A great experience especially for kids between 4-8 years. Based on the best-selling children's book
by Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees.
GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE 8th - 20th March, 2010 Performed by Blunderbus Theatre Company Produced by Chae Lian & Richard Harding Gardner Staged at PJ Live Arts
Gardner & Wife's first production at the newly-established PJ Live Arts theatre welcomed the return of Blunderbus Theatre Company to Malaysia. With flights sponsored by Gulf Air, GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE performed to almost 5,000 children from over 20 schools. Its success also extended to bookseller partner Roving Books selling out its entire stock of GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE storybooks & activity books during the two-week run.
Gardner & Wife presents a wild and colourful jungle shuffle and an inspiring journey of self-discovery in “Giraffes Can't Dance”, brought to life by Nottingham-based children's theatre company, BLUNDERBUS THEATRE COMPANY.
The lush and lyrical musical play is adapted from the best-selling children's book of the same name by poet Giles Andreae and illustrator Guy Parker-Rees. It is set in a serene jungle in Africa, which resounds with howls, growls, bleating, music and merry-making at the annual Jungle Dance, where animals sway to the jungle beat under auspice of the full moon.
The clumsy and shy Gerald the Giraffe, who is more accustomed to standing still and tall when grazing on leaves, is embarrassed as he tethers awkwardly towards the lively dance floor filled with waltzing warthogs and rock n' rolling rhinos. His despair, however, turns to joy when he finds starts dancing to a different beat and tune, much to everyone's surprise!
Led by artistic director of Bill Davies, BLUNDERBUS brings to life Parker-Rees' spectacular watercolour imaginations by employing magnificent hand-crafted puppets, giant multi-operator body puppets and props that are produced and designed by BLUNDERBUS. Andreae's lyrical prose, on the other hand, is interpreted with a spirited score and song that has enthralled and enraptured young audiences and families at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at BLUNDERBUS' recent sell-out tour across the UK.
Bill Davies
Claire Hills
Jeannette Longworth
Kelsey Short
02/11/2009 What's On Stage.com by Anne Morlwy-Priestman GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE (TOUR-CHELMSFORD)
Bringing a child’s illustrated story-book to life is not as simple
a task. The touring company Blunderbus
has a formula for this which does seem to work; keeping an audience of the four to seven age groups enthralled for a whole hour with only three actors is the proof + more
09/08/2009 The List by Kelly Apter WARM-HEARTED MORAL IN THE JUNGLE
Most children’s theatre companies endeavor to make their young audiences feel at home – but
Blunderbus always seem to go the extra mile. From the moment you enter the theatre, you feel
welcomed. And, as the show unfolds, the cast regularly spill out into the auditorium, allowing
children to get up-close and personal with an array of wonderful puppets + more
13/08/2009 The Stage by Brian G Cooper GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE
Blunderbus Theatre Company returns
in triumph to the fringe with a hugely
enjoyable new musical for children -
especially three to seven-year-olds -
and their families. Colourful scenery
and animal sounds create a vivid jungle
setting for Bill Davies' adaptation + more
08/2009 Three Weeks by Deborah Klayman GIRAFFES CAN'T DANCE
Join Gerald and friends as another children's favourite is given the Blunderbus treatment. This simple
moral tale about difference is told by four actor/puppeteers and an assortment of jungle creatures
through a mixture of prose, song and dance + more
02/11/2009 What's On Stage.com by Anne Morlwy-Priestman
09/08/2009 The List by Kelly Apter
13/08/2009 The Stage by Brian G Cooper
08/2009 Three Weeks by Deborah Klayman