Activities | Nurture

Moonsmile – friendship can be anywhere

stjohnstmarkchurchburyFriday, November 18, 2022

Moonsmile is family-friendly theatre, told through mime, puppetry, play, music, and mask. It is co-Produced by Goofus Theatre & Yan Tan Tethera. You can see Moonsmile at St John with St Mark’s Hall on Friday, 23rd December. The performance starts at 2pm. There is a chance to meet with the performers after the show and it’s completely free! No tickets – just turn up on the day..

The show – friendship can be anywhere!

Our story starts with a lonely museum Caretaker, who loses something quite dear to him. In his quest to retrieve what was lost, he finds himself on the moon where he meets the strange but loveable Moonlings.

Through a ritual of trust and friendship, the Moonlings help the Caretaker restore what was lost to him. Taking this gift back to Earth, the Caretaker rediscovers all that was hidden!

The performance will immerse audiences in non-verbal storytelling, creating a space for imagination to thrive.

The Company

Goofus is led by Artistic Director Paul Barnhill. Founded in 2012, the company’s first production was a performance called ‘The Dark Side of Lucy’. This was followed by ‘Taking Charlie’, a play about the real life abduction of Charlie Chaplin. They’ve presented stories and mayhem ever since.

In December 2020, Goofus became a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. Despite the continuing COVID pandemic, Goofus carried on presenting live puppet/mask and clown theatre to local audiences.

They continue to create new work alongside an amazing team of associate makers, creators and performers. Their aim is to ensure improved access to the arts, particularly puppet theatre, for those not currently engaging with this form. This is by producing high quality live arts events and activities for a wide range of audiences, including children and families.

Yan Tan Tethera is a storytelling, environmental interpretation and community engagement organisation. It is led by Dr Oliver Bishop. Oliver has a decade of experience weaving stories of folklore, myth and nature, to share with audiences of all ages. Through Yan Tan Tethera, Oliver has produced numerous bespoke performances, educational resources, and community engagement initiatives for festivals, cultural venues, universities, local authorities and charities across the UK.

We hope to see you on December 23rd!