tutti frutti productions and York Theatre Royal present
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
by Mike Kenny
For children aged 3+ and their families
Winter is coming, the trees are bare, the birds fly south, and the sheep are flocking, seeking shelter from the wind.
As the falling snow flurries to the ground wolf footprints can be seen padded into the hard ground…….
But standing on the hill top a boy is watching his sheep.
He is bored, seeking adventure, and looking for the next best thing!
A boy tasked to keep his community safe but with a vivid imagination.
A boy who makes up stories and craves the thrill of the unknown
A boy who, unthinkingly, unknowingly…………. Cried WOLF!
A beautiful new wintery tale about a boy, unable to find delight in what is around him and instead seeks adventure, excitement and the thrill of the unknown! Inspired by the famous Aesop fable this wonderful play has a gifted ensemble of actor musicians who play the delightful characters, funny sheep and perhaps a scary wolf or two……
Writer – Mike Kenny
Composer – Dominic Sales
Movement – TC Howard
Design – Kelly Jago
Video
Reviews & Quotes
Tour Dates
Date & Time | Venue | Address |
---|---|---|
26th Sep 2013 - 12 October 2013 |
York Theatre Royal, Studio Theatre |
St Leonard's Pl, York YO1 7HD To book tickets: 01904 623 568 www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk Visiting family information is here. |
13th Oct 2013 1.30; 4.00 |
Ilkley Literature Festival |
To book tickets: 01943 816714 www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk |
16th Oct 2013 10.30; 1.30 |
Shine |
Closed schools performance |
17th Oct 2013 10.30; 1.40 |
Harewood Infant School, Tuffley |
Closed performance for the school. |
18th Oct 2013 11.00; 1.00 |
Lyric Hammersmith |
Lyric Square, King Street, London, W6 0QL To book tickets: 020 8741 6850 www.lyric.co.uk |
19th Oct 2013 11.00; 1.00 |
Lyric Hammersmith |
Lyric Square, King Street, London, W6 0QL To book tickets: 020 8741 6850 www.lyric.co.uk |
20th Oct 2013 11.00; 2.30 |
Wolds Words Festival |
The Riverhead Theatre, Victoria Road, Louth, LN11 0BX To book tickets: 01507 600350 www.woldswords.org.uk |
26th Oct 2013 2.00 |
Junction |
Paradise Place, Goole, DN14 5DL To book tickets: 01405 763652 www.junctiongoole.co.uk |
27th Oct 2013 2.00 |
Customs House |
Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1ES To book tickets: 0191 454 1234 www.customshouse.co.uk |
29th Oct 2013 11.30; 2.30 |
Arc |
Dovecot Street, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1LL
To book tickets: 01642 525199
www.arconline.co.uk |
31st Oct 2013 |
Burnley Youth Theatre |
Queens Park Road, Burnley, BB10 3LB To book tickets: 01282 458655 www.burnleyyouththeatre.com |
2nd Nov 2013 11.00; 1.30 |
The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre |
Manchester Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 9JG To book tickets: 0161 282 9776 www.edgetheatre.co.uk |
3rd Nov 2013 2.00 |
The Atkinson |
Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB To book tickets: 01704 533333 www.theatkinson.co.uk Visiting family information is here. |
6th Nov 2013 11.00; 1.30 |
The Forum |
Bullamoor Road, Northallerton, DL6 1LP To book tickets:01609 776230 www.forumnorthallerton.org.uk |
7th Nov 2013 10.30; 1.30 |
Arts Centre Washington |
Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington, NE38 8AB To book tickets: 0191 219 3455 www.artscentrewashington.co.uk |
9th Nov 2013 11.30; 2.00 |
Birmingham Repertory Theatre |
Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP To book tickets: 0121 236 4455 www.birmingham-rep.co.uk |
10th Nov 2013 11.30; 2.30 |
Cambridge Junction |
Clifton Way, Cambridge, CB1 7GX To book tickets: 01223 511511 www.junction.co.uk
|
19th Nov 2013 1.00; 4.00 |
Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre |
Northern Ballet, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7PA To book tickets: 0113 220 8008 www.theatreleeds.com |
20th Nov 2013 10.30; 1.30 |
Square Chapel |
