The Curious Rat
A Little Angel Theatre and Page One Theatre co-production
Written by Chloe Stephens and Miles Mitchell
Aimed at ages 3 - 8 years
A big adventure for a small city rat
The Curious Rat tells the story of Lucien, a lonely city rat who watches the pigeons from his home under Waterloo Bridge and wishes he could join them in the sky. One day he spots the most amazing pigeon and takes his first brave steps to follow her into the lights of the big city…
Come with Lucien as he scampers across the bridge, dodging rain drops. He will meet a set of troublesome traffic lights, take a ride on a busy bus, dance at the carnival and even escape a flock of angry seagulls. On his adventure he will discover that he may not be a bird with wings, but that he has been given his own special things.
A poignant and poetic tale to inspire children and adults alike. Playfully combining puppetry and animated projection, this story encourages audiences to celebrate the things that make them unique.
Production Photos
by Ellie Kurttz
Age guidance
The Curious Rat is aimed at ages 3-8. Our shows for this age group have storylines that can be followed and enjoyed by 3-4-year olds, but may also use slightly more complex ideas, humour, dialogue or song lyrics that older children will get more out of. There is nothing really scary in these shows but they can be a bit more dramatic than those for the youngest children, including in their use of sound and lighting, and characters may face some perils.
This show has standard seating for our studios. There are rows with chairs and soft blocks facing the stage, and some mats on the floor at the front. There will be up to 70 people watching the show (sometimes more if you come when there are school groups).
This isn’t an interactive show, but we always welcome vocal responses from young audiences, and there are a couple of points in the show where everyone is invited to contribute by making noises or answering the performers. The audience stay in their seats while watching the show, but you can leave and re-enter the auditorium at any time.
There is a scene in an alley where the theatre gets darker and there are some shadows. This is when Lucien meets some other rats, who seem scary at first but are only having fun and making jokes. Later in his journey, some angry seagulls squawk loudly and pop his balloon, causing him to fall into the river. This is a dramatic moment but Lucien discovers that he loves to swim, so it quickly turns into a calm scene showing his happiness in the water.
All ages are welcome at our shows and age ranges can only be a rough guide, but please bear in mind that The Curious Rat was not specially designed for under-threes. A show aimed at two-year olds would have some differences – those shows are carefully made to hold their attention for the duration, and not to be unsettling for them.
A visual story can be found here.
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School Bookings
For EYFS, KS1, KS2 / For ages 3-8.
Curriculum links
English: Adventure/journey stories
Geography: London
The Educational pack for The Curious Rat will be available shortly.
View the visual story for The Curious Rat here.
Tickets for school groups are £7 for each adult and each child (weekdays before 3pm, during Islington term time only). Free adult tickets are available for children who need 1:1 support.
Before requesting a booking, please check dates, times and availability here. Maximum school capacity for this show is 95 people per performance.
Please fill in our school booking enquiry form here.
Download our information for undertaking a risk assessment for school visits here.
Accessible Performances
BSL Interpreted Performance: Sunday 30th June 2024, 1:30pm
Click here to book tickets.
These performances are provided for those who use British Sign Language. The interpreter will be at the front of the stage and lit with a spotlight. They will provide a linguistic and artistic interpretation of the show for people who are D/deaf or for whom BSL is their preferred language.
Relaxed Performance: Sunday 7th July 2024, 3:30pm
No online booking for Relaxed Performances – please call 020 7226 1787
Relaxed Performances are provided for people who would benefit from a more relaxed environment, or are uncomfortable with sudden lighting changes or loud noises, including those with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, sensory or communication needs or a learning disability. Find out more here.
View the visual story for The Curious Rat here.
What is a visual story? Find out more here.
If you are interested in arranging a weekday Relaxed Performance for a school group, please contact boxoffice@littleangeltheatre.com
Credits
Written by Chloe Stephens and Miles Mitchell
Performed by Ajjaz Awad and Miles Mitchell
Devised by the company
Director – Chloe Stephens
Assistant Director – Juliet Jordan
Puppet Design and Puppetry Direction – Matt Hutchinson
Set and Costume Design – Helen Coyston
Lighting Design – Aaron J Dootson
Associate Designer – Eve Oakley
Music and Sound – Luke Thomas
Animations – Oh Studio
Production Video – PJ McEvoy
Access Consultant – Flossie Waite
Develop Your Creative Practice Researcher – Sophie Rivlin
Clarinet by John Padfield and Manuel Trabucco
Trumpet and Trombone by Facu Rodriguez
Cello by Luke Moore
Stage Managed by Victoria Porter
Soft Props by Bryony Rumble
Bridge Construction by Creative Fabrications
Scenery construction by Set Blue Scenery
Poster illustration by Frann Preston-Gannon
With special thanks to Ajjaz Awad for her support and contributions throughout the life of this project.
Many thanks to Arts Council England for their generous support through grants for the arts.
With thanks to the following organisations and individuals for their support with the creation and development of this project:
Arts Council England
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Magic. Pure innocent, delightful puppet magic. A wonderful family outing.
– Benedict Cumberbatch
Little Angel Theatre is a magical place. They have brought many of my books to life on stage, and they do so creatively whilst remaining faithful to the books. It is wonderful to see so many children enjoying this special THEATRE.
– Julia Donaldson
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– Neil Gaiman