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Wednesday, 30 October
Halloween
Artist Interview
Show Spotlight
This Halloween, prepare to be enchanted by a world of shadows and light as Luminous Tales invites us to experience their mesmerising new shadow puppet show, The Witch and The Egg. Known for weaving together folklore, mythology and visual storytelling, Luminous Tales takes us on a jolly journey that is whimsical, sincere and spooky.
Whether you're a longtime fan of shadow puppetry or completely new to the art form, The Witch and The Egg delivers a show that stirs the imagination and celebrates the magic of Halloween.
We chatted with Zannie Fraser from Luminous Tales all about The Witch and The Egg and why it is the perfect show for children in rural communities at this time of year.
What inspired the creation of The Witch and The Egg? Is there a specific legend or folklore behind it?
I found a book called ‘The Witch’s Egg’ by Madeleine Edmondson in a charity shop and I loved the story so much that I had to make a show about it.
It took me so long to track down the author’s family to ask their permission to use the story that we changed a few of the characters in the meantime. When I did hear back from the family they were very happy for me to take inspiration from the book, which is sadly no longer in print.
Can you share a little about the plot of the show? What can audiences expect from the storyline?
It’s about a witch named Susan who just wants to get away from everybody, so she climbs a mountain and makes her home in an old eagle’s nest.
What she really wants to do is practice being a Witch and fly around scaring people. This is all going well until her peace and quiet is disturbed by the arrival of a giant egg!
Who is the show aimed at?
We have found that children of all ages love this show but especially 3 - 9-year olds will have an especially good time!
What are the challenges of bringing a shadow puppet show to rural venues?
The set-up for this show is very simple and self-contained, but the one thing we do need in a venue is a good blackout, or as good as possible, so the shadow puppetry can really stand out. Mostly promoters are very good at covering up the windows and creating a good atmosphere in their venues.
Why do you think it’s important to bring family-friendly theatre to rural communities?
I believe family-friendly theatre is important for everyone, everywhere! I guess in rural communities there may be fewer opportunities to see theatre specifically for young audiences. I make sure that everyone has a good time, which hopefully brings a community together.
What makes The Witch and The Egg different from other Halloween-themed performances?
It's a story about a witch who loves flying around scaring people, but the actual story is about someone having fun scaring people, so little ones can enjoy this without actually being scared! It is also about the relationship between the Witch and what hatches from the Egg (no spoilers!) which is funny, sad and, in the end, happy.
How did the creative team approach designing the set, costumes and lighting to capture the eerie atmosphere of the story?
The set and puppets are all quite colourful. All the spooky scary stuff happens in shadow. The design of the show gives the effect of everything having come out of a picture book to add to the playful nature of the story. It's also about how much fun it is playing with shadows and at the end of the show, all the audience get to come and play with shadow puppets on the set. This hopefully inspires them to go home and make their own shadow puppet stories.
If you could describe The Witch and The Egg in three words, what would they be?
Fun…. Silly….Shadow-y
Thank you to Luminous Tales for this interview. For more information on upcoming shows, please click here.
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