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• We've created and performed a plethora of puppet and shadow shows over the past dozen years or so. Details and images from a few of our most recent pieces can be found below. In roughly chronological order are:
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Shadow Magic
FALLEN STAR A touching and magical show rich in humour and live original music.
by Deborah Maurice
The story......
A quiet community is wakened in the night by the evocative, incomplete tunes of a busker in the street below. An old soldier believes he is still on the front line, a priest preaches damnation and the organist searches for the bag lady's tune. Time has moved on, but it is not only the children who remember the nights at the circus and the high wire accordionist who flew through the air.
Suitable for people of all ages. Toured in the winter of 2005/06 in Cumbria then as part of the Institut Francais d'Istabul' s cultural programme spring 2006.
Performed in French or English.
"The Flight of Icarus" a tragic Greek tale with striking images
When Icarus and his inventor father are imprisoned in a tower by the evil King Minos they realise thier only means of escape is to fly. They build themselves wings made of beeswax and birds' feathers and make their bid for freedom but tragedy looms as Icarus gets carried away with the joy of the flight and ignores his fathers warnings.
The play was commissioned by the Staveley Carnival, Cumbria 2004
"The Snow Queen"
Deep in the frozen north, the Snow Queen captures a young boy and turns
his heart into ice. Luckily a dear friend has not forgotten him and bravely
sets out in to the cold wastelands to set him free.
A folk tale of gypsy pirates, ravens and reindeer and their part in a little girl's quest to find her frozen friend.
" shadows, images,
puppets,
wonderful, hilarious, inventive, exciting"
"totally mesmerised" Sue, age 35
"Icarus was cool at flying" Jamie, aged 7
"It was beautiful, I've never seen anything like it before" Grant, aged 25
Director :Deborah Maurice
Puppets, sets and performance : Jonah Maurice, Louise Hicks
With music by Shane Connelly and Bill Lloyd and Jonah Maurice
The aptly named Snow Queen was made in freezing conditions through the winter of 2004/5! The combined shows, with accompanying workshops, toured the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the spring 2005.
a fresh and feisty adaptation of a favourite folk tale
in association with The Theatre by The Lake, Keswick
Adapted by Stefan Escreet
Enter the world of dissolving giants, luminous snails, masked jesters and wondrous caverns! Accompany a tiny, tiny man on his marvellous adventures through the bellies of fish, cows and other strange places all the way to the table of a king.
Set in a soundscape of sitar, saxophone and double bass this larger than life show captures the vital elements of the great fairy tales of all times : dark and light enthralling and entertaining audiences young and old.
"this is what real theatre should be"
"subtle and poignant" "some of the most sensitive puppet animation i have ever seen"
"absolutely magical" "brilliant effects" "delicious set!"
Co-Directed by Deborah Maurice and Stefan Escreet
Music composed and recorded by Stuart Lewthwaite
Performed at the Theatre By The Lake, Keswick in winter 2002
by Anne Giuganti adapted for theatre by the Collaborator's Company
An unloved child finds a better life and enough candles to make it seem like Christmas all year round. This is a contemporary story full of humour, irony and colourful characters.
part of the Miniature to the Maximum series
an old Chinese legend
Adapted for the stage by Deborah Maurice
The delightful story of a small Chinese boy who longs to be an artist but is thwarted by the greed of an evil old Emperor. This piece is performed in a tiny transforming pagoda of bamboo, silk and shadows.
part of the Miniature to the Maximum series
Toured around 9 Cumbrian Primary Schools with accompanying workshops.
an intimate show for an adult audience
Written and performed by Deborah Maurice and Dominique Grandmougin
An old man, the sole retainer of a crumbling mansion, devotes his life to his young mistress seeing to her every need. She meanwhile pines for her lover, a soldier on the frontline in the Great War in this classic tragic love triangle.
"Deborah and Dominique's faces in the darkness are like reflections of the puppets souls"
Violin - Caroline Francis
part of the Miniature to the Maximum series
a poignant play about love in old age
by Anne Guiganti
"Beautiful and moving; like moments in a Chagall painting"
part of the Miniature to the Maximum series
Miniature to the Maximum is a collection of 5 short (30-45 min) pieces of theatre for small intimate audiences of between 15 and 60 people. Some of the pieces were specially written and created for this series, the others were already in existence but were not so well known. The aim of the series is to bring theatre and storytelling to new audiences, inviting people of all ages in to the intimate, shadowy world of puppets and players. The series started touring in 2001.
The series was supported by the Northern Arts Board; Westmoreland Arts Trust; Cumbria Arts in Education; Sponsors Club; Lucy's On A Plate of Ambleside; South Lakeland District Council; Lakeland Ltd. and the Hadfield Trust.
Patron: Tony Cunningham MP
Email: debra@collaborators.net1.co.uk
Website address: www.collaboratorstheatre.co.uk
Registered Charity No: 1069321 Co Ltd by guarantee no 4013086