudes, social etiquette and behaviour that surround us. How do you know a barrier is there if you can’t see it? And if you can’t see it, how can you remove it? Boxed in is a Daryl & Co. and Half Moon co-production; an exciting collaboration by a ground-breaking Disabled-led theatre company and the UK’s leading small-scale young people’s venue and touring company. Boxed In is largely non-verbal. This makes it accessible to a wide range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing, BSL users and non-English speakers. It is presented by companies experienced in providing Relaxed Performances suitable for Disabled audiences.

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A play with clay, where the audience is invited to participate. Come to a place where the earth’s natural material meets with children’s imaginations: a world of fabulous forms, amazing animals and morphing monsters. Each Claytime is totally unique, creating its own world, its own characters and its own stories drawn directly from its young audience. Interactive theatre at its most engaging. The show culminates with a short on-stage workshop where the children have their own opportunity for some hands-on clay time. You may therefore want your children to be wearing clothing suitable for getting a bit messy! Claytime is an Indefinite Articles production.

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Half Moon are proud to be part of Festival 14: Family Fun at Crossrail Place Roof Garden on Sunday 30 July 2023. Taking place across parks, plazas and open spaces, Festival 14 will see Canary Wharf burst to life with over 50 performances and events to suit all tastes. Give your family a high energy, poetry theatre show, with special performances of Dragon’s Tale, interspersed with pre-performance workshops with Half Moon’s popular host, Jade Dowsett-Roberts. DRAGON'S TALE Rick loves poetry. He thinks it’s exciting, funny and imaginative. But all across the land poets are being silenced – by a dragon! How can Rick avoid being eaten and help save the village from this fiery fiend? Dommy B’s adventure for children is a high energy, poetry theatre show, and includes lyrics, laughs and the chance (for those who would like to) to do lots of joining in! Dragon’s Tale is supported by participatory and child-centred workshops lead by Half Moon’s workshop team using themes from the show.

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A tiny tale told by tiny creatures about BIG ideas. Told through the language of insects, Du Iz Tak? is a story about the cycle of life and all its impermanence. Come and peer into a miniature world of little puppets to see a delightful group of friends exploring their ever-changing home. Du Iz Tak is based on the enchanting and hugely popular picture book by Carson Ellis and is brought to you by Half Moon favourite’s Long Nose Puppets (Hulla Balloony Moon Time, The Hug). Early booking is recommended as this show has a limited capacity.

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When prison is your world, how do you function within society? This gripping one-man physical theatre performance is the story of how prison can define a man. Told through a series of characters, you are taken on a young boy’s journey from primary school through to adulthood. Developed using real life accounts of extraordinary experiences, this mainly biographical story deals with the effects of institutionalisation on the psyche of an individual and the people around them. Prison Game is a show by Hercules Productions. CONTENT WARNING: Prison Game includes strong references and language that depicts discrimination against Black working class/inner-city communities in the UK, both on a day-to-day basis and within the penal system.

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Listen to the world around you. Gurgles, burbles, growls, crackles and crunches fill the space. What sound is that? Is it excited? Is it happy? What sounds do you like? Mik and Kin are Sound Collectors. Boxes of their favourite sounds have been checked, all ready to take home. But the boxes are not behaving – naughty giggles slip through the cracks and are causing chaos. Storms are raging and the sounds are unleashed. Mik and Kin need your help to soothe the troubled storm with a lullaby and lure the giggle with new, enticing sounds. Your voices will help in the creation of a new and unique piece of music that you get to take home. Babble is a Flibbertigibbet Theatre production.

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Step inside Geppetto’s workshop and hear the tale of a puppet that wants to be a real boy, and a puppet maker who wants to be a real father. Steve Tiplady, as Geppetto, uses the objects of a carpenter’s workshop to tell the tale of the puppet that wants to be a real boy, and the puppet-maker who wants to be a real father. Pinocchio is carved on stage, brushes become a fox and the shadow of two saws transforms into a giant shark. An element of improvisation makes each performance unique to its audience. Puppetry, shadows, illusion and specially composed music combine to create a show with something for all ages; it’s inventive, visually and verbally witty, and has a big heart. Pinocchio is an Indefinite Articles production.

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Blink. Blink again. What do you see? Day by day your world is filling up with colour, little one. Reds and blues, yellows and greens. Twinkling lights that glisten and gleam. Your reflection is staring back at you. Wide-eyed and full of hope. Mirrors, lights, colours and sounds. The world is your Kaleidoscope. Inspired by research into how a baby’s sense of sight develops and how they instinctively begin to categorise colour, watch as a multi-coloured Kaleidoscope is brought to life for you and your baby. At the end of the performance there is a stay and play session. Early booking is advised as this show has a limited capacity. Kaleidoscope is a Filskit Theatre production.

