Melvin Burgess

Square Chapel Centre for the Arts

Wednesday 1 July - 7.30pm

Tickets: £7, Concessions & Under 20s £5

Famously controversial and with a reputation for dealing with hard-hitting themes, Melvin Burgess is justly known as the Godfather of young adult fiction. His first book, The Cry of the Wolf, was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal which he later won with his controversial book Junk establishing him as one of the top ten Carnegie winners of all time.  A unique opportunity to hear from Melvin about his writing, ask your questions and you might even get your book signed!

Suitable for age 13+

Click here for online ticket sales

Full of Sound & Fury - Dreamscape Theatre

Ted Hughes Theatre, Calder High

Friday 3 July - 8.00pm

Tickets: £Pay what you think!

In this UK premiere, Dreamscape Theatre brings you a new dark comedy by Roman de Fruscan.  What do actors really think of each other? What happens when a group of highly talented, highly motivated - and highly strung actors get together in a production of Macbeth?

Using original music and photography, and combining the best known parts of Shakespeare’s text with fast-paced modern dialogue, Full of Sound and Fury explores the many superstitions connected with Macbeth and the theatre, and uncovers the real world of the professional actor.

Suitable for ages 12+

NB: The show contains one photographic image of nudity.

Please Note: Tickets for this performance are available from Hebden Bridge Arts Festival: call 01422 842684 or visit the website.

Flyaway Katie - Long Nose Puppets

Little Theatre, Hebden Bridge

Saturday 4 July - 11.00am & 3.00pm

Tickets: £6, Concessions & Under17s £4

Following last year’s sell-out performances of Shoe Baby, we are delighted to welcome back Long Nose Puppets with Flyaway Katie, based on the book by Polly Dunbar.  The show is an inspiring flight of fancy about the power of imagination. Katie is all alone and feeling grey. The birds in the picture on her wall look so colourful - if only Katie could be as bright as them, who knows what might happen?

Aimed at the youngest members of the family (children aged  2 – 7), the performance of 30 minutes will be followed by an opportunity to meet the puppets!

Please Note: Tickets for this performance are available from Hebden Bridge Arts Festival: call 01422 842684 or visit the website.

The Frog Princess - Wild Wood Theatre

Square Chapel Centre for the Arts

Sunday 5 July - 2.30pm

Tickets: £9, Concessions £7, Under 20s £5

Ivan’s world is turned upside down when he is forced to marry a frog! His older brothers tease and taunt him until he can bear it no more. One night Ivan discovers that his frog fiancée is actually a beautiful princess in the grip of a terrible spell. In trying to save her he makes matters worse and she is banished to the very edge of the earth. Ivan is forced to undertake a perilous journey of self-discovery to win back his heart’s truest love. Based on an enchanting Russian folktale, Wild Wood Theatre’s earthy and off-the-wall style utilizes storytelling, puppetry and vibrant live Eastern European gypsy music to present this passionate and heart-warming story.

Click here for online ticket sales

As You Like It - Heartbreak Productions

Manor Heath Park

Sunday 5 July - 7.30pm

Tickets: £10, Concessions £8, Under 20s £5

Heartbreak Productions invite you to join them on a psychedelic trip through the Forest of Arden; a most enchanting place to be, a place where characters are free to talk, where they can escape from the extremely oppressive world of the Court and find their own path to enduring happiness. Dig out your threads, get in the groove and step back in time – specifically to the 1960s when life was mellow, things were cool and love was free. This is a unique take on one of Shakespeare's wittiest and best-known comedies, As You Like It is humour, wordplay, entangled love affairs, melancholy and optimism all set in a charming, pastoral environment – bring your picnics, chairs and waterproofs for an evening of outdoor theatre at its finest!

Click here for online ticket sales

Music, Dance & Drama - Calder High School

Square Chapel Centre for the Arts

Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 July - 7.30pm

Tickets: £4, Under 20s £2

Consistently imaginative and high quality, Calder High school return with an eclectic and exciting mix of music, dance and drama performances.

