Family theatre audiences are over the moon!
Family audiences in the northeast are in for a treat this spring as Kitchen Zoo, the Newcastle and Durham-based masters of family theatre, are heading out on tour. Kitchen Zoo’s previous shows include the brilliant Tinfoil Astronaut, The Owl and The Pussycat, and Wolf, and are always guaranteed to give little ones and grown-ups a brilliant experience with Hey Diddle Diddle set to continue with that tradition.
Hosted by, and staring, childrens’ favourite nursery rhyme characters this is no ordinary theatre performance. Nero (the cat who plays the fiddle) and Lazzo (the little dog who laughs) are the MCs and they bring together their nursery rhyme friends to share their own special stories and skills. Appearances from Hickory Dickory Flea Circus and the famous dare-devil egg Humpty Dumpty (in an Elvis costume) make Hey Diddle Diddle a fun-loving, music-filled adventure filled with favourite characters as you’ve never seen them before.
Whilst Director Bob Nicholson, Co-Founder of Kitchen Zoo and Director of the show says it is primarily aimed at years 6 and under it is a show that will provide fun and enjoyment for the whole family. "We are thrilled to be presenting a new tour of Hey Diddle Diddle. Whilst we’re excited to share the characters and their stories with audiences across the UK, there is something special about bringing the show back to our region. We have longstanding relationships with the theatres we’re visiting and it’s exciting to see audiences who we’ve met before returning to see us. Audiences from the North East are definitely our favourite – the children are from our home towns and just like we were 30 years ago.”
Every performance of Hey Diddle Diddle is relaxed making it an ideal first theatre experience for younger children or liberating for those with additional needs. As Hannah Goudie-Hunter, Kitchen Zoo Co-founder and performer explains: “We want everyone to be able to enjoy our performances. Everyone is welcome and the space is relaxed. There is no pressure to keep quiet or sit still – it’s too exciting for that! We know taking younger children or those with disabilities to the theatre can seem daunting for parents and carers but we try to make it a magical event for everyone. We love to see and hear the excitement of the audience and we can’t wait to get on the road”
Hey Diddle Diddle will be at Alnwick Playhouse (7 & 8 April), ARC Stockton (6 May) and Gala Theatre Durham (7 May) – more details and tickets from https://kitchenzootheatre.com/shows/hey-diddle-diddle/