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Cinema Chill Party is a digital performance that is part of The Big Family Art Event. End the day with a relaxing big-screen cinema event in the theatre. Chill out and watch a digital performance of Half Moon’s hugely popular show Party and let the warmth of a Portuguese summer take you to a place where difference is something to celebrate. Afonso who wants to go to his best friend’s birthday party, but where is his invitation – has it been lost in the post, or maybe he wasn’t even invited? When it finally arrives the excitement and nerves become too much to handle. What should he wear? Will they have balloons? Will anyone play with him? And what about the cake? The show offers a poignant and popular exploration of diversity for the very young. Party has extremely limited dialogue. This makes it accessible to a range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers. THE BIG FAMILY ART EVENT Join us for an interactive art and literature experience that explores the bright and imaginative world of visual storytelling through live drawing and storytelling sessions, interactive song-based shows, stimulating creative workshops and lots of opportunities to join in! Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy (CWISL) and Half Moon are delighted to be working with some of the UK’s best-loved and award-winning writers and illustrators on this exciting event, so The Big Family Art Event is not to be missed! This day-long festival celebrates our autumn exhibition Picture a Story, which brings together a collection of illustrations by author-artists whose published work covers an array of genres, from babies to teenagers.

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Join Luna and Dad for an adventure among the library shelves in this exciting new musical for families. Luna looks forward to one special day – Library Day! It’s the day when she discovers magic among the library shelves, from dinosaurs to mummies, from unexplained mysteries to monsters and magic. But for Luna, Library Day is also a chance to spend time with Dad, making it all the more special. Based on the critically acclaimed book by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho and illustrator Fiona Lumbers, join Luna and Dad as they discover magic and mystery, laughter and sadness and, through the power of stories, even start to mend their own history. Adapted for the stage by award-winning poet and author Joseph Coelho, with music and lyrics by family favourite David Gibb, Luna Loves Library Day is the perfect treat for children aged 3+ and their families. Luna Loves Library Day – the Musical is a Little Seeds Music and Z-arts production.

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A sensory experience for babies and their grown-ups, exploring our world through the eyes of someone whose job it is to find the colours. But how will The Rainbow Builder find the colours when everything is so dirty? Can The Rainbow Builder clean up in time and restore the environment around them to full colour? Told through a mixture of storytelling, gentle sensory interactions, sights, and sounds, The Rainbow Builder is an accessible production for curious minds and budding explorers. Together, looking around, can you all find a rainbow? At the end of the performance there is a stay and play session. Early booking is advised as this show has a limited capacity. The Rainbow Builder is a Moulded Theatre and Discover Children’s Story Centre production.

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The Little Red Hen lives on the farm with her mischievous animal friends. When her baby chicks hatch, she needs to feed them. She is lucky enough to find three grains of wheat and decides to make some bread. But who will help her? Come and join in with the story of The Little Red Hen and lend a hand in making a most delicious loaf of bread. An intimate and interactive storytelling show involving puppetry, song, live music and lots and lots of joining in. The Little Red Hen is a Puppettellers production.

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Bored at home with nothing to do, Nora is sent out to play in the garden in search of a tiger. Have your imaginations at the ready as our story unfolds and we see Nora’s world grow around her. Join Nora as she discovers dragonflies as big as her head, plants that can eat you whole, a polar bear that likes fishing and maybe, just possibly, a tiger in the garden. Based on Lizzy Stewart’s prize-winning book, this new piece of music theatre brings Nora’s story to life using puppetry, imaginative design and music. Exploring the power of the imagination, families are invited to follow Nora as she discovers the wonders hidden beyond the shrubbery. Come and listen, play and enjoy the brilliance of this story brought to life. After the performance, audiences are invited onto the stage to meet the puppets. There’s a Tiger in the Garden in a Flock Theatre Makers production.

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King Reginald is a ruler who likes to keep in style. But the fashions change so fast, he’s afraid he can’t keep up. Hearing of the King’s predicament, two fast-talking ‘weavers’ head to the palace with their brand-new fabric: it’s ‘smart’ and it’s ‘in’ and it never goes out of fashion. Soon the Kingdom is alive with talk of the magical cloth and Reginald can’t wait to wear his ‘smart’ new suit to the Big Parade. But what are these ‘weavers’ really spinning? Inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s Emperor’s New Clothes, this wild new puppet musical sets out to prove that people can be made to believe anything. The King of Nothing is a Monstro Theatre and Little Angel Theatre production.

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Who ever heard of a cat that’s afraid of the dark, or an owl that isn’t wise? Championing friendships forged through difference, this tender tale will take you on a magical journey, exploring why everything looks special ‘By the Light of the Moon’. Celebrating the wonderous power of imagination and the rewards that can be reaped when we face our fears, this enchanting interactive performance takes its inspiration from the delightful and much loved Edward Lear poem, ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’. It is a production that is ideal for first time theatre goers. By the Light of the Moon is a Full House Theatre production.

