Babbling Vagabonds

The Christmas Toyshop Mystery

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

2022

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When her baby brother’s beloved toy bear disappears into the mysterious Christmas Toyshop, Lucy has no choice but to dust off her deerstalker hat, grab her mini magnifying glass and follow it. A meddlesome mystery is materialising in an old toyshop

However, on the other side of the door is a wild turkey chase of epic proportions. Join Lucy as she tries to unravel the mysteries, fish out the red herrings and find the clues so she can retrieve her bothersome brother’s beloved bear. 

A seasonal adventure filled with christmas magic and cheer from those festive funsters the babbling vagabonds.

 

Wagon Of Wonder

Outdoor Touring Production

2022

 

 

Escape the crowds, stray from the busy paths and discover the eighth wonder of the world:

Madam MooMoo’s Marvellous Magical Market Stall!

Wagon of Wonder!

The wondrous one-stop pop-up shop for all your adventure needs! 

Madam M’s wagon of wonder is every explorer’s dream. Full of traveller essentials, magical machines, and everything else to ensure a successful adventure.

Except today, of all days, Madam MooMoo is unwell, and so it’s up to her loyal assistants to look after her shop. Join Prentice and Dogsbury as they unpack the unusual items from her barrow of the bizarre and discover the fantastic stories each item has to tell. 

Epic tales of adventure, mystery, magic and derring-do guaranteed to heebie your jeebies and bump your goose. 

Family fun for all ages as colourful characters lead you on an outdoor adventure in the summer sunshine (or rain) to strange lands to discover objects of wonder to fill the shelves and cupboards of Madam MooMoo’s Adventure Shack.

The Lost Tales Of Grin Low Woods

Community Story Making Project

2021

Found in the woods, amongst the leaves and branches, three terrific tales that are taller than the trees. Stories of plucky pixies, sparkly sprites, brave bugs, and greedy goblins. Tales to make your hair stand on end and send shivers down your spine. Those storytelling wizards Babbling Vagabonds,  conjured up a magical theatre adventure along the tracks and trails of the woodland. They uncovered colourful characters and shared the secret stories of Grin Low woods. 

This production took place over  October half term 2021. It played to full audiences and was part of Stronger Roots Projects, managed by Buxton Civic Association and funded by the Green Recovery Challenge Fund.

The characters and ideas in these tales were conjured up by particpants who took part in community storymaking sessions. Babbling Vagabonds artisitc team then went away and dramatised their stories and ideas.

The Hungry Troll’s Christmas Dinner

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

2021

When a strange new dinner lady turns up to school the kids are going to get served up more than a plateful of trouble.

Wait until the kids discover what’s really on the menu for their school Christmas dinner.

This heartwarming story is told with the usual Babbling Vagabond magic. Puppets, storytelling, shadows and song, all thrown into the mixing bowl to make the perfect cosy Christmas.

Capturing The Moment

Digital Projection

2021

Here it is the video of the projection that was projected onto the Old Marks and Spencers building.

 

Capturing the Moment is a dazzling 10-minute film inspired by local people and their memories of Spring Gardens. Using stories and photographs, interwoven with the fantastical imaginary creatures that might live inside the boarded-up buildings, this 10-minute film captures the unique story of Spring Gardens. Capturing the Moment was created by Babbling Vagabonds Storytelling Theatre in partnership with @Illuminos.

The film is just one part of a three-year project, supported by Historic England and High Peak Borough Council, to create a sustainable programme of vibrant events and activities that celebrate the cultural heritage of our high street.

Baddie, Baddie Two Shoes

Online Story Making

2020

It’s here the long-awaited video of Baddie Baddie Two Shoes. A COVID creative video worked on by you, our wonderful Babbling Vagabonds Community. Thank you for all your support and ideas. Enjoy the video and see you next time.

Rosie Red Boots

Shadow Puppet Production

2021

Rosie Red Boots was a family-led production that started during lockdown. Story-making sessions happened over Zoom and were followed by design and drawing sessions. These designs and drawings were then transformed into shadow puppets. A script was created drawing from all the ideas within the story making sessions and made into an audio soundtrack with music composed by the wonderful Clare O’Neil (Mad Hatters Community Choir). More shadows were created by the Babbling Vagabonds Artistic team and rehearsals took place putting shadows and soundtrack together. A live performance was presented in the Pavillion Arts Studio and was the first public performance since the pandemic.