10 Square Road, Halifax, HX1 1QG To book tickets: 01422 349422 www.squarechapel.co.uk Visiting family information is here. |
23rd Nov 2013 11.00; 2.00 |
Half Moon |
43 White Horse Road, London, E1 0ND To book tickets: 020 7709 8900 www.halfmoon.org.uk |
24th Nov 2013 1.30; 3.00 |
Pavilion Dance |
Overlooking Lower Gardens, Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BU To book tickets: 01202 203630 www.paviliondance.org.uk |
25th Nov 2013 - 28th Nov 2013 |
North East Lincolnshire Schools |
Closed performances for Schools in Grimsby |
30th Nov 2013 11.00; 2.00 |
Lawrence Batley Theatre (lbt) |
Queen's Square, Queen Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2SP To book tickets: 01484 430528 www.lawrencebatleytheatre.co.uk |
2nd Dec 2013 12:30 |
Siamsa Tire Theatre |
Town Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland To book tickets: 00 353 66 7123055 www.siamsatire.com |
3rd Dec 2013 10.00 |
Siamsa Tire Theatre |
Town Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland To book tickets: 00 353 66 7123055 www.siamsatire.com |
3rd Dec 2013 12.00 |
Siamsa Tire Theatre |
Town Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland To book tickets: 00 353 66 7123055 www.siamsatire.com |
4th Dec 2013 10.00 |
Siamsa Tire Theatre |
Town Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland To book tickets: 00 353 66 7123055 www.siamsatire.com |
5th Dec 2013 12.00 |
Siamsa Tire Theatre |
Town Park, Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland To book tickets: 00 353 66 7123055 www.siamsatire.com |
7th Dec 2013 11.00; 2.00 |
Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre |
Raby Road, Hartlepool, TS24 8AY To book tickets: 01429 890 000 |
10th Dec 2013 - 04th Jan 2014, 11.00; 1.30 |
Sheffield Theatres Crucible Studio |
Sheffield Theatres, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA To book tickets: 0114 249 6000 www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk |
23rd Jan 2014 - 9 Feb 2014 |
KidsFest |
Touring to Hong Kong and Singapore www.kidsfest.com.hk www.kidsfest.com.sg |
Creative Team

Dominic Sales
Dom loves writing music, playing music, recording music and listening to music. As a boy he was a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral, singing everyday for five years and sometimes making records and being on the TV. Later he went on to play lots of jazz and was a finalist in The Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Musician of the Year. Then Dom went to university to learn more about music and since then has been lucky enough to be able to pay the bills just by doing something musical. He has written music for lots of different people -from Atomic Kitten to Opera North and the BBC to a feature film starring John Rhys-Davies. His music has been played on national television and radio and in theatres throughout Europe. Dom is Director/Producer for the record label Jellymould Jazz and also plays the triangle.
www.dominicsales.co.uk
Kelly Jago
Kelly Jago is a Bristol based freelance theatre designer and maker. She loves to design worlds that hold many secrets, slowly revealed as the story unfolds. Kelly has designed sets, costumes and props for a varied range of productions, particularly enjoying working on theatre for young audiences, new writing and devised theatre.
Her recent designs credits include Over worlds and Underworlds with Leeds Canvas, Bittersweet Sunshine with Red Grit, Promised Land with Red Ladder, The Edge of the Unknown with A Quiet Word, Looking for the Rainbow with Big Window Theatre Company, Brassed Off, Under Milk Wood and Not Much Matches Mansfield at the Mansfield Palace, Terror Season at the Southwark Playhouse and Pericles at York Theatre Royal.Kelly co-founded a new theatre company called 'Gin & Swing'. Their first devised show Take Cover! had its debut performed as a walk about piece at The Secret Garden Party Festival 2013. Gin & Swing's work combines puppetry, swing dance and theatre to tell the stories of characters from the 1920's, 30's and 40s.