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A very first opera for babies and grownups that explores the magic of nature. Combining the joy of gentle classical singing and sensory play, it is an invitation to see beauty in the smallest things and to let plants be our guides. Celebrate the gift of nature as they conjure a world out of breath, water, sunlight and soil in this magical musical adventure for 0- 2s. Hurly Burly Theatre make playful theatrical experiences for babies and adults with classical singing at their heart. They make shows where babies are free to be themselves and grown-ups have a chance to relax, bond and play. The show’s development has been supported by The Egg (Theatre Royal Bath), Portsmouth Guildhall and Watermans Arts Centre as well as Arts Council England. Early booking is advised as this show has a limited capacity.

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Rip, fold and scrumple! Shall we see what we can make with a single square of paper? As you scrunch the paper, see how your imagination begins to dance. An immersive and interactive dance show inviting family audiences to create, imagine and explore whole new ways of thinking, playing and moving. Dance, fashion and live music meet the magic of origami to sweep us up on a spirited and inspiring adventure in a land made purely of paper and play. After the performance there is a stay and play session. Club Origami is a Takeshi Matsumoto production. This show is non-verbal. This makes it accessible to a range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers.

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Tangles? Split ends? Frizzy? Flyaway? It’s hard enough having a bad hair day, but pity poor Rapunzel spending her life in a tower with a wicked old witch using her captive’s locks as a step ladder! What sort of damage is that going to do to your hair? Theatre of Widdershins have taken this popular fairytale right back to its dark roots, teased out the tangles and styled it into a beautifully coiffured hair piece. This enchanting show promises plenty of body, volume and loads of highlights. Make an appointment to see the show today – because you’re worth it!

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Join poet Simon Mole and musician Gecko for a family show full of poems, raps and songs about all your favourite prehistoric protagonists, and some you haven’t heard of yet! Which dinosaur was barely the size of a dog? Which made a noise like a goat playing a didgeridoo? And what could a chicken possibly be doing in The Great Big Dinosaur Show?! Expect spine-tinglingly funny scares in this fun show and get your groove on to Jurassic Classics! The show is inspired by Simon Mole’s 4th book, A First Book of Dinosaurs, illustrated by Matt Hunt, published by Walker Books. The Great Big Dinosaur Show is a Simon Mole production.

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Witch is miserable and bad-tempered. Every night she flies around the town frightening people! One day Witch finds an egg in her nest and has no idea what to do with it. All the other birds have plenty of advice but Witch doesn’t like them and decides to go it alone. Adapted from the book by Madeleine Edmondson, The Witch and the Egg uses humour, audience engagement and shadow puppetry to tell the story of a lonely old witch who finds an egg which takes her on an adventure that changes her life forever. After the performance, the audience is invited to stay and play with the shadow puppets. The Witch and the Egg is a Luminous Tales production.

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A delightful new show full of sparkle and song. Can you help a very unusual princess solve an unexpected problem? Without the twinkle of fairy lights, the holiday season could be cancelled! It’s up to our intrepid explorer, her pals and YOU to illuminate the world again. A fun-filled, sparkling extravaganza exploring the sensational science behind electricity. Featuring catchy original songs from Ziad Jabero and electrifying storytelling, The Lightbulb Princess will light up children’s imaginations and inspire them to learn more about the world around them. The Lightbulb Princess is a Tutti Frutti Productions and One Tenth Human production that was researched with children and scientists in Morecambe Bay and Northumberland.

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Tiffany is twisting and turning and her mind won’t stop whirring – she just can’t fall asleep. She knows there must be a pea hidden underneath her bed. As Tiffany adventures down through worlds of mattresses and mysteries, she meets the restless bed folk. Filled with enchanting puppetry and intricate soundscapes, join Tiffany on her quest to find the pea and get a good night’s sleep. All the stories tell us that stepmothers are evil. Maybe the fairy tales are wrong? Pea Nod is a Nod at the Fox Theatre production.

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The biggest yawn, the cosiest bed, The softest blanket, the sleepiest head, Winter’s approaching, prepare for a rest, With some help from the animals who hibernate best. As the nights draw in and temperatures drop, staying wrapped up warm in our beds seems like a great idea. But have you ever imagined what it would be like to stay asleep for the whole of winter? Some creatures are experts and they’re here to show you how. Prepare to be transported to a magical forest full of mirth, live music and marvellous creatures, as together we prepare to take a very long nap! Audience members are encouraged to bring a favourite blanket and any cuddly friends who would like to tag along. Hibernation is a Little Bulb production.