The July Project Drama Showcase

The Victoria Theatre

Tuesday 7 July - 7.30pm

Tickets: £4, Under 20s £2

Watch the local up and coming talent as Ravenscliffe School & Ryburn Valley High School, Halifax High School and Fun fACTOR Youth Drama Group showcase their talent at the Victoria Theatre.

Out of His Mind! - with Ian Billings

Square Chapel Centre for the Arts

Friday 10 July - 7.30pm

Tickets: £9, Concessions £7, Under 20s £5

Stand-up comedy for kids (and their keepers!) Out of his Mind! is a unique and engaging stand-up comedy show for kids that skilfully taps into the humour of the audience; often a hard one to please! This is a fun-filled hour for the whole family that comes highly recommended by children (and parents) from around the country!

Ian Billings is a brilliant children’s performer who has 20 years of touring, writing and performing comedy workshops to schools and theatres across the UK and Europe under his belt.  As well as this he has also written five books, numerous stage plays and CBBC’s ChuckleVision.  With this jam-packed CV he currently stands as one of the UK’s most sought after educationalists and children’s entertainers.

Gargling with Jelly - with Brian Patten

Square Chapel Centre for the Arts

Saturday 11 July - 2.00pm

Tickets: £9, Concessions £7, Under 20s £5

Brian Patten, author of children’s cult classics Gargling with Jelly, Thawing Frozen Frogs and Juggling With Gerbils will bring his infamous collection of hilarious, lyrical and outrageous poems to life in this hour long extravaganza of verse and worse.

See the Invisible Man’s invisible dog! Turn the family unit into jelly! Fly off with your mother’s ear-wings! Suitable for 7-11 year olds and their unruly parents! Book signing after the show.

Brian will also launch the Ted Hughes Young Poet’s Award 2009 in association with The Elmet Trust.  Click here for more information.

Click here for online ticket sales

Experiences from Terezin - Calderdale Theatre School

Square Chapel Centre for the Arts

Saturday 11 July - 7.00pm

Tickets: £4, Under 20s £2

Following their recent visit to Prague and Terezin, Calderdale Theatre School present an evening based on their experiences and reflections. A range of images explore the history and culture of Prague and the sombre atmosphere of Terezin, a former Habsburg garrison town converted into a concentration camp in the second World War. The visual display will be complemented by a ‘living exhibition’ of performances and monologues developed by the twelve young people who attended the International Theatre festival in Terezin.

Image: Steph Varley

Little Leap Forward - Horse + Bamboo

Square Chapel Centre for the Arts

Sunday 12 July - 2.30pm

Tickets: £9, Concessions £7, Under 20s £5

Set in the summer of 1966 as Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution intensifies, Little Leap Forward is the story of Guo Yue’s childhood in Beijing with his mother, brother, and four older sisters. Much of his life is taken up with running family errands and going to school, but whenever he can he follows his twin loves of playing the flute and flying kites. With his best friend, he captures a small yellow bird which he keeps in a cage, hoping she will accompany his flute playing. By the end of the story Little Leap Forward’s mother has been arrested, his friends are forced out of the city, and he learns that the bird must be free if it is to sing.

Directed by Alison Duddle, with set design by Bob Frith, the story incorporates mask, puppetry, shadows and animation with original music by Loz Kaye. The music also includes the distinctive flute playing of Guo Yue (recorded).

Little Leap Forward is Horse + Bamboo’s second show for family audiences following the success of the award-winning In The Shadow of Trees and has been developed as a creative partnership with Barefoot Books Ltd and The Studio, Royal Exchange Theatre. It is based on the original story Little Leap Forward, text copyright © 2008 co-written by Guo Yue and Clare Farrow, published by Barefoot Books.
 

Click here for online ticket sales

Sins of the Father - Grim North Theatre

Square Chapel Centre for the Arts

Sunday 12 July - 7.30pm

Tickets: £4, Under 20s £2