The Old Town Hall is proud to present a captivating new co-production with iconic North London puppetry theatre, Little Angel. An original show for children made especially for ages 3 and up.

It’s Christmas Eve, and tiny puppy Scruff can’t sleep. He whines and worries – how can a little dog like him find a totally pawsome present for his owner? He hasn’t got a clue about shopping and wrapping – HOW will he get the gift under the tree in time for Christmas morning?! Maybe YOU can help him?

Join Scruff on a tail-wagging adventure filled with magical puppetry, hilarious characters, and lots of giggles! The highly acclaimed Little Angel Theatre has teamed up with The Old Town Hall to present this brand-new, interactive, and heartwarming show that’s pawfect for the whole family.

Babies 18 months and under may be admitted with a Babes in Arms ticket available from the Box Office on the day of the event. Children older than 18 months will require a ticket and seat.

A meet and greet with Scruff will take place at the end of each show, where you can take photos and videos if you wish. Please tag us on social media, using the links at the bottom of this page. Whilst we endeavour to allow everyone a photo opportunity with Scruff, we regret that there may be some instances where this is not possible due to time constraints.

ACCESS PERFORMANCE

The performance on Friday 13th December at 11am will be a RELAXED PERFORMANCE. A free familiarisation tour (the opportunity to acquaint yourself with the building, its facilities, the auditorium, and the foyer), can be made available, please contact us if this would be of benefit to you.

Relaxed Performances are for anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed performance environment, including people with an autistic spectrum condition, sensory or communication disorders, or a learning disability. It can also be a more welcoming environment for those who need to use the bathroom frequently or who have specific medical needs to attend to.

During a Relaxed Performance, the house lights will stay on during the show. There is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement and some small changes are made to light and sound effects. An easy way to understand the atmosphere is, perhaps, the opposite of the “quiet carriage” on a train.

There is a Visual Story for the show to prepare the audience for what to expect, detailing characters and plot line as a photo story. It acts as a spoiler alert and warns people of any surprises.

There is an “open door” policy which allows audience to exit and reenter the auditorium when they need to. For anyone overwhelmed during the performance, a "chill out" area will be provided in our gallery café. The performers, company and venue receive awareness training/briefings about Relaxed Performances so are prepared for the event and are ready to welcome you to the performance.

A visual story is provided for those who may benefit from familarising themselves with the show, surroundings, and situation. Please note that this contains spoilers about the show!

About Little Angel Theatre:

Little Angel Theatre (LAT) has used puppetry to create and share inspiring stories since opening its doors in 1961; igniting the imaginations of the youngest minds. The theatre’s success has been built upon a spirit of artistic innovation. They are committed to pushing the boundaries of what puppetry can be, whilst preserving its heritage.

Not only do they produce their own shows for children and young people, which play in-house and tour nationally and internationally, they also welcome puppetry companies from around the UK and overseas to perform on their stages. Alongside the work on stage, the creative learning department delivers imaginative education and participatory activities in their venues, in schools and in community settings.

LAT aims to fuel the imagination through the magic and wonder of puppetry. They do this on stage, on screen, in schools, in the community and through training and professional development

OUR PERFORMER:

MARK ESAIAS

Mark trained at Bretton Hall. His theatre credits include: Dogs Don't Do Ballet (Little Angel Theatre), Jack and the Beanstalk (Norwich Puppet Theatre), Clementine’s Christmas Special (Crazy Coqs residency), Three Colours (Norwich Puppet Theatre/Polka Theatre), The Smartest Giant in Town (UK Tour), Twirlywoos LIVE (UK Tour), In the Night Garden LIVE (UK Tour).

THE CREATIVES

Writer: Charlotte Irwin

Co-Directors: Charlotte Irwin and Alice Bravery

Set, Puppet and Costume Designer: Daniel Southwell

Lighting Designer: Sherry Coenen

Composer: Zara Nunn

Stage Manager: Rosie Bowers