Children of all ages will be making merry at Nottingham Playhouse later this month as the theatre hosts a night of sheer MISCHIEF – a brand-new dance show specially created for young people. Children’s theatre specialists Theatre-Rites and rising choreographer Arthur Pita have combined their talents to make MISCHIEF, a fantastic mix of dance moves with visual art, clowning, puppetry, music and song. Bursting with energy, creative play and magical silliness, the show is perfect for families, friends and schools to share together and will especially enthrall children aged between 3 and 12. After travelling the country and gaining rave reviews, including five stars in The Times, MISCHIEF concludes its tour at Nottingham Playhouse on Thursday 22 November with a child-friendly start time of 7pm (Box Office: 0115 941 9419 or www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk).
A colourful, unpredictable and fun-filled event lasting just over an hour, MISCHIEF is performed by seven of the UK’s best contemporary dancers, each capturing a distinct personality and dance style. The cast inhabits a rainbow world of weird shapes and forms in which visual artist Sophia Clist has transformed simple materials like foam into jaunty characters and mythological creatures; dark forests and magic caves; and much more besides. Feats of theatre and puppetry are interspersed with brilliant, bouncy dancing and forays into the audience.
The eighth cast member is composer/musician Charlie Winston, who accompanies the dancing with all manner of music, songs and sound effects live on stage. The support act on Peter Gabriel’s tour earlier this year, Charlie Winston is an outstanding one-man band in his own right and marries sound to the visuals in engaging fashion.
Mischief is the brainchild of Sadler’s Wells and innovative producers Dance Touring Partnership. For both, this is the first commission specially created for children and families where contemporary dance is firmly at the heart of the theatrical experience. Nottingham Playhouse is a founding member of Dance Touring Partnership.
The award-winning Theatre-Rites has been stirring the imagination of children and adults alike since 1995. Total Theatre described its work as "grand in scale, beautifully crafted in its detail and as imaginative and rewarding as any company creating work for adults you’ll ever hope to see." Portuguese choreographer Arthur Pita performed lead roles with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures before launching his own company, Arthur Pita Open Heart, in 2003. His commissions include Phoenix Dance Theatre, Candoco and The Royal Opera House.
