London's Pleasance Theatre Announce Christmas Season

Parents can entertain a young family of four for under £35 this Christmas with the Pleasance's selection of the very best new theatre for children aged 3 and above.

Michael Rosen, the Children's Poet Laureate (2007-9) and author of over 140 children's books will perform his wonderful show full of poems, songs and jokes including old favorites like We're Going On A Bear Hunt while Kipper Tie Theatre will premiere a new adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's favorite, The Ugly Duckling.

New titles come in the form of Bringing Down The Moon, a musical adaptation of Jonathan Emmett's book about a very ambitious mole, and the interactive and joyful The Golden Cowpat, which expresses the importance of community over greed.

Bringing Down The Moon by Peaceful Lion productions Pleasance Stage Space

4 Dec to 2 Jan (not 24, 25 Dec), Mon to Sat 11am & 1pm | £8 (£7 concs) Ages 3+

Based on the book by Jonathan Emmett and accompanied by catchy songs, this heart warming tale of aspiration, friendship, adventure (and a little mischief) finds Mole burrowing out of the ground to see the moon for the very first time. Thinking it is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen and wanting to play with it, Mole sets out to pull the moon down but soon finds out that some things are not as easy as they seem, or as close as they look!

PeacefulLion.com | @thePeacefulLion

The Ugly Duckling by Kipper Tie Theatre Main House

4-15 Dec Tues to Sun 12.30pm (Tues- Fri) & 12 & 2pm (Sat & Sun)| £8.50 (£7.50 concs) Ages 3+

From the creators of The Mole Who Knew It Was None Of His Business, Byrnes and Fowler adapt Hans Christian Andersen's tale of the unhappy duckling who grows into a beautiful swan, and discovers that true beauty always lies within. This delightful, much loved story is told in the unique Kipper Tie style, with lashings of catchy tunes, magical storytelling and a whole heap of farmyard fun! Inspired by the wonderful work of the National Deaf Children's Society, they have incorporated Sign SupportEd English into the production as an intrinsic part of the physicality of the performance. An exciting programme of education workshops and a schools involvement pack accompanies this project.

In association with New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth adapted by Bernie C Byrnes & Jim Fowler

kippertietheatre.com | @KipperTheatre

Bear Hunt and Chocolate Cake | performed by Michael Rosen Main House

18 - 23 Dec, 10.30am & 12.30am | £9 (£8 concs) Ages 3+

Michael Rosen comes to The Pleasance for a week of his all-action one-man show packed full of poems, stories, songs and jokes including old favorites like Chocolate Cake and We're Going on a Bear Hunt alongside newer ones from Even My Ears Are Smilingand Michael Rosen's Big Book of Bad Things. Plenty to join in with, full of surprises and crazy moves, children will leave the theatre with heads buzzing, with rhymes and phrases ringing in their ears, and many ideas for how to carry on reading and having fun with words and books.

Michael Rosen has been writing and performing poems and stories since 1974, visiting hundreds, if not thousands, of schools, libraries and colleges. He was the fifth Children's Laureate and makes regular appearances on radio and TV, hosting Word of Mouth on BBC Radio 4, and you can often catch him on BBC Breakfast and The Wright Stuff. He has a regular column in theGuardian, called Dear Mr Gove and he teaches Children's Literature at Birkbeck, University of London. He is a passionate advocate of reading for pleasure and founded a yearly prize for the funniest children's books of the year, The Roald Dahl Funny Prize.

Michaelrosen.co.uk

The Golden Cowpat | Tucked In Main House

26 Dec to 6th Jan 2pm & 4pm | £8.50 £7.50 concs) Ages 3+

One day Hector The Farmer discovers a mysterious golden cowpat in his field. This sets him and Betty, his naughty cow, on a quest to sell them and make a fortune! As their amazing adventure unfolds, Hector and Betty must work out how much their golden cowpats really mean to them before it is too late. Tucked In have created an fun and interactive piece of storytelling for children and adults that will express the importance of community over greed. It is told through a thrilling concoction of eccentric, high-energy storytelling and memorable folk music. This is the perfect Christmas treat, so some on down to The Farm and say hello!

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