A host of theatre productions for the young will be staged at the Hilton Arts Festival. Here is a glimpse of some:
THE GOLDEN GOOSE (3 to 6 years): Dummling’s brothers are mean to him. So are his Mom and Dad. But the strength of his good heart and generosity of spirit bring him luck and wealth beyond his wildest imaginings.
THE GREAT BIG ENORMOUS (3 to 6 years): The little old man (Old geezer) and the little old woman (Fat ratbag) argue every day of their married life until one hot summer when the old man decides to enter the local agricultural show. For years his neighbour has won the best vegetables. They plan to grow the largest turnip to prove who is the best gardener.
RUMPELSTILTSKIN: The king is greedy. The queen is evil. The prince is in love. The miller is drunk. And the miller’s daughter has to deal with them all… first to save her life and then the life of her child. Only one person can spin straw into gold and it’s not the miller’s daughter!
THE SNOW GOOSE: A wounded, storm-tossed snow goose brings a young girl, Fritha, and recluse Philip Rhayader together in a moving story of love, courage, prejudice and redemption – an adaptation of Paul Gallico’s classic novella played out on the desolate Essex marshes and against the background of Dunkirk. Starring James Cairns and Tarryn Bennett, directed by Jenine Collocott.
BLUE BOY (11 to 15 years): A ghost story/puppet performance. There’s a patch in Sammy’s garden where nothing will grow. Sammy’s mother has tried everything. Then his father becomes interested in budgerigars and builds an aviary on the patch.
THE OTHER: A psychological thriller/ghost story production for those over 11. Sarie lives on a smallholding in the Karoo with her mother, father, two older brothers and her sister. During the day, it’s dry, hot and windy, but at night it’s dark.
• Information from www.hiltonfestival.co.za