Moon shine down
Jabuti tour bilingual Marie-Louise Gay adaptation
Edinburgh-based children’s theatre company Jabuti Theatre has adapted the dreamlike children’s picture book Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear for bilingual Gaelic and English performances.
Led by artistic director Rachael Macintyre, the company sets out on a Scottish tour this week, starting with two performances at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Friday April 1, 2016, as part of the Puppet Animation Festival.
Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear. Photo: Daniel Lacasta Fitzsimmons
Originally written in both French and English by the Canadian author-illustrator Marie-Louise Gay, the company say the book lent itself to bilingual translation to the stage.
Directed by Symon Macintyre of co-producers Vision Mechanics, the cast of two bringing Gay’s illustrations to life for a target audience of three to five year-olds using puppets by Kim Bergsagel and live music written by Nik Paget-Tomlinson and Niroshini Thambar.
It is a simple and compelling story about two children and their adventures of the imagination. It sets off in the middle of the night when Rosie, Toby Toby, the cat and the mouse sneak out to play in the shadow of the apple tree.
When Toby Toby steals the moon from the sky they go on an adventure across the stars and the sea. But is it all just a dream?
Rachael Macintyre began exploring language in her first children’s show, My City, with Spanish and Gaelic. She says that if “felt natural” to continue this by translating Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear into Scottish Gaelic as well.
powerful visuals
“The book is something I enjoyed in my childhood and it was as I was reading it to my daughter I realised how brilliant it would be brought to life,” she says. “The few words and powerful visuals lend themselves perfectly to a show for young children.
“Marie-Louise Gay began an imaginative, surreal dream-like story with her unique and beautiful illustrations and I was really keen to transform and expand on that dream through play, puppetry, movement and music.”
She will be joined on stage by Jusztina Hermann and the show will be lit by award-winning lighting designer Simon Wilkinson.
Puppet Animation Scotland added: “Theatre for children can be the most exciting and innovative work on tour in Scotland – we are delighted to see that in Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear, Jabuti Theatre has created a show that can be performed in Gaelic and English.
“Moonbeam has such a wide reaching tour also, going to the Borders, Highlands, Islands and Central Belt. It is important to offer all children, no matter where they are situated in the country, the opportunity to engage with quality theatre.”
Listing
Moonbeam on a Cat’s Ear
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR Box Office: 0131 556 9579
Friday 1 April 2016
Two shows: 11am, 2pm (running time: 45 minutes).
Tickets and details: http://www.tracscotland.org/scottish-storytelling-centre/centre-events/4580/moonbeam-on-a-cats-ear
Jabuti Theatre website: www.jabutitheatre.com
Purchase the original book from Amazon (click on image for link).
Public venues tour
Saturday 2nd April, 2pm – Falkirk Town Hall, Falkirk
Wednesday 6th April, 2.30pm – Rutherglen Town Hall, Rutherglen
Friday 8th April, 2pm – Birnam Arts Centre, Dunkeld, Perthshire
Saturday 9th April, 2.30pm – Eastgate Theatre, Peebles
ENDS