Mike Kenny
Mike Kenny is one of England’s leading writers specialising in young people’s theatre. He was included in the Independent on Sunday’s list of Top Ten Living Playwrights and his plays are performed regularly throughout the UK and all over the world. His Olivier Award-winning adaptation of THE RAILWAY CHILDREN for York Theatre Royal, has had several successful revivals at Waterloo and Kings Cross stations, as well as at the National Railway Museum. In Canada it won the People’s Choice Award following its record-breaking run in Toronto. Mike won the 2015 Writers Guild Award for Best Play for Younger Audiences with THREE WISE MONKEYS and the DeutscherKindertheaterpreis in 2012 with ELECTRIC DARKNESS. In July 2013, Mike was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Nottingham for his work in theatre for young people.
Mike’s recent productions include Batley Variations, a community opera for Batley, and Random Selfies for Ovalhouse, London (Nominated for an Off West End Award) His play The Vulture Song was a co production between Blah Blah Blah in Leeds and Yellowcat, in Delhi. Last Year he wrote This is Not For You, working with Graeae and Forces Veterans on a large outdoor piece inspired by the disabled of the First World War. This was a 14-18-Now commission.

TC Howard
TC Howard has worked as a performer, choreographer, movement director and educationalist throughout her career. She has danced and taught with many companies including V-Tol, Ludus Dance Company, Northern Broadsides, Vincent Dance Theatre and Gary Clarke.
Her work with The David Glass Ensemble took her to countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia and The Philippines to perform and work alongside street children and local artists. She continues to research work with children using a multiple intelligence approach to learning and also works with a wide range of mixed abilities and ages.
TC has choreographed for theatre productions in Bolton Octagon, Manchester Royal Exchange, The Dukes Playhouse and with Red Ladder, Opera Circus and Horse and Bamboo. She also creates dance for site specific and installations works in non traditional venues.
TC has previously worked with Tutti Frutti on Rapunzel and The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Wendy Harris
Artistic Director, Chair of TYA/PYA England
I have held the position of Artistic Director at tutti frutti since 2005 and have directed all but one production in partnership with York Theatre Royal, touring nationally and internationally and co-producing the Little Feet Festival of Children’s Theatre and the First Words writers’ development programme
Before working with tutti frutti I was Artistic Director of Red Ladder Theatre Company, and previous to this; Merseyside Young People’s Theatre Company in Liverpool. Over the years as a freelance director work has included; Everyman Theatre Liverpool, Crucible Theatre Sheffield, Hope Street Ltd, Oxford Stage Company, Unity Theatre Liverpool, European Stage Company, Theatre Royal Stratford East, and Contact Theatre Manchester. I currently live in Leeds with my partner Mark and two sons Louie and Eliot.
Touring Team

"At first I thought that it would be a difficult tale to tell and keep the children engaged, but how wrong I was. The theatre was fairly full of school children, who within minutes were roaring with laughter at the woolly-hatted sheep wriggling their bottoms and at just 55 minutes long – the time flew by." whatsgoodtodo.com
http://www.whatsgoodtodo.com/pages/view/the_boy_who_cried_wolf_at_the_crucible_theatre_review"As an introduction to theatre it can’t be bettered. It’s beautifully paced, performed with a sincerity that doesn’t patronise." Yorkshire Post
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/yorkshire-living/arts/theatre/review-the-boy-who-cried-wolf-sheffield-crucible-studio-1-6349539"The cast of three, Mathew Hamper, Sally Ann Staunton and Thomas Bennett, tell the story beautifully, drawing their audience into the little world that they create so cleverly."
http://www.thestar.co.uk/what-s-on/theatre/review-the-boy-who-cried-wolf-crucible-studio-1-6328034"Clickety-click go the knitting needles – and they're not just knitting jumpers but also stories in Tutti Frutti's low key but charming and wintry take on Aesop's famous fable." The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/dec/19/boy-who-cried-wolf-crucible-review“The show features the local community of knitters, who are very comical, and also storytellers. We also have some funny sheep as well." The Star
http://www.thestar.co.uk/what-s-on/theatre/healthy-living-a-scene-from-the-boy-who-cried-wolf-1-6296542"…perfomed by a gifted ensemble of actor musicians who play the delightful characters, funny sheep and perhaps a scary wolf or two…" Sheffield Telegraph
http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/what-s-on/a-wintry-fairytale-1-6297989"The three actors bring the tale to life convincingly, and Thomas Edward-Bennett, playing the Grandfather, won the hearts of the audience without milking his comic opportunities. Music, both live and recorded is used skillfully to create atmosphere, and imbue energy, with all three performers ably contributing."