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Paddleboat Theatre presents Margo and Mr Whatsit Sophia’s imaginary friend is Mr Whatsit. No matter where Sophia finds herself living, he’s always there with a joke to tell and a game to play. But when Sophia moves into her new foster home, Mr Whatsit finds himself unimagined! Now Sophia has a new imaginary friend – the glamourous, grown-up Margo. Can Mr Whatsit keep him from being unimagined for good? And with her imaginary friends competing against each other, will Sophia manage to find her forever home? An interactive make-believe tale where the real and imaginary collide, and friends are never far away.

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Half Moon presents Ready Steady Rave DJ James Wonder is in the building! Enter our rave club zone, where little ones can share the spotlight with their dance hungry grown-ups. DJ James spins an energetic mix of House, Trance, Techno, Dubstep, Grime and Jungle with a pulsating and playful light show, plus large screen projections. No mud, no rain, no need for sun-screen – just a festival vibe where party clothes, dancing shoes and your best moves are all that’s required. So are you ready? Are you steady? Let’s rave! Ready Steady Rave features loud music. Participants may wish to consider bringing their own ear defenders to this event.

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Dommy B presents Dommy B's Best Adventure Ever! When Dom and his Mum move home, Dom has to go to a new school. Leaving behind friends and familiarity, he arrives ready to share his exciting rhymes about meeting a magical goblin and what happened at the lake when he attempted the greatest bike stunt in the world. How far will Dom go to gain acceptance from the coolest kids in this new school? Creating a whole fantastical world on stage with only his words and imagination, CBeebies Rhyme Rocket poet Dommy B explores the challenges and triumphs of making new friends when everything around you is different and strange.

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A Square World is a place where we discover that ANYTHING can happen once we start to think differently and rip up the rule book. An honest, touching and quirky piece of theatre for young people and their families. It tells a tale of friends who enjoy the same routine day after day. Each day is exactly the same as the last and all the friends are happy. That is, until an unexpected change befalls one of the group. Suddenly, they are divided into those who can… and the one who can’t. The friends realise their daily routine is no longer as enjoyable as it was. Together they decide to redefine the rules of the square world where they live. By injecting a little fun and chaos they soon discover their lives won’t be square ever again! ‍A Square World looks at the unfairness of being left out in a world designed for everyone but you. This show tells a story with music, facial expressions and movement, instead of just using words. It has a beautiful original soundtrack and bold design. The actor uses object manipulation and elements of surprise to create an ever-evolving and imaginative world from just a few blocks. This show is non-verbal. This makes it accessible to a range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers.

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The end of an era is approaching. It’s 1997 and London is about to have its last daytime rave. British South Asians flock for their last taste of rebellion. Among them are cousins Farhan and Sadiq. Both are very different. Both escaping something. Both trying to decide what it means to be British and Pakistani, a Muslim and a man – and they’ve got until 6pm to figure it out. Inspired by the daytime raves of 1990s British Asian culture, Daytime Deewane explores the beauty and struggle of living with a multi-cultural identity as a teenager. Featuring a DJ mix merging soundscapes, dance music and spoken word, this immersive new show is an exhilarating gig theatre adventure. Daytime Deewane, by Azan Ahmed, is Half Moon’s latest touring production for teenagers. Our last two shows for this age group, Crowded and What Once Was Ours), both won the Off West End Theatre Award for Best Production for Young People Age 13+. After the performance, there is an onstage Q&A session with the company. CONTENT WARNING: Daytime Deewane includes references to self-harm. As part of depicting the experience of British South Asians in the 1990s, at times characters in the play refer to language which is racially offensive.

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No booking required, just turn up on the day! Half Moon’s FREE family fun day returns for an eighth year with another selection of fun community events to get involved in. Join us from 10am-4pm as we create a Fun Palace throughout our building and garden with an inspiring programme of events for all ages, celebrating arts, culture and science. Throughout the day, we will have pop-up storytelling performances, music and movement workshops, plus art and craft activities for everyone to get involved with. We’ll also have tea, cake and a few surprises along the way. Dip into one or two events or stay for the whole day! All events are free. Refreshments are available to buy throughout the day. No need to book, just turn up on the day!

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Are you ready? Grab a spoon. Because it’s pat-a-cake time. Pitter-patter – get the butter. Glitzy-glossy – whisk in sugar. Jokey-yolky – add the eggs. Based on the book Pat-a-Cake Baby by Joyce Dunbar and Polly Dunbar, Long Nose Puppets offer up a marvellous moonlit show full of riotous rhyme, zany puppets and spiffy special cake; all iced with music and songs by Tom Gray, of Gomez. Little children will feel stuffed to the brim with magic. At the end of the performance children are invited onto the stage to meet the puppets. Hulla Balloony Moon Time is a Long Nose Puppets production.

