The Songbird (October/November 2009)

Conceived & Directed by Katrina Caldwell

Music and Libretto by David Paul Jones

Joyce Mcmillan, The Scotsman, Four Stars****
...the children in the audience are held rapt from beginning to end

Mary Brennan, The Herald, Four Stars ****
Ravishing, poignant, the piece itself is a gem of alluring composition

Giant - joined forces with acclaimed composer David Paul Jones, for a unique and innovative development in music theatre for all children aged 8 years plus and their families.

The Songbird follows the tale of an extraordinary exotic bird that is captured in the tranquil solitude of the forest by a ruthless logger who is captivated by her song. The logger takes the bird on a dangerous voyage across the ocean to the cut and thrust of the metropolis. The bird is put on the stage to sing, gloriously at first, and then searching and faltering, while the bird catcher revels in the limelight. Will the bird survive or will its song become a poignant memory of a lost world? 

Using live music, a language of specially developed ‘sound poetry’ and Giant’s interactive sensory performance techniques, The Songbird is a subtle story with a powerful emotional punch.

Toured to: Platform - Glasgow, An Lanntair - Stornoway, Eden Court - Inverness, The Macphail Centre- Ullapool, The Howden Park Centre- Livingston, The Lochgelly Centre-Lochgelly, Gilmorehill G12-Glasgow and The Lemon Tree - Aberdeen.

School groups attending performances received a Curriculum For Excellence based resource pack.

The Ceilidh Tree (2008, 2005/6,2004)
Devised by the company
Conceived and Directed by Katrina Caldwell

Show History

The Ceilidh Tree was originally created for nursery schools and in 2004 toured to various nursery groups across the central belt. Due to the sucess of this gentle magical tale the show re-toured in November/December 2005/January 2006 this time also visiting a number of theatre venues.

In 2008 The Ceilidh Tree was re-developed and with a new set toured across Scotland to theatres; attracting both family and nursery audiences, and to nursery groups through Cultural Co-ordinator and Arts Education programmes.

The Show

It's winter… the shortest day of the year and in a clearing stands a lone tree. The forest creatures are gathering for a special moment, a moment when everything is transformed. Each has a story to tell and a gift to bring. It's time to huddle up, tell stories, sing songs and wait…

Combining magical lighting, storytelling, puppetry and song this multi-sensory tale celebrates our forest friends, the turn of the year and the season of good cheer in a truly accessible way.

The Ceilidh Tree avoids the superficial glamour of much modern children's television and theatre, relying on a more traditional, polished approach. These light and amusing woodland tales are a wonderful introduction to the theatre for young children, capturing their attention and never patronising them.

  Gareth Vile- The Stage

Press

The Stage Review

TESS Article

Mark Fisher Review for Hi-Arts

Education

The Ceilidh Tree- teacher's resource pack

The Ceilidh Tree - Story Synopsis

Images by Maria McCavana and Katrina Caldwell

Up the Stairs and in the Attic (2002,2004, 2008)

Devised by the company.

Conceived and directed by Katrina Caldwell

Show History

Originally touring in 2002 the show was reworked to tour in 2004 with the original cast.  Whilst the original production had a maximum audience of 18, the new production increased its size whilst maintaining its intimacy.  An audience of 40 engaged with the performers and their magic during the performance. Due to the success of this show it  was again developed to tour with a different cast in 2008 and took Giant theatre to Northern Ireland for the very first time!

The Show

What do grandparents and grandchildren do on a rainy afternoon?

Performed in an intimate sensory environment, rich in stimulating detail,

Up the Stairs and In the Attic is a multi-sensory tale of the imaginative worlds we create in the hidey holes of our homes.

Through the investigation and transformation of everyday objects, music, movement, puppetry and song Up the Stairs and In the Attic thrilled and enchanted its audience. The collected clutter of life brought alive memories and stories of the imagination making the ordinary extraordinary by engaging the audiences in new discoveries and play and taking them on a journey to far off places full of magical colours, textures and smells.

Three generations of our family came to see this show…and we all thought it was fantastic, probably one of the best performances for children we have seen.                      Gillian Torrance, Up the Stairs and in the Attic 2004

Images by Eamonn McGoldrick and Tim Morozzo