http://www.thepublicreviews.com/the-boy-who-cried-wolf-crucible-lyceum-studio-sheffield/"Traditional stories for children – with a modern twist" Yorkshire Post
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/yorkshire-living/arts/theatre/traditional-stories-for-children-with-a-modern-twist-1-6314518The three cast members performed the key roles of Silas, his mother and grandfather very well but for me, the sheep stole the show! Sporting woolly hats and a cheeky wiggle, they conveyed an apathy to Silas’ sheep-herding efforts and a strong dislike of the cold. Pickledegg.info
http://www.pickledegg.info/category/kids_and_teens/Mike Kenny and Tutti Frutti's retelling of the classic fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, is a delicate and, at times, poetic production. whatsonstage.com
http://www.whatsonstage.com/york-theatre/reviews/10-2013/the-boy-who-cried-wolf-york_32372.html"It was a performance characterised by generosity and energy, and let’s hope winter, when it comes, is to be just as woolly, snuggly, snowy and sparkly." Digyorkshire.com
http://www.digyorkshire.com/HighlightDetails.aspx?Article=1814&utm_source=bulletin&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=211#.UlZqrlDrz_s"tutti frutti Productions director Wendy Harris aided by Kenny’s take on the story, offers a magical world full of sheep, knitting and wolfish behaviour where the audience’s imagination can run riot…." The Northern Echo
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/leisure/theatre/10721460.The_Boy_Who_Cried_Wolf__York_Theatre_Royal_Studio/"It was enchanting, uplifting and could melt the heart of any children's theatre cynic. Definitely recommended." yorkshiretimes.co.uk
http://yorkshiretimes.co.uk//article/Theatre-Review-The-Boy-Who-Cried-Wolf"The younger children in the audience were transfixed, and there is much for us older ones to chuckle at as well." British Theatre Guide
http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/the-boy-who-cri-york-theatre-ro-9462"All in all, a great experience to share with your children!" oneanother.com
http://www.oneandother.com/articles/review-the-boy-who-cried-wolf/Leeds List Meets….Wendy Harris Leeds-List.com
http://leeds-list.com/leeds-list-meets-wendy-harris/"Kenny’s curmudgeonly sheep, constantly bumping into each other, are a particular hit and their bleating dialogue adds to the fun provided by a cast that knits together so well." Yorkpress.co.uk
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/theatre/10709031.Review__The_Boy_Who_Cried_Wolf__York_Theatre_Royal_Studio/“The play takes place over three winters and over the course of that time the boy grows up. He’s never a bad boy, but he’s not one to shoulder responsibility at the start…. he has to find his inner wolf and face the wolf down" Mike Kenny talks to Yorkpress.co.uk
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/theatre/10700434.The_Boy_Who_Cried_Wolf__York_Theatre_Royal_Studio_until_October_12/"I’m not interested in telling moral stories to children" Wendy Harris talks to Yorkmix.com
http://www.yorkmix.com/things-to-do/theatre/im-not-interested-in-telling-moral-stories-to-children-2/"My modern take on Aesop's fable" Mike Kenny talks to Hull Daily Mail
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/modern-Aesop-s-fable/story-19801679-detail/story.html#axzz2fpM4ZkTl"A Little Chat With Wendy Harris" yorkshiretimes.co.uk
http://yorkshiretimes.co.uk//article/A-Little-Chat-With-Wendy-Harris"4 lines to a script: How tutti frutti revolutionised Aesop" oneandother.com
http://www.oneandother.com/articles/4-lines-to-a-script-how-tutti-frutti-revolutionised-aesop/"The Boy Who Cried Wolf packs in the fun" Yorkmix.com
http://www.yorkmix.com/things-to-do/theatre/review-the-boy-who-cried-wolf-packs-in-the-fun/