5 Oct 2014 - 19 Feb 2015

The Princess and The Pea

by Mike Kenny

In this new fantastical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and The Pea, Mike Kenny and the inventive Tutti Frutti team create a funny, original, beautiful retelling of this familiar tale.

Not for the faint hearted… fake princesses… or those who have trouble sleeping at night!

Do you want to hear a true story?
Well…imagine a place where what you see is not what it seems,
A hidden place with forgotten stories,
A place where the princesses don’t know they are princesses and the princes don’t really want to become kings,
A place where appearances can be deceptive!

Do you want to hear an exciting story?
Then imagine one wintery stormy night everything changes,
The east wind blows through the castle of secrets, blowing away the cobwebs, lifting high the royal mattresses, ruffling feathers and unsettling all who live there.

Do you want to hear a happy story?
Then imagine a real prince and a real princess- oh, and a pea!

‘Writer Mike Kenny and Leeds-based Tutti Frutti have created a funny and magical retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s story’
– Sheffield Star

‘Tutti Frutti theatre company never fails to create inspired and imaginative work and whether you are 5 or 50, you will always enjoy their shows’
– Yorkshire Times

‘This fun-packed, interactive production gives a much-loved story a reality check’
– The Stage

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Creative Team

Catherine Chapman

Set and Costume Designer Catherine has been a freelance designer for over fifteen years. Her designs have travelled the world with audiences seeing her work in Toyko, New York and Kong Hong. She first worked with Tutti Frutti in 2005 and over the years has designed many shows for the company including Ugly Duckling, Rapunzel, Hare and Tortoise, Monday’s Child, and The Princess and The Pea.

Mike Kenny

Writer

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 internationally. Mike won the 2015 Writers' Guild Award for Best Play for Younger Audiences with Three Wise Monkeys.

Ollie Birch

Ollie trained at LAMDA. As an actor: recent theatre includes The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari Arcola, Moby Dick, Arcola, The Norman Conquests, Liverpool Playhouse, There is a War, National Theatre, Four Stages of Cruelty, Arcola, Alice, Sheffield Crucible.

TC Howard

TC Howard has worked as a performer, choreographer, movement director and educationalist throughout her career. 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.

Zanna Woodgate

I have been working in theatre lighting for 10 years now. Most recently designing ‘Exactly Like you’ at the Vaults in London, I enjoy finding small shows with big hearts to be a part of. I am extremely passionate about all corners of the industry having worked in places from the fringe to the Coliseum, but my favourite type of show to work on has always been children’s theatre.

Wendy Harris

Artistic Director, Chair of PYA England

Wendy has held the position of artistic director at Tutti Frutti since 2005, touring nationally and internationally, co-producing the Little Feet Festival of Children’s Theatre, and leading on the development programmes and arts engagement work.

Touring Team

Zoe Fagg

Zoe graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Stage Management and Technical Theatre in 2012. Recent credits include the European Union Youth Orchestra (Europe & Middle East Tours), The Marriage of Figaro (Royal Opera House Muscat), Bare the Rock Musical (Greenwich Theatre), London 2012 Olympic Homecoming Parade (Cardiff).

Oliver Mawdsley

Oliver trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and has worked in Theatre, Film and Radio including: Theatre: The Hundred and One Dalmatians, A Christmas Carol (New Vic Theatre); The Cowardly Porter, Godspell (Frinton Rep); The Mystery of Edwin Droon (Arts Theatre, West End); Thirteen Days (Arcola).

Joanna Brown

Joanna has just graduated from Rose Bruford Drama School as an Actor-Musician. Whilst studying she played Rapunzel in Into The Woods, Betty Parris in The Crucible and Princess of France in Love’s Labour’s Lost. The Princess and The Pea was Joanna’s first professional engagement and she was delighted to be starting her career with Tutti Frutti.

Claire Burns

Claire has recently graduated from the 3 year BA (Hons) Acting Degree at Italia Conti. Her most recent accolades include ‘Isolated Incident’ (Fulham Broadway), ‘I don’t want to set the World on Fire’ (New Vic Theatre) and ‘The Night Before Christmas’ (UK Tour).

Information for Families

We create shows especially for children aged 3+ and their families and carers

Are you looking to introduce your children to the magic of live theatre? Find out where to see our shows, what to expect when you see a show, and how we can support your child’s learning through live performance.

Information for Families