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Moon on a Stick Theatre presents Baby Bear (Older Audience) There are two versions of Baby Bear suitable for different ages. This version is for ages 18 months-3 years. It is an energetic version of the production suitable for those on the move or wanting a livelier experience. Bear doesn’t want to venture outside her cosy cave. But she is too curious about the sights, sounds and smells outside to stay indoors. Tempted by the creatures that wander into her home, Baby Bear learns the beauty of nature and how returning home is even better after an adventure. An exploration of the senses, sung to a mesmerising soundtrack, Baby Bear is a playful, interactive puppetry adventure for babies, toddlers and their families. Join Baby Bear as she explores nature and wildlife in an uplifting, beautiful and comical show that is the perfect first theatre experience. After the performance there is a stay and play session.

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Luminous Tales presents Stars in the Sky There was once an old lady who wanted to play with the stars. Follow the adventures of Stella as she sets out on a magical night-time adventure, helped by an assortment of strange and wonderful creatures. Will she reach the stars in the sky? Inspired by a traditional folk tale and the creatures of the zodiac, Stars in the Sky is a luminous mix of storytelling and shadow puppetry that uses a ‘Crankie’, a moving panorama where the background scrolls around turned by a wooden handle, to weave its magic.

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Created in response to young children’s experience of anxiety, Butterflies is an uplifting tale of friendship, courage and facing your fears, told using innovative staging, breath-taking physicality, touching humour and an original musical score. Three friends embark on an exciting adventure to chase their butterflies away. They cross new seas to uncharted lands, on a journey filled with discovery. The only trouble is they’re all a bit worried about it! During their voyage the group ride the waves, walk high bridges, skirt deep caves and climb to the sky, before reaching dry land, braver than ever before.

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Josephine Baker, the little girl from Missouri who became an original 20th Century icon. Dancer, actor, activist, campaigner, spy and mother to the multicultural Rainbow Tribe, Josephine broke the mould and high-kicked the pieces to the kerb. But, almost 50 years after her death, Café Josephine, a down-at-heel New York diner dedicated to her memory, faces closure. Nobody remembers Josephine, who she was, what she did, what she stood for. And she just can’t allow that. With a sultry, Harlem Renaissance-inspired score, Charleston dancing and a hatful of historical figures, Josephine blurs the real with the imagined as we follow one woman’s incredible journey from the slums of St Louis via the bright lights of Paris and into the hearts of the world.

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Give your family a musical experience to remember with special performances of David Gibb’s Family Jukebox, interspersed with pre-performance workshops with Half Moon’s popular host, Jade Dowsett-Roberts. Join David and his magical music Jukebox as he takes you on a trip through his hilarious and often surreal imagination, where wolves roam the school corridors, dragons live under the bed and teddy bears dance the night away at the disco. With lots of audience interaction and chances to join in, David’s songwriting draws from a wide range of musical influences and genres including jazz, folk, reggae, and rock ‘n’ roll. With an emphasis on quality and musicianship, David’s songs are reminiscent of the classics, and sure to have you dancing and singing along within minutes. Guaranteed to appeal equally to parents and children alike, this is music that the whole family can enjoy together! All activities take place at the Crossrail Place Roof Garden, which is an outdoor (covered) amphitheatre. Seating is unreserved. All tickets for events at the Crossrail Place Roof Garden are free. A limited number of tickets are available to book in advance with the remainder available on the door. Ticket bookers must arrive 15 minutes before the event is due to start or their seats may be released.

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Travel to Kenya and follow in Handa’s footsteps as she journeys to see her best friend Akeyo, in the next village. Handa is taking 7 delicious fruits as a surprise – but 7 different animals have 7 very different ideas… could you resist the sweet-smelling guava? How about a ripe red mango or a tangy purple passion fruit? A blend of physical performance, puppetry, live music and song combine to create an intimate, magical production with audience participation. Come and share in the magical tangerine surprise! Handa’s Surprise is a Little Angel Theatre Production, based on the book by Eileen Brown, published by Walker Books Ltd. Early booking is advised as this show has limited capacity. The small audience sit on cushions and mats around the stage for an intimate experience, and there is a chance to join in the dancing at the end.

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Rick loves poetry. He thinks it’s exciting, funny and imaginative. But all across the land poets are being silenced… by a dragon! How can Rick avoid being eaten and help save the village from this fiery fiend? Dragon’s Tale, Dommy B’s latest adventure for children is a high-energy poetry theatre show and includes lyrics, laughs and the chance (for those who would like to) to do lots of joining in. Dommy B’s charming shows have toured around theatres, festivals and schools nationally and worldwide for the last 10 years, delighting children and presenting them with lovable, accessible poetry. Dommy B says, “I love performing kid’s shows because children make the best audiences! As well as loads of fun, I’m hoping to offer my audiences a really good experience of poetry, so that they’ll see that it’s not boring, or something that you’ve got to be a grown-up to understand and enjoy. It’s something everyone can join in with, and most importantly have a great time listening to!” Dragon’s Tale is a Dommy B production.

