Soul Food
Toured to Metro and Country SA, Victoria, NSW and Queensland. Currently available.
“The best touring school performance I have seen (12 years
experience)Margie Collett, Casuarina School, Coffs Harbour
Creative and imaginative…Excellent comic timing and lovely singing…of
an
extremely high standard. Congratulations on a delightful show… Leigh Mangin, Project Manager, Carclew Adelaide
“Absolutely fantastic. You are two very talented people. The
children
loved the performance... It gave [them] a taste of real storytelling at
its
simplest and its best. Congratulations on a quality performance.” Ridgehaven Primary School staff, SA
“I thought the entire performance was thoroughly
entertaining with an excellent balance of humour, drama and
message.”
Katrina Kytlea, Willunga Waldorf School, SA
“I really enjoyed your stunning harmonies,
incredible acting and
beautiful storylines. The children LOVED it. Thank you so much – you
made
my day.” St Patrick’s Primary School, Mansfield Park, SA
“It was so good, Miss, I didn’t move a muscle!” Jake (5 years old), Ridgehaven Primary School, SA
“What a
feast!
Jo and Paul are true artists; their ability to bring life into the
stories,
their depth of characters, use of gesture, was nothing short of
fantastic.” Paul Kuronya, Noosa Pengari Steiner School, Qld
The Wordsmith’s Cat
Adelaide Festival Fringe production 2002
“Ink Pot Theatre’s production of The Wordsmith’s Cat was delightfully received by a young audience during the Adelaide Fringe. The children were captivated and affected by the characters and themes of this didactic play. The simplicity of the design and sound evoked a magical essence, encouraging imaginative engagement of the children… and those young at heart!”
Natasha Phillips, Executive Officer, Youth Performing Arts Australia
“The performance, using a classic-delivery style, as well as beautiful harmonies sung by the performers, is first class… The Wordsmith’s Cat is a must see if you enjoy children’s theatre at its best.”
Cecile Ferguson, Lollipops Magazine, Adelaide Festival Fringe
“The children from 7 year-olds to 18 year-olds were enthralled by the colour, movement, music, drama, and sheer joy of the performance… so were the teachers.”
Peter Glasby, Mt Barker Waldorf School, Adelaide Hills
“Fabulous!! A wonderful and magical performance with great relevance to today’s children. Rich, inspiring language and songs.”
Sally Port, Castlemaine Steiner School, Vic
UK and European Tour 2000 - 2001
"The play contained a serious message about the power of words as well as friendship, put over in a way that was easily accessible to the young audience. The Wordsmith’s Cat is yet another example of their ability to create a magical experience for the youngsters who come to see them, which I’m sure will stay in their memories for some time to come.”
Sandra Poulter, The East Grinstead Courier, September 2000 Click here to see this review in full
"A good, gripping, unravelling adventure. Magical! Mystical!"
Slipper Family "Happy on Front Row" - Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2000
"... can match “Harry Potter” anytime. The ingredients were just right, and a powerful experience for children and adults alike – deserves seeing again.”
John Platt, Rudolf Steiner School, South Devon. October 2000.
“I cannot praise it too highly. Rarely do we have plays today that can appeal to all levels of understanding, and produced in a way that text, costume, set, lighting and live music are fused into a harmonious whole speaking directly to our heart and imagination. The audience of children and adults were equally captivated by it all. Looking forward to your next production!”
Robert Chamberlain, Merlin Theatre, Sheffield. October 2000.
"A wonderfully stimulating production, with lots of possible follow-up material. The ideas within the play gave us lots of avenues to explore and extend and the education pack was also crammed with good ideas. Great special effects."
Sarah Burke, Notting Hill and Ealing High School, October 2000.
"It really was one of the best pieces of theatre I have seen in a very long time.. I give it a rave review!”
Sabrina Dearborn, Findhorn Community, September 2000
"Today my class came to see your play and it was wonderful, smashing, brilliant. My kids were glued to their seats. They loved the hyenas, and much more…”
St Paul’s Steiner School Islington, June 2000
Puss ‘n’ Poems
The Rose Theatre Company, a professional group of actors based in Forest Row, brought "The Wordsmith’s Cat” for a visit to Chequer Mead on September 9, much to the delight of the rapt audience of young spectators. This new play, written by actress Jo-anne Sarre in collaboration with the company, tells the story of Jemima, whose life is turned upside down when a mysterious cat steals all the words she keeps in her special poetry box.
In order to retrieve them, and break the spell of silence that has been imposed on her friend Christopher by the wizard in the guise of the eponymous cat, Jemima sets out on a musical journey to find the Wordsmith.
As in all good fairy stories, the heroine has many adventures on the way, including an encounter with a pair of dancing hyenas. Eventually, good triumphs over evil and the play finishes with the traditional happy ending.
All the elements of the theatre were combined to bring director Duncan Mackintosh’s vision to the stage in a very imaginative production. Acting, design, lighting, sound and vocal effects, and original music were all of the high standard audiences have come to expect from this company, with no concessions made because this was a work for children. The play contained a serious message about the power of words as well as friendship, put over is a way that was easily accessible to the young audience.
It is a tribute to their skills that the actors held the children’s attention from start to finish, no easy task with six-year-olds. The Rose Theatre Company epitomises ensemble playing at its best, with actors Paul Cleaver, Janine Henner, Agata Krajewska and Jo-anne Sarre making contributions of an equal standard of excellence to the overall performance.
This company has developed a reputation for producing high-quality children’s theatre over the past 9 years, touring nationally and abroad. "The Wordsmith’s Cat” was yet another example of their ability to create a magical experience for the youngsters who come to see them, which I’m sure will stay in their memories for some time to come.
Sandra Poulter, The East Grinstead Courier, September 2000
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