He saved Christmas, now Alby will save the world
ALBY the Penguin is waddling back to Reading Repertory Theatre. After saving Christmas back in 2017, he returns in Alby the Penguin Saves the World.
Written and directed by Helen Eastman, the show tackles climate change and its effects on wildlife.
It will take place at the Reading Rep Theatre on Kings Road this Easter.
The loveable penguin puppet finds himself in Reading after finding a stray Huntley and Palmers tin, kick-starting an adventure to save his friends and the world.
Ms Eastman says: “The show is a joyful, riotous musical for a family audience.”
The show is aimed at children aged three to six, but children of all ages are welcome, said Ms Eastman.
Performances of the show can also cater to families with specific needs, with touch tours of the set and the characters available for those with visual impairment.
Relaxed performances are also available, where lighting, sound, and story elements are reduced, and any provisions for those with specific needs can be made.
Ms Eastman said that inclusion and acceptance was a key part of the show.
“Even parts of the show have been created by children, such as some of the set pieces which were dressed and drawn by kids from schools in Reading.
“There are also multi-lingual sections which have also been contributed by children, too.”
The show is the second to have been created in partnership with the Reading Repertory Theatre.
“Reading Rep has a real energy for working with families and bringing children into the theatre.
“They’re a positive force in Reading, they’re engaged with the community, and they support local artists.”
Ms Eastman said that the pandemic has caused many young children to have missed out on their first theatre experiences early on.
“Everyone remembers their first show, the first time they saw that spark of magic come alive in front of them.
“The show is designed to be an opportunity for young families to come together for that experience, and to give them the opportunity for theatre to be a part of their lives.”
The show’s set design reflects its climatic themes, too, with recycled and upcycled materials being used to make the production more sustainable.
“Theatre is often ephemeral,” Ms Eastman said, “and can therefore often be disposable.
“We, and theatres more broadly, have to think beyond that so that our work can incorporate sustainability.”
Alby the Penguin Saves the World is showing numerous times daily at the Reading Repertory Theatre, Kings Road, from Wednesday, April 6, to Monday, April 18. For more details, or to book tickets, log on to www.readingrep.com