HOLDEN & ARTS ASSOCIATES
SHARING STORIES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 1983
THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA
Written by Mike Kenny
Produced by tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal
From Leeds, England
Photo by Brian Slater
Photo by Brian Slater
Resources
About the Company
Do you want to hear a true story?
Imagine a place where what you see is not what it seems,
with forgotten stories and forgotten things,
with Princesses who don’t know they are Princesses
and Princes who don’t really want to become Kings.
Do you want to hear an exciting story?
Imagine an east wind blows a girl through the door,
Blowing away the cobwebs,
ruffling feathers in the royal mattresses,
and unsettling all who live there.
Do you want to hear a happy story?
Imagine a real Prince, a real Princess, oh and a little green pea!
In this new adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea, playwright Mike Kenny and the inventive tutti frutti team create a funny, original, beautiful retelling of this familiar tale.
Three actor-musicians sing, dance, and bring to life this story about the importance of family and listening to your heart, even when the roof is leaking and the money has run out. Featuring live music, a Museum of Forgotten Things, a bankrupt palace, and one teeny tiny pea. Not for the faint hearted, fake Princesses, or those who have trouble sleeping at night!
Best for: Grades K-5th (Ages 5-10 years)
Audience Size: Small, Medium, & Large Venues
Please contact us to watch a full length archival recording from 2014 - a new recording with updated production and set will be available Fall 2021!
Curriculum Connections
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Fine Arts: Performance, Sound Design, Music and Composition
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Language Arts: Fairytales, Storytelling, Character, Adaptations, Creative Writing
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Emotional/Social Development: Empathy, Respect for Others, Perspective-taking, Relationship Skills, Social Engagement, Relationship-building, Problem-solving, Resilience
Outreach & Workshops
With advance notice, tutti frutti is able to offer drama based workshops in your venue for students or children. Please contact us if this is something you'd like to explore.
“Relaxed” or “Sensory Friendly” Performances
This performance is also available as a “sensory friendly” or “relaxed” performance if arranged with the company in advance and with specific direction as to what adjustments are necessary for your venue.
Minimum Tech Requirements
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Load In Time: 4 hours (if lighting pre rig is done)
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Crew Needs: 2 technicians for load-in, focus, sound establishment, and load-out. 1 additional sound technician to operate radio mics.
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Min. Stage Size: 20’ width x 20’ depth x 12’ height, no wing space required.
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Sound Needs: 3 wireless mics
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Load Out Time: 1 hour
Artistic Team
Director: tutti frutti’s Wendy Harris
Composer / Music Director: Ollie Birch
Movement: TC Howard
Design: Catherine Chapman
The touring team will comprise 3 actor/musicians and a stage manager.
Critical Acclaim
"tutti frutti enraptures its young audience with a wonderful and warm piece of theatre... This fun-packed, interactive production gives a much-loved story a reality check." - The Stage
"tutti frutti presents the tale with customary charm and – to the thrill of an audience who relish anything capable of making a rude noise – a tuba. Claire Burns makes a delightfully pragmatic princess who doesn’t stand for any nonsense involving veg in the bed." - The Guardian
"Writer Mike Kenny and Leeds-based tutti frutti have created a funny and magical retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s story." - Sheffield Star
"…a masterclass in engaging storytelling, with some of the best bucket-based choreography to boot." - Childrens Theatre Reviews
"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
Company Background
Past tours: Underneath a Magical Moon
tutti frutti has been creating imaginative, visual and meaningful story-based theatre for children for over 25 years. We specialize in bringing fantastic, distinctive and carefully crafted shows to children aged 3+ and their families and teachers across the UK and the world. We commission award-winning writers like Mike Kenny, Evan Placey and Emma Reeves to write new plays for children and adaptations of traditional stories. Over the years we have delivered high quality touring productions and built an excellent reputation for inventive, creative and highly physical productions for children aged 3+ and their families.
In 2013 we started making in-roads into international touring. We have toured several times to Hong Kong, Singapore and Ireland, performed Rapunzel at the Assitej World Congress in 2014 in Warsaw and Wild! at the IPAY Showcase in Madison, US in 2017. We were also juror selected to perform at the Assitej World Congress in Cape Town in 2017. In 2019 we completed our first USA tour with Underneath a Magical Moon by Mike Kenny.
We currently perform to around 37,000 children and their families giving over 250 performances per year. Recent productions include Underneath a Magical Moon, Snow Queen, WiLd!, Snow Child, Rapunzel, and Ugly Duckling.
For more information, please visit the company’s website.
Gallery of Past Productions
Photo by Brian Slater