OLD MAN AND THE RIVER

«DAY OF CANADA» SUPPORTED BY EMBASSY OF CANADA

12 October, 13.00-00.00 online

WEEFESTIVAL, Canada

«OLD MAN AND THE RIVER»
Created by Lynda Hill and Thomas Morgan Jones

A grumpy little old man lives in his little house in the woods by the river. Every day is the same and he likes it this way-until one day, a magical creature leaps into his world and everything changes! This beautifully designed puppetry work performed without words to an enchanting musical score, reveals a storybook world where rivers sing, trees laugh, and curious dragonflies come to visit. With its themes of friendship, communication, play, adjusting to change, Old Man and the River is perfect for the youngest theatregoer.
Old Man and the River has toured throughout Canada and has received unanimous praise from children, parents, grandparents, and teachers for its artistry and engaging story. The filmed version of the show is available with pre-recorded engaging educational pre- show and post-show content for your kindergarten classroom or living room!

“The recorded version of “Old Man and the River” captured all of the energy of the live version with the added bonus of ensuring that every student could clearly see and hear the entire performance. The students were entranced by the puppets and laughed frequently throughout the performance (especially when the old man was trying to stand up, sweep the leaves or get the trees to be quiet). Many students connected with the various emotions explored in the performance (sadness, loneliness, grumpiness, joy, mischievousness, etc.) The students are excited to created their own puppets and performances! The pre- and post-show were brilliantly designed to engage and connect with the students. Almost all the students in each class participated joyfully in response to the enthusiastic and compelling performances of the actors. They especially enjoyed showing their emotions with their faces and bodies and no sound. The pre- and post-show cleverly gave the impression of interaction, thanks to the insightful writing and convincing performances of the actors. The pre-and post-show perfectly matched the developmental level of our students and accommodated for the diverse group of learners that exist in each class, including the diagnostic kindergarten class.” D. Stern, Educator

Old Man and the River was developed and premiered by Theatre Direct as part of the 2014 WeeFestival of Arts Culture for Early Years. Since then, it has performed for thousands of children and their families in Toronto, throughout Ontario and across Canada.
Credits
Created by Lynda Hill and Thomas Morgan Jones
Inspired by the story by Thomas Morgan Jones
Concept, Dramaturgy and Direction by Lynda Hill
Original Design by Kelly Wolf
Original Music by Nicky Phillips
Lighting Design by Jennifer Lennon
Puppetry by Mike Petersen and Eric Woolfe

Recommended age– 3+

Duration — 40 min

https://weefestival.ca/shows/old-man-and-the-river/