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| The Angel of New York calls
on Mouse Queen |
Three years ago it was threatened with closure,
now the Angel Puppet Theatre is off to the Big Apple, writes Peter
Gruner
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Puppet Bernie King, the chef, and Leonard the Lion played
by Tom Kane in a recent production of the Mouse Queen
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It’s already got the makings of a wonderful children’s
story; a little puppetry theatre hidden away in backstreet Islington,
continually faced with closure, is invited to send a show to New
York where its creative artists become the toast of Broadway.
The reality, of course, is that it is all set to happen. The extraordinary
appeal of The Little Angel Theatre is finally being recognised,
because for the first time its artists will perform at New York’s
famous New Victory children’s theatre in October this year.
Remarkably, only three years ago the theatre was forced to close
down for six months after the death of a financial benefactor, and
Islington Council’s removal of a £30,000 annual grant.
That would have been the end of the former Victorian temperance
hall theatre had it not been for the love in the community and,
more importantly, the offers of hard cash.
The Little Angel finally re-opened and went from strength to strength
with hit productions last year of Jabberwocky, based on the Lewis
Carroll nonsense poem, a sell out for two months, and Handa’s
Surprise, the musical adventures of a little girl visiting a friend
in Kenya.
But the offer to perform in Manhattan is the theatrical icing on
the cake. A team of puppeteers will perform the popular musical
The Mouse Queen at the 500-seat New Victory on 42nd Street for two
weeks from October 13.
The Mouse Queen is a story of a little mouse that meets a big, bad
lion and proves every bit a match for him. Stage magazine described
it a “rip-roaring” show for families when it was performed
last Christmas, with raucous audience participation and corny jokes.
The invitation to New York came five months after Mouse Queen writer
Tim Kane visited the New Victory leaving a cassette of the songs
and a small sequence of the show on DVD.
The commissioning producers were sufficiently interested to ask
The Little Angel to send over the complete show for their scrutiny.
Then, in February theatre manager Charlotte Bond got the call from
the States that they wanted the show. “I was absolutely thrilled,”
she said.
“I even interrupted the rehearsals – something you should
never do – to break the news. Everyone was delighted.”
The theatre won’t earn much from the experience after the airfare
and accommodation for the team of 13.
“But there is the kudos of having performed in the US at one
of New York’s most popular children’s theatres,”
she said. Meanwhile, back at the theatre’s base in Dagmar Passage,
behind St Mary’s Church, Upper Street, they are preparing Roald
Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox, which opens on October 2. Dahl’s
tale of wit and determination is brought to life with enchanting
music and is expected to a big success.
But life is by no means secure at The Little Angel, which has entertained
generations of children, who return with their children and sometimes
even as grandparents.
Britain’s oldest puppetry theatre is by no means financially
secure; its existence is dependent on the whims of the Arts Council
who fund each puppet show separately.
The theatre, was founded 40 years ago by enthusiasts John and Lyndie
Wright.
In 2002 it looked as if the 100-seat theatre would be forced to
close down due to the sudden withdrawal of funds. Artistic director
Steven Tiplady said the theatre was currently out of the doldrums
but it could be hit by a new crisis at any time.
“We rely on the Arts Council supporting each of our shows independently,”
he said. “But there is no guarantee, and if they don’t
like a project they won’t fund it.”
The Little Angel is the first theatrical experience for thousands
of very young children.
“It’s a valuable antidote to the TV and computer game
culture,” Mr Tiplady added.
“Puppetry stimulates children into using their imaginations,
participating in storytelling, and interacting with others their
own age.”
• The Fantastic Mr Fox September 2 to November 13. Tickets
£4 all weekdays; weekends adults £8.50 and children
£6; pay what you can performances some Thursdays and Fridays
at 4.30pm. 0207 226 1787. |
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