The Amazing Thing by Lempen Puppet Theatre Sun 28 Feb 11am

The brothers threw the box into the sea, and now that something, that rogue and wild element of story, has returned with the tide. Peter opens the box and sets free the “amazing thing” to add it’s influence to the sea of stories, as he weaves his way through a medley of well known Brother’s Grimm tales,

This show explores the unleashing of imagination through storytelling, based on some well-known Grimm classics. Starting with something familiar can be beneficial, allowing for a journey into the unexpected. Introducing a surprising or unconventional element that can invigorate the imagination, offering a fresh perspective and dramatic tension to a familiar story. A truly original story told with puppets, acting and live music. Fun, inspiration and delight for all the family.

“Its excellence lies squarely on the shoulders of its only performer, Daniel Lempen, whose skill and delicacy at navigating the plot of the production, as well as playing instruments, singing and manipulating the puppets is truly impressive.” Lee Callaway, Bristol Evening Post (Bristol Festival of Puppetry)

“A really, really good show – the writing was excellent. The performance was incredibly skillful and energetic. Charismatic and engaging.” Audience: Beverley Puppet Festival

“Lempen Puppet Theatre Co. - EXCELLENT in every way!” Hockwold Village Hall, Norfolk Rural Touring

“The solo performer, in a remarkable tour-de-force, sings and plays harmonica and banjo, provides all the puppet voices, manipulates a variety of glove and

rod puppets and moves around the boxes that operate as his playboards.” Buxton Puppet Festival, by Matthew Isaac Cohen

A LITTLE HISTORY

The Brothers Grim, born in 1785 in Germany, Jakob Grimm and his younger brother Wilhelm are famous for their collections of folk/fairy tales. The brothers did not invent these stories, but collected them by travelling around the countryside and listening to village storytellers.

These old stories would have never been written down before, but passed from one teller to the next in the aural tradition. The brothers came across many variations of the same stories on their travels, that must have reflected the memories, personalities and imaginations of the tellers. Then they wrote down the tales and had to choose what they felt were the best, most definitive versions. What they wrote is now knows as “The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm” and contains more than 200 stories.

Among their most famous stories that many a puppeteer have told are : Snow White, The Frog Prince Rumpelstiltskin, The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids, Cinderella, The Fisherman and his Wife, The Brave Little Taylor, Little Red Cap (Little Red Riding Hood), Sleeping Beauty, The Bremen Town Musicians, Tom Thumb, Hansel and Grethel.

Lempen Puppet Theatre Company tour their own unique brand of original stories told with puppets. Imaginative, spellbinding, surprising and sometimes bonkers, Lempen focus on puppetry, storytelling, light, music and a journey that takes the audience there and back again. We are inspired to make theatre by Myth and Folklore, crazy characters, what makes us laugh and what we care about. We aim to produce quality productions for family audiences that connect the real world to the world of imagination. Based in North Yorkshire, but touring nationally and internationally Liz and Daniel Lempen are also the Artistic Directors for Skipton International Puppet Festival. They tour all over the UK, and have appeared at festivals, theatres and schools in Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Greece, Romania, Finland, Belgium, France, Denmark, Czech Republic and Taiwan.

Also Craft Activity Colour-in and Cut-Out Puppets and Masks in our cafe from one hour before and after the show.  Lots of designs to choose from, spider, mouse, dinosaurs, dragons, rabbits, mermaids... all materials provided, kits £3.00 each or 2 for £5.50, 4 for £10.00.