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When temperatures drop and cold snaps come, that means only one thing: Jack Frost is here! Jack Frost is a mischievous young boy with a frozen touch. His magic transforms the landscape and brings the colours of autumn and the chill of cold winter. He freezes the orange and red leaves, and covers the trees and ground with a glistening blanket of ice and snow. But this year when winter comes around the snow begins to melt and along with it Jack’s extraordinary magic fades. With his powers lost he becomes just an ordinary boy. In this wintery tale, Jack and his new found friend, search for winter and attempt to restore Jack’s special gift. Circling the globe they meet characters who share their own special shimmering seasonal winter magic, but will Jack’s magic return? Join tutti frutti for this enchanting new play by poet and playwright Joseph Coelho, recently named as Children’s Laureate, with important environmental themes, a touch of wintery fun and original live music. All seating is unreserved. All performances are relaxed performances. Find out more about how to find us, access and some FAQs about your visit. Please note: The performance on Thursday 24 at 1.30pm is for local schools. Members of the public are very welcome, but please be aware that there will be a large school group in attendance.

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Something is happening in the woods, voices can be heard, and a strange metallic smell fills the air. Machines are gathering at its edge and a mysterious call is heard across the valley. Laura the ladybird, Jeffrey the spider, Brett the Woodlouse and Willoughby the Woodpecker are worried. Velda the Vixen knows there’s only one person who can help them – Granddad. But is there enough time? Can they save the wood? And will the mysterious stranger help? Featuring a cast of extraordinary puppets, Woodland Tales with Granddad is a magical story with an important environmental message. Woodland Tales with Granddad is a Pickled Image production. All seating is unreserved. All performances are relaxed performances. Find out more about how to find us, access and some FAQs about your visit.

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Shooooooooooooooes! Ah, new shoes. Delightful on the feet. Soft, dancing shoes; swarthy pirate shoes; silver buckle and silken soles. No one makes shoes like an elf. This well-known and well-loved tale has been re-heeled by Theatre of Widdershins in their own inimitable and dynamic style. Beautifully crafted set and puppets, sublime music, a kaleidoscope of miniature shoes and a comic mouse all make this show a magical must-see. Performed by one of our most popular and regular theatre companies, we expect a high demand for tickets, so don’t miss out!

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Our Fun Palaces FREE Family Fun Day returns for a seventh year as part of the Great Big Green Week to tackle climate change and protect nature. Join us from 10am to 4pm as we create a unique pop-up event throughout our building and garden. Throughout the day we’ll be raising awareness of environmental issues through a series of fun community activities throughout our building and garden, including craft, art, storytelling, music and movement workshops. Plus, we’ll have tea, cake and a few surprises along the way. Dip into one or two events or stay for the entire day. All events are free. Refreshments are available to buy throughout the day. No need to book, just turn up on the day!

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Moon on a Stick Theatre presents Baby Bear (younger audience) There are two versions of Baby Bear suitable for different ages. This version is for ages 0-18 months. It is a gentle version of the production and suitable for those not on the move or wanting a calmer experience. Bear doesn’t want to venture outside her cosy cave. But she is too curious about the sights, sounds and smells outside to stay indoors. Tempted by the creatures that wander into her home, Baby Bear learns the beauty of nature and how returning home is even better after an adventure. An exploration of the senses, sung to a mesmerising soundtrack, Baby Bear is a playful, interactive puppetry adventure for babies, toddlers and their families. Join Baby Bear as she explores nature and wildlife in an uplifting, beautiful and comical show that is the perfect first theatre experience. After the performance there is a stay and play session.

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Come in, relax, find a space and settle. Slowly, a shimmering surface emerges. What does it look like? How does it move Listen, what can you hear? Welcome to a world of shiny things. Welcome to Glisten! An interactive performance for babies aged 0-18 months and their grown-ups. The audience are taken on a sparkling and shimmering immersive journey exploring the world of reflective materials. Watch as the empty space of the theatre fills with colour, sounds and surprises, creating a multi-sensory landscape ready to explore after the performance is over. The perfect alternative family Christmas experience, Glisten is performed to a small audience creating an intimate and welcoming theatrical experience, beautifully co-created by theatre-maker Daniel Naddafy and visual artist Phoebe Stubbs. At the end of the performance, babies and parents are invited onto the stage for an interactive play session. Early booking is advised as Glisten is performed to a very small audience. Glisten is a Daniel Naddafy and Half Moon Presents production. This show is non-verbal. This makes it accessible to a range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers

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Half Moon presents Party Afonso wants to go to his best friend’s birthday party, but where is his invitation – has it been lost in the post, or maybe he wasn’t even invited? When it finally arrives the excitement and nerves become too much to handle. What should he wear? Will they have balloons? Will anyone play with him? And what about the cake? Heartfelt, provocative and full of quirky humour, Party features striking, colourful designs and a glorious contemporary soundtrack. Let the warmth of a Portuguese summer take you to a place where difference is something to celebrate.