Watch this mini shadow production and find out how a young girl learns to be brave to save her beloved home.

Bogtastic!

Outdoor Production with Moors For the Future Partnership

2021

If you want to have fun with our fun booklet about the show then you can download it here

BOGTASTIC Resource pages

BOGTASTIC Resource notes

 

What fun we had performing Bogtastic! It rained and was colder than we expected but…..

Under the ground, beneath the moors, live Cottongrass and Bilberry! Fairies descended from the great bog protectors ‘Stinky’ and ‘Quagmire’. They work tirelessly to keep the balance in their peaty home. It’s hard work, but they love their world and they will do whatever it takes to keep harmony amongst the hummocks and hollows of their blankety bog.

Then one fateful day a new threat emerges from ‘them on top’, plunging our plucky bog fairies into a desperate battle.

It’s an epic struggle they won’t be able to win on their own. They need help. But from who?

Babbling Vagabonds teamed up with Moors For The Future Partnership to take a fun look at how important our local landscape is in helping fight climate change. Using puppets and theatrical magic they journey into the realms of fairies, mossy hillocks, and ancient peaty beings.

Lottery Funded: Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

Here Be Dragons! – Now A Free Audio Story

We have had such fun with this show we thought we would turn it into an audio story so you can enjoy it for longer.

Here’s what our audiences thought of “Here be Dragons”

Such a fantastic show. The adults enjoyed it as much as the kids! Lots of fun and laughter. The guys who do this show are brilliant. Their dedication and passion shine! We all loved it!  

I enjoyed the show because I played a part. (Solomon aged 9)

Brilliant play and storytelling. Love that you included how to tell a story. We are big fans. Thanks

Loved, loved, loved this. The children were engaged throughout and very funny even for adults. What a great way to use our imaginations.

Here Be Dragons Audio Story

Elf Encounter

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

2020

Created and designed specially to meet Covid Restriction restrictions and requirements.

The Xmas 3000 is Santa’s pride and joy. It’s a magical machine that makes his job a whole lot more fun. Children’s letters are fed into it and ‘hey presto’ their presents are rolled out ready for delivery, all with a little sprinkle of elf trickery of course.

Then one day, with Christmas just around the corner, the machine breaks down. No one can explain its malfunction? A sprung spring? A gremlin in the works? 

Join those festive funsters the babbling vagabonds as they unwrap a mini festive adventure fit for the family (these times). Journey in a magical Christmas machine and encounter an elf with a talent for making trouble.

Can you help get Santa’s machine back on track, and get a naughty Elf back on the nice list?

Elf Encounter wonderful as you always are! We loved it. Very covid friendly. Personal touch, little ones loved it. The gift bag and book are beautiful and will keep us busy over Christmas. Thank you so much for a little normality.

Thanks so much….We bought our son to see Elf Encounter this morning and all 3 of us had such a lovely time. Our 6-year-olds face was a picture and he had a massive smile on when he came out…every Babbling Vagabonds show we have been to has been excellent.

We really appreciate how you’ve managed to make it safe and still absolutely hilarious, it was very strange not having the audience today but made it a more personal experience so was still brilliant. Mt pre-teen rarely finds anything other than TikTok funny these days but you had her laughing all the way through. Thank you very much…we will see you next year.

 

Here Be Dragons

Outdoor Touring Production

2019

A unique outdoor walkabout family adventure where you journey alongside a village vet set on a quest to find and stop the dragon causing chaos in his village.

Along the way we meet an ogre with a headache, a mermaid with scale-rot, and eventually a dragon with a poorly tooth. Each creature the vet treats using stories to help distract the patients from their pain. Eventually, the vet decides to become a full-time mythical monster mender. The show culminates at the Monster Mender Camp, where together with the audience a new story is conjured up to help the Vet treat monsters in the future.

Such a fantastic show. The adults enjoyed it as much as the kids! Lots of fun and laughter. The guys who do this show are brilliant. Their dedication and passion shine! We all loved it!  

I enjoyed the show because I played a part. (Solomon aged 9)

Brilliant play and storytelling. Love that you included how to tell a story. We are big fans. Thanks

Loved, loved, loved this. The children were engaged throughout and very funny even for adults. What a great way to use our imaginations.

