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Live at The Minack Theatre in Cornwall with Marouf Majidi
CURRENT WORK
Photos by Steve Tanner
WHITE HORSE
NEW SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT – WHITE HORSE, written & directed by Simon Harvey, based on the Michael Morpurgo novel White Horse & Other Stories
28th February – 8th March 2025
Regal Theatre Redruth
‘A summer at the edge of the world can change everything…’
For sixteen-year-old Annie Veluna, spending the summer with her estranged father, in Zennor, West Cornwall, is not ideal.
There’s nothing to do, no one to hang out with and as for phone signal…
To top it off, her Dad, Arthur, never the chattiest of men, is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders as he struggles to save his family farm from ruin.
Yes, the reality of this ‘holiday’ is far from postcard perfect.
But they say a place reveals itself through its stories, and stories is one thing Zennor has plenty of.
Whatever happened to Cherry and her Giant’s Necklace? Was Billy Tregarthen really lost at sea? And who is the mysterious loner Marney who lives in the run-down shack at the top of Zennor Hill?
As summer wears on and reality and myth blur, this ancient weather-beaten land will force Annie to make pivotal decisions which will redefine her families’ future forever.
Based on ‘The White Horse of Zennor and Other Stories’ by internationally acclaimed author Michael Morpurgo, ‘WHITE HORSE’ blends film, live music and puppetry to create a 21st Century Cornish folktale about place, family and home.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
ARTICLE LINK GUARDIAN
Suitable for adults and children aged 8+
recent
COMMOTION time at the exeter northcott
★★★★★ THE STAGE
“Powerful and passionate historical drama illuminates South West talent.
This stunning world premiere, written by Royal Shakespeare Company and Shakespeare’s Globe dramaturg Sarah Dickenson, beautifully portrays the provocative events that led to the Western Rising of 1549…
Dickenson empathetically breathes life into this piece of West Country history, carefully redefining Poundstock’s rebellion against injustice as justifiable protest. Poignantly and significantly staged in Exeter, where the protesters marched, the production is presented with sincerity by the skilled cast and creative team, all of whom have West Country connections.
It’s a statement piece full of wit and warmth, love and loss – mesmerising, thought-provoking and impassioned.
SQUASHBOX SONGS FOR EXPLORERS AT THE MINACK THEATRE
Squashbox Theatre has been creating marvellous, quirky and ingenious shows for children and adults for over 15 years. Squashbox productions are full of puppetry, storytelling, fantastic facts and comedy – but also clever, catchy, toe-tapping songs about animals, nature, science and the amazing world we live in.
Now Craig Johnson of Squashbox Theatre has teamed up with musicians extraordinaire Ben Sutcliffe and Zaid Al-Rikabi from The People’s String Foundation to bring you Songs for Explorers!
‘Songs for Explorers!' is a fun-packed concert of music from the shows of Squashbox Theatre, played on accordion, violin, guitar, trombone, harmonica, ukulele, double bass and mandolin, exploring themes as diverse as bees, trees, animals, evolution, rocks, mermaids, Greek Gods, famous scientists, planets and stars!
Artwork by Myriddin Elliot Drualas Pharo www.myriddinpharo.com
Our latest album RES PUBLICA is a live recording of our 32 piece orchestra recorded in one performance at The Hall for Cornwall in 2018. This special concert was the stepping stone for the RES PUBLICA touring show which continues to wow audiences up and down the country. Full listings available in the LIVE section.
reviews
“The People String Foundation takes you by surprise-you think…fun loving guys filled with a sense of joie de vie !But very quickly you realise they’re much more than that-they are highly skilled musicians who combine virtuosity with a passion for genuine shared event…rare. ”
Mike Shepherd Artistic Director Kneehigh Theatre Company ****
“The vocal performances are remarkable and the orchestrations are inventive, exploratory and beautifully performed. The entire piece is fresh and youthfully enthusiastic with clear production values on a classical scale. Surely these musicians and this piece are worthy of consideration for this year's Mercury prize."
Ralph McTell. ****
“One of the great wonders of the West. Stonking, earthy, organic, delicate & barn-storming.”
Charles Hazlewood, Conducter & Composer ****
civil disobedience charity ep
This release is an attempt to raise awareness of the suffering of the refugees in the Calais jungle, and inspire people to donate a minimum of £5 (or more) to Care4Calais. They are a UK based charity, providing much needed support.
"RIGHT NOW, AROUND 9000 REFUGESS FROM WAR-TORN AND POLITICALLY UNSTABLE COUNTRIES REMAIN 20 MILES FROM THE COAST OF DOVER, UK.
They are subject to appalling conditions with little access to water, food or sanitation. We have experienced great strength and kindness from the migrants in the Calais camps and have been overwhelmed with their tenacity.
But no human should be made to live like this and the conditions here are getting worse. Following the evictions the camp is severely overcrowded, our resources are stretched to their limits and we urgently need your help to continue distributing aid. Although governments do not recognise this as a humanitarian crisis, you can."
All profits from the EP will be donated each month to Care4Calais.
Theatre Work
THEATRE WORK
Theatre Work
THEATRE WORK
previous shows
With thanks to Steve Tanner
dido’s bar tour, dash arts
Conceived and Directed by Josephine Burton
Written by Hattie Naylor
Composed by Marouf Majidi with additional composition by Riku Kantola
Set and Costume Design by Bryan Woltjen
Music and Sound arranged and designed by Riku Kantola
Music Direction by Ben Sutcliffe
Movement Direction by Ayse Tashkiran
Lighting Design by Peter Small
Produced by Charlie Bunker
reviews and press
The show recieved great reviews from Cornish and national papers, The Times gave it a 4/5* and The West Briton 5/5*.
Rogue theatre
The relationship between the "Rogues" and The People's String Foundation is a strong one. Over the years the shows and music have forged an intoxicating mix of energetic, imaginative scenarios and rousing emotive anthems.
Voted in The Guardian's top 10 Christmas walks, this year's Winter Wood show returns for another December in the enchanted Tehidy Woods. It is sure to be yet another inspiring collaboration between our two projects.
stiltskin children’s theatre
Having completed a successful run of winter shows with the award winning Stiltskin Theatre, here is a little trailer for the open air extravaganza that was … QUEST FOR THE ICE DRAGON!
And here is a track from the latest Christmas show, THE MAGIC LANTERN AND THE STORY THIEF
Res Publica live
Res Publica live
The People’s String Foundation live touring audio/visual show RES PUBLICA returns this autumn with new dates and the NEW ALBUM on sale at all shows. With live music, footage from the orchestral show and a beautiful puppetry narrative.
The Gypsy Orchestra Live
The Gypsy Orchestra Live
A clip of the people's string foundation orchestra playing to a full house at the hall for cornwall 2018
The Gypsy Orchestra Live
The Gypsy Orchestra Live
A clip of the people's string foundation orchestra playing to a full house at the hall for cornwall 2018