Traditional tales hatch in Exeter this January

Have you ever felt like you just don’t fit in?
Do you think people look at you strangely?
That’s exactly how the Ugly Duckling felt before he learnt one very important lesson!

Devon-based performance duo, Above Bounds, are tackling issues around body-image with an exciting children’s theatre show The Ugly Duckling & Other Tales at Exeter's Bikeshed on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 January 2017 as part of the theatre's 'From Devon with Love' Festival.

The Ugly Duckling & Other Tales is a theatrical re-telling of Hans Christian Anderson fairy-tales recreated for children aged between 3-7 and their families. This new adaptation tackles important issues yet skilfully entertains and inspires along the way.

Over a year in development, the show can trace its roots back to when the Above Bounds team were selected to create a brand new children's show as part of prestigious Worboys Productions Theatre Farm Retreat. Starting only with a book of stories and an idea to use shadow puppetry, the team collaborated with illustrators, musicians and a range of industry practitioners to arrive at the fully formed version, to be performed in Exeter.

Creative Homecoming

The play is performed by Helen Bovey and George Boundy, who operate puppets and shadow puppets to tell the story visually alongside narration and diverse characters. The production features original music by Emily Snee who performs live on stage alongside the company and their puppets, which have all been hand-crafted by the team.

Above Bounds Theatre Collective was co-founded are Helen, who returned to Devon in 2015 to create her own work, co-founding the company with writer George. The pair met whilst training at the prestigious East 15 Acting School in Essex and quickly recognised their shared passion for visual theatre.

Talking about the production, Helen Bovey said: ‘I’m so excited to bring my work to Exeter's Bikeshed as part of their From Devon with Love festival. The driving force behind the work I create is to use theatre as a medium for social change. Especially when performing to young audiences, one must be aware of the impression a performance can leave. The Ugly Duckling explores strong topics around identity and body-image which are effecting younger and younger people in our society. But I hope it does this in such a way that the audience will be entertained as well. I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved and I hope Exeter will enjoy it too!’

In addition to the performances at the Bike Shed Theatre in January, a tour is also being planned for The Ugly Duckling & Other Tales  to various Devon venues and across the UK during summer 2017.

Crowdfunding - plans beyond the duck pond!

The Above Bounds team have just launched a crowdfunding campaign with the aim of enabling the show to be performed at the Brighton Fringe in 2017, which will form part of The Ugly Duckling & Other Tales tour if the target is met.

Having already been accepted to perform at the Brighton's Warren venue, Above Bounds are looking for help to raise the £1,000 needed to make the Brighton premiere a reality. In return for pledges, supporters will receive rewards ranging from a shout out on the company's Facebook and Twitter, a personalised Hans Christian Anderson poem, to personal video messages from some of the larger than life favourite characters in the show! For more information visit: https://click.hubbub.net/p/uglyduckling

Young audiences are invited to paddle off to Exeter's Bikeshed Theatre on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 January 2017, visit www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk for tickets.

For for more information about the Devon-based theatre duo Above Bounds’ latest artistic project go to https://abovebounds.wordpress.com/ , @abovebounds on Twitter or Facebook: abovebounds. Or you can watch a trailer on YouTube: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=emupload_owner&v=Iygme_apw3E&app=d...

The project is supported using public funding by The National Lottery through Arts Council England, with project partnership from Worboys Productions and the Bike Shed Theatre.