The Night Before, The Night Before Christmas

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

2019

It’s Christmas Eve and the snow’s a-falling, the winds a-whipping, and Will and Jake Grimm find themselves a-sheltering from the elements in an old barn. Trapped by a winter storm, miles away from home two brothers unwrap tales of wonder and magic to keep their Christmas spirits up. They weave wonderful worlds and conjure up colourful characters as they tell each other terrific tales of delight to pass the time.

Stories of cheeky goats, clever hedgehogs, and a funny little man who can spin straw into gold.

The Dinosaur That Came For Christmas

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

2018

During one lonely Christmas holiday, a young boy called PJ makes an amazing discovery. This strange looking football cracks open to reveal a baby dinosaur.

As the baby dino begins to grow so does the amount of trouble PJ gets into! Sneaking his cheeky new pet away to his secret den, PJ thinks he’s solved the problem. However, PJ’s nasty neighbour, the evil Miss Blunderbuss discovers the dinosaur and steals it away, wanting it as a trophy to hang on the wall of her ‘Big Game’ hunting lodge!

Will our hero save the dinosaur? Will Miss Blunderbuss have her dino-trophy? Will Mum and Dad go ‘Jurassic when they find out what’s being going on?

Honestly the best theatre I have ever seen… and I’m 38! Absolutely loved The Dinosaur Who Came For Christmas. You packed in so much humour, heart, and magic and made my 5-year-old so very happy. Thank you – looking forward to next year already!

Absolutely fabulous all-round family fun. From six years to both parents. All three kids rated it as 10/10 this afternoon, even the teenage 11-year-old. Thank you. You are sooooo good.

Sing along with PJ here to the catchy song in our Christmas production with DerbyLIVE, The Dinosaur Who Came For Christmas”.

 

Prince Stroppy Pants And The Christmas Caper

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

2017

His Royal Highness the Prince is the bossiest, stroppiest, snottiest Prince that ever did live.
He is rude and he is lazy and worst of all he is given everything that he asks for.
“I want more presents!” whines the Prince
“I want it to snow right now and to go skiing in the garden!” he demands
“Yes your Highness” replies the servants

But one day he asks for the unthinkable…
“I want Father Christmas’ Magical Sleigh and I WANT IT NOW!!!!”
And his dad the Right Royal King set out to find it. After a week of waiting the Prince starts to worry, after a month he is scared.
“Where is my daddy! I want him now!”
Will the Prince get his daddy back? Will he learn some manners along the way?

It’s entertaining, engaging, exciting, fun, and highly recommended for families, particularly with younger children. 

Once again the Babbling Vagabonds have succeeded in bringing festive cheer to the Guildhall Theatre with another fantastic family show. The songs are wonderfully catchy, (we were singing them all the way back to the car afterwards!) the humour is perfect for all ages and it carries a heartwarming message too. HUZZAH! (Watch the show and you’ll get this!)

Creepy Critters and Shadowy Stories

Community Story Making Project

2017

October 2017 was a fantastic time, working at Pooles Cavern, in Buxton. We ran 5 community workshops and hosted a  big sharing at a Storytellers Camp, where Phil and Mark told everyone’s tales in front of their shadowy puppets.
Together we created new tales and wonderful shadow puppets that supported the stories.
Many thanks to the 187 local people who joined us in the creation and the final sharing, we would love to do this again.

We were supported by the amazing Buxton Civic Association (BCA), the Bingham Trust and Foundation Derbyshire.

 

WILD WALK – The Golden Thief

Outdoor Touring Production

2017/18

Outdoor Touring Production

Explorers, Wanderers and Daring Adventurers! Join the Babbling Vagabonds on a wild walk advenutre to discover the rascal who has been stealing the King’s apples. You will need to be brave and think quickly as you wander in the great outdoors as you help to find the golden thief.

A little video of what happened in 2017 click here

And more of what happened in 2018 click here

Captain Sprout and the Christmas Pirates

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

2016

Being a pirate is great fun! What with sailing the seven seas, the ‘Yo-ho-ho-ing’, digging up treasure, and no one ever telling you to go to bed. Unfortunately, being a pirate puts you straight onto Santa’s naughty list so – NO CHRISTMAS!!

Until one chilly Christmas Eve, the naughty pirate Captain Sprout plots a stinking plot to steal Christmas for himself.

Armed with his band of cut-throat pirates and a magic treasure map, that rotter is robbing the good children of Derby of their Christmas stockings whilst they are asleep in their beds!

Tazanna

Co-Production with The Gramophones

2016

An ariel jungle adventure.