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Theatre Fideri Fidera presents Ugg ’n’ Ogg and the World's First Dogg The truly mind-boggling story of how a long, long time ago two hunter-gatherers, Ugg and Ogg, palled up with their enemies the wolves and invented man's best friend, the dog. Join our two young heroes and the wolves Tooth ‘n’ Nail on their fun-packed comic adventure. In this hilarious new show expect lots of beat-boxing wolves, forest infernos and even a time-travelling stick before you finally get the chance to pat the world’s first Dogg. At the end of the show audiences are invited to meet the performers and puppets.

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Join Half Moon Theatre for four days of performances and storytelling at All Points East Community Festival, In The Neighbourhood, in Victoria Park. Watch a special performance each day interspersed with witty stories and interactive conversations with Half Moon’s popular host, Amari Harris. Festival timetable: Sunday 21st August 2022 (North Stage) 12:30pm | Storytelling with Amari 12:45pm | The ‘Not So Grimm’ Twins  1:45pm | Storytelling with Amari Monday 22nd August 2022 (Bandstand) 10:15am | Storytelling with Amari 10:30am | The ‘Not So Grimm’ Twins  11:30am | Storytelling with Amari 12pm | The ‘Not So Grimm’ Twins  1pm | Storytelling with Amari 2pm | The ‘Not So Grimm’ Twins  3pm | Storytelling with Amari Tuesday 23rd August 2022 (Bandstand) 11:15am | Storytelling with Amari 11:30am | The ‘Not So Grimm’ Twins  12.20pm | Storytelling with Amari 12.40pm | The ‘Not So Grimm’ Twins  1.30pm | Storytelling with Amari 1.50pm | The ‘Not So Grimm’ Twins  2.45pm | Storytelling with Amari Wednesday 24 August 2022 11:15am | Storytelling with Amari 11.40am | We All Wobble 12.10pm | Storytelling with Amari 12.50pm | We All Wobble 1.20pm | Storytelling with Amari 1:50pm | We All Wobble 2:50pm | Storytelling with Amari

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Celebrating Black History Month Abi and her Grandad tell each other Anansi folktales. They play games as they work together in the garden among the beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables. As they plant memories, they share secrets and develop a bond that nothing can break. Grandad is as smart and mischievous as the wily Anansi legend. Can he find a way to tell his granddaughter about his plans to return to Jamaica, his beloved homeland? Join our intrepid characters in this humorous and heartfelt inter-generational adventure, as they step into the unexpected. With evocative live music, Grandad Anansi is an uplifting tale of love, courage and letting go. Written by award-winning children’s author Elayne Ogbeta, Grandad Anansi is the latest co-production from Half Moon and Z-arts, the award-winning team behind Dust, winner of the 2022 Off West End Theatre Award for Best Theatre for Children Aged 5-11. Please note: Performances on Friday 7 October are for local schools. Members of the public are welcome, but please be aware that there will be a large school group in attendance.

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Join our two lovable clowns as they weeble and wobble their way through a chaotic picnic. This life-sized roly poly spectacle is full of hilarious slapstick, near misses and messy chaos for the whole family.

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Join family music favourite David Gibb as he celebrates the launch of his brand new album for children and families, Pedal Onwards. Pedal Onwards is a musical rendition of a childhood spent on two wheels and features special guests Oli Matthews (saxophone, clarinet, accordion) and Sean Law (double bass). David will be sharing songs and stories from his new album, as well as plenty of old favourites. His music covers an eclectic mix of styles, including soul, rock ‘n’ roll, folk, jazz and funk and we guarantee that children and adults will be singing along in no time! Growing up with a cycling-obsessed father, and in a home where bicycles seemed to fill every corner, David’s trademark charm and humour are in full flow throughout the show as he recounts the embarrassment of his Dad showing up to collect him from school dressed head to toe in lycra, and fondly remembers the local children queuing up to have their broken bicycles serviced by his father’s mechanical wizardry. Pedal Onwards is a David Gibb and Little Seeds Music production.

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Sculpting Stories with artist Anne-Marie Perks is part of The Big Family Art Event. Discover how to use clay to create small 3D characters with artist Anne-Marie Perks. Start to create the building blocks of your own animation in this interactive workshop where you’ll have the opportunity to sculpt your own characters using different materials. Please wear appropriate clothing for this messy experience. THE BIG FAMILY ART EVENT Join us for an interactive art and literature experience that explores the bright and imaginative world of visual storytelling through live drawing and storytelling sessions, interactive song-based shows, stimulating creative workshops and lots of opportunities to join in! Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy (CWISL) and Half Moon are delighted to be working with some of the UK’s best-loved and award-winning writers and illustrators on this exciting event, so The Big Family Art Event is not to be missed! This day-long festival celebrates our autumn exhibition Picture a Story, which brings together a collection of illustrations by author-artists whose published work covers an array of genres, from babies to teenagers.

