A show for the youngest of audiences premieres in Newcastle this month. BalletLORENT's The Velveteen Rabbit (How Toys Become Real) sees a nursery full of toys come to life through the magic of music and dance. The show can be seen at the John Marley Centre, Scotswood, Newcastle from November 15-18, and will tour next year.
Based on a 101-year-old classic children's tale by Margery Williams, the story is told in two different ways, for children aged up to three, and four and over
The younger age group is invited to a gentle, immersive performance and play experience led by contemporary dancers with early years expertise. Children can at times choose to interact with the performers or watch and wonder from a comfy cushion. The show lasts for 30 minutes, followed by an opportunity to meet the cast.
For the older age group, balletLORENT offers a more traditional, though relaxed, form of storytelling through dance, costume and narration. Lasting 45 minutes, over-fours are also invited to stay behind and meet the cast after the show.
The production features a tactile retro set and props, hand-knitted by a group of ladies from across Newcastle under the guidance of fashion designer Nasir Mazhar.
The company's artistic director, Liv Lorent, said: "The Velveteen Rabbit works on two levels, speaking to both children and adults. It has strong messages of accepting differences and not getting hung up on a quest for physical perfection."
More info and tickets here