Anna doesn’t like mess, she likes things to be in order. But her whole world is turned upside down when she is transported to the Rainforest and discovers wonders she’s never seen before. Wild creatures appear and dance before her as she swings through the jungle of her dreams. But when her new home is put in danger, can she let go and become the wild Tarzanna she needs to be in order to save her newfound friends?

We worked with The Gramophones Theatre Company to create a theatrical circus ariel piece for Feste, Derby.

 

Campfire Tales: The Firebird

Storytelling

2016

A fun project experimenting with storytelling and animation. Watch and listen as this tale unfolds by the fireside.

The Potty Professor’s Christmas Miracle

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

2015

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

Sally is dreading the Christmas holidays. She’d rather stay at her fancy-pants boarding school thanks very much. Instead, she has to spend it with her oddball Uncle, a potty professor with a passion for all things Christmassy… and Sally hates Christmas!

Charmed by her Uncles’ crackpot creations and his sense of fun, Sally discovers that life needn’t be all ‘work work work’ and can be more ‘fun fun fun’.

But when bossy Aunt Agatha turns up on Christmas Eve and threatens to ruin everything Sally snaps into action to save the day… and Christmas!

A magical tale of family, friendship and one potty professor’s Christmas miracle.

The Brothers Grimm

Touring Indoor Theatre Production

2016

Using an immersive narrator style “The Brothers Grimm” combines comic drama and gentle audience interaction. This original collection of folktales are told in a carefully crafted script that creates a captivating performance experience that hooks young and old alike.

 

 

​Rumple-Trumpy-Bum and Other Cheeky Chappie

Touring Indoor Theatre Production

2015

The “Story Cart” arrives and out tumbles a selection of stories; tales to warm your hearts and send imaginations flying to the tops of the tallest tree and soaring into the darkest caves.

Rich tales aching to be told by the Babbling Vagabonds – master storytellers!

 

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From the youngest at 18 months old to the eldest at 54 with all possible variations in between… this was a pretty perfect way for our sprawling family to spend an afternoon

Naughty Meg and The Christmas Elves

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

2014

For Naughty Meg being a trouble maker is easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy, thank you very much!

Her parents are reduced to gibbering wrecks, neighbours hide from her havoc, and even the wasps give this tornado of trouble a wide berth when Meg is on one of her rampages!

But when Meg makes it to the top of Santa’s naughty list and she doesn’t get any presents, Meg upsets the Christmas Elves, and war is declared.

A wickedly comic Christmas tale for anyone who has been the slightest bit naughty.

Fab festive fun with #naughtymeg @DerbyLIVE @BabVagabonds this afternoon! We thoroughly enjoyed it – A lovely festive family show! Awesome!

Watch the trailer here

 

The Christmas Chocolate Shop

Co-Production with DerbyLIVE

2013

The story by Caryl Hart, adapted by Babbling Vagabonds.

Faces glow with Christmas joy as the snow begins to fall.

 

The Buried Moon

Touring Indoor Theatre Production

2011

This is a story of when the Maiden of the Moon decided to leave her place in the sky and come down to Earth. As she explores she comes across many a scary creature that would rather see the end of the Moon
Maiden. For it’s her bright light that keeps these terrible creatures trapped in the bogs and darkest corners of moors and grassland.

But one dark night the Maiden of the Moon goes missing and the land is
plunged into darkness. Can anyone find the moon? Where has she gone? Who will keep away the
things in the marshes?

A brave boy called Mossy sets out to find the Maiden of the Moon and put
those creeping creatures back where they belong.

The story is told by two cousins who are staying for a sleepover in Granny’s
house. The objects they find in Grannies spare room help tell the story of The
Buried Moon. A wardrobe open ups to reveal a fun playing space for puppets and shadow play.

 

Shadow Puppet Workshops

2002-present

Over the past 20 years, we have delivered many shadow puppet workshops with schools, community groups, and family groups. We take participants on a creative journey helping them design, cut out and make their very own shadow puppet.

These are a lot of fun for everyone and they have a magical effect when the lights go down and the children operate their shadows on the screen.

 

The Firebird

Outdoor Touring Production

2002

When the King’s golden apples go missing can the Royal sons find out and capture the thief? When Ivan, the youngest son, sets out he embarks on an adventure that changes his life. He strikes up an unusual friendship with a talking wolf, that helps him overcome great obstacles on his journey.

An epic tale about friendship and resilience.