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Lao Lao of Dragon Mountain with author Margaret Bateson-Hill is part of The Big Family Art Event. A paper-craft adventure! Listen to Margaret Bateson-Hill tell the story of Lao Lao of Dragon Mountain, inspired by the Chinese art of paper cutting. Start by learning how to make a simple geometric shape and then become more adventurous with your own unique snowflake, butterfly, flower or dragon mask. Join us for an interactive art and literature experience that explores the bright and imaginative world of visual storytelling through live drawing and storytelling sessions, interactive song-based shows, stimulating creative workshops and lots of opportunities to join in! THE BIG FAMILY ART EVENT Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy (CWISL) and Half Moon are delighted to be working with some of the UK’s best-loved and award-winning writers and illustrators on this exciting event, so The Big Family Art Event is not to be missed! This day-long festival celebrates our autumn exhibition Picture a Story, which brings together a collection of illustrations by author-artists whose published work covers an array of genres, from babies to teenagers.

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The Big Community Draw is part of The Big Family Art Event. Children, parents and author-illustrators come together to create a huge drawing laid out on a giant piece of paper on the theatre floor. Using the gallery exhibition Picture a Story as inspiration, this is the perfect opportunity to get creative and help create a huge communal work of art. Tickets to this event are FREE, but please reserve your place as space is limited! THE BIG FAMILY ART EVENT Join us for an interactive art and literature experience that explores the bright and imaginative world of visual storytelling through live drawing and storytelling sessions, interactive song-based shows, stimulating creative workshops and lots of opportunities to join in! Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy (CWISL) and Half Moon are delighted to be working with some of the UK’s best-loved and award-winning writers and illustrators on this exciting event, so The Big Family Art Event is not to be missed! This day-long festival celebrates our autumn exhibition Picture a Story, which brings together a collection of illustrations by author-artists whose published work covers an array of genres, from babies to teenagers.

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A vibrant exhibition that shines the spotlight on the creative and innovative world of children’s book illustration. Colourful, diverse, wry and amusing, Picture a Story brings together a collection of stunning and evocative work by published author-artists from a range of genres and styles for babies to older children. Picture a Story unlocks the creation of children’s books, empowering young people to read, write, draw and share their own stories. Selected by an expert panel following an open call, the exhibition includes the work of Loretta Schauer (The Legend of Ghastly Jack Crowheart), Bridget Marzo (You, Me and Our World; Tiz and Ott’s Big Draw), Karin Littlewood (Immi; Moonshadow), Rikin Parekh (Fly Tiger, Fly; The Worst Class in the World) and Steve Antony (Mr Panda; Rainbowsaurus, to be published January 2024). Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stores and Literacy (CWISL) is a membership organisation comprising of a dynamic group of published writers and illustrators who are passionate about creating children’s books, many award-winning in the field. CWISL run festivals and workshops to encourage a love of books, reading and illustration working with schools, libraries and other community groups. From small, local roots in South London, their reach now extends nationally through in-person and virtual events. The Picture a Story programme in partnership with Half Moon, is their first major encounter with families, schools and children in Tower Hamlets. Gallery @ Half Moon is free to visit and is open during the theatre opening hours. Beneath some of the artwork, there are chalkboards for visitors of all ages to make their own responses. You can write a message or draw a picture and leave it for others to enjoy. We also have an art cart to enable children to do their own drawings and collages. For all our exhibitions, we provide an art trail for children to complete appropriate for Artsmark and Arts Award and a series of special events and workshops for schools and community groups. So, for example, school groups visiting the theatre for a performance can arrive 45 mins before the show so the children can complete the art trail. Come and view a range of different styles, all suitable for children and young people.

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An opportunity to explore Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy’s (CWISL) stunning Gallery @ Half Moon exhibition, Picture a Story, in the company of some of the UK’s much-loved and award-winning authors and illustrators, many of whose work is on display. The event includes an industry panel event which will be particularly relevant for anyone interested in breaking into the children’s book illustration market. Speakers will be announced soon. Doors open | 6:30pm Panel discussion | 7:15pm-8:15pm This is event is one of several this season supporting the Picture a Story exhibition. Other events include an in-schools and virtual education programme and The Big Art Event series of activities on Saturday 9 December. Picture a Story: Celebrate and Investigate is hosted by Children’s Writers and Illustrators for Stories and Literacy’s (CWISL).

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