Oberon Plays for Young People – serie

Private Peaceful relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young First World War soldier awaiting the firing squad at dawn. During the night he looks back at his short but joyful past growing up in rural Devon: his exciting first days at school; the accident in the forest that killed his father; his adventures with Molly, the love of his life; and the battles and injustices of war that brought him to the front line. Winner of the Blue Peter Book of the Year, Private Peaceful is by the third Children's Laureate, Michael Morpurgo, award-winning author of War Horse. His inspiration came from a visit to Ypres where he was shocked to discover how many young soldiers were court-martialled and shot for cowardice during the First World War.This edition also includes introductory essays by Michael Morpurgo, Associate Director of Private Peaceful production Mark Leipacher, as well as an essay from Simon Reade, adaptor & director of this stage adaptation of Private Peaceful.

On a glorious summer's afternoon, young Alice happens upon a smartly dressed rabbit looking at his watch and muttering 'I'm too late!' This being an unexpected occurrence, she follows him down a nearby rabbit hole and falls in Wonderland.Lewis Carroll's timeless children's stories Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There are magically brought to life in this new adaptation by Adrian Mitchell, specially commissioned for a Christmas production by the RSC. The amazing Lobster Quadrille, the Queen of Hearts' infamous croquet match and the Mad Hatter's Tea Party are just a few of the remarkable events and characters in this enchanting play.

Times are tough for the family in the woodThey'd eat like kings if only they couldBut hunger gnaws - famine stalks the landSomething quite wicked has the upper hand!Poor mother and father must do "what is best"...And Hansel and Gretel will be put to the test!Armed with their very last slice of breadWill they eat to surviveOr........leave………………..a..........................trail...................................home..............................................instead?The school edition of Carl Grose and Kneehigh Theatre Company's acclaimed version of Hansel & Gretel, which includes notes for teachers and those studying the play for GCSE English, as written by Anthony Banks.

Once there were two terrible twins called Holly and Sean, who gave their Head Teacher a nervous breakdown. The twins were extremely pleased with themselves. That is, until the new Head Teacher arrived. For you see, the new Head Teacher was - a Troll. That’s right.And this Troll Head Teacher soon created all kinds of mad new rules for the pupils and teachers. Can Holly and Sean save the day and stop the Troll from eating their classmates and teachers? Can naughtiness be restored to its rightful place? Will Brussels sprouts and peanut butter be taken off the menu?

Includes the playsI'm the King of the Castle!Sam Smith, Crime BusterThe Tale of Thomas MeadThree fun-packed plays for children with illustrated suggestions for staging by Laurence Hutchins.

Anthony Clark’s award-winning adaptation of Albert Lamorisse’s Fifties French film, The Red Balloon, follows the adventures of a lonely Parisian boy and a stray balloon which befriends him. It enjoyed a successful run at the National Theatre in 1996.

King Hildebrand is off to war - again. He commands his three daughters not to enter a locked room in the palace. Naturally they do, and in it find the Book of Fate, which announces that two of them will marry handsome Kings, while the third, Flora, must wed a fat pig from the North.Drawing on Romanian and Norwegian folk tales with their origins in the myth of Cupid and Psyche, Alasdair Middleton weaves a fantastic musical story from traditional materials and takes us from palace to pigsty via the darkest corners of the universe in search of Flora's destiny.Funny and tender, miraculous and ridiculous, The Enchanted Pig moves heaven and earth for the sake of love and proves that even the best of men can be pigs. Some of the time. The Enchanted Pig opened at the Young Vic Theatre, London, in December 2006, with music by Jonathan Dove.

This stage version of Cinderella has captivated audiences with its dazzlingly original take on one of the oldest and best-loved fairytales of all times.When Ella’s mother dies, she is brought up by her devoted and loving father who teaches her the names and calls of the woodland birds that surround their home. But when her father marries again, Ella’s peaceful life is turned upside down by a host of new and unpleasant relations. It appears her only allies are the feathered friends who roost in the trees, but they are no ordinary birds… With crystal-clear storytelling, this classic tale of fortunes reversed is brought startlingly and imaginatively to life.Since its premiere in Bristol in 2011/12, Cinderella has gone on to brilliantly successful Christmas runs at two London venues, won a 2014 Off West End Award and was nominated for a 2013 Olivier Award.

This stage version of Cinderella has captivated audiences with its dazzlingly original take on one of the oldest and best-loved fairytales of all times.When Ella’s mother dies, she is brought up by her devoted and loving father who teaches her the names and calls of the woodland birds that surround their home. But when her father marries again, Ella’s peaceful life is turned upside down by a host of new and unpleasant relations. It appears her only allies are the feathered friends who roost in the trees, but they are no ordinary birds… With crystal-clear storytelling, this classic tale of fortunes reversed is brought startlingly and imaginatively to life.Since its premiere in Bristol in 2011/12, Cinderella has gone on to brilliantly successful Christmas runs at two London venues, won a 2014 Off West End Award and was nominated for a 2013 Olivier Award.

An angry orphan escapes a grey town on the back of a hurricane. She lands in a mysterious country of tiny people and wicked witches, where the trees carry bazookas, the crows recite slam poetry, and a mouse can blow your head off.In just one day, this little girl revolutionizes an entire nation. She brings freedom, and colour. Her name is DOROTHY.

An angry orphan escapes a grey town on the back of a hurricane. She lands in a mysterious country of tiny people and wicked witches, where the trees carry bazookas, the crows recite slam poetry, and a mouse can blow your head off.In just one day, this little girl revolutionizes an entire nation. She brings freedom, and colour. Her name is DOROTHY.

Back by popular demand, for a second magical West End season, this intimate show is set in a library full of books that hold more than stories within their pages. It is a tale of the power of books, and the bravery of a young boy called Tomas. Tomas loves playing in the mountains where he lives and hates reading and school, but his world is turned upside down the day he meets the Unicorn Lady in his local library...An enchanting and interactive show, I Believe in Unicorns sparks the imagination of both young and old. You too will believe in unicorns after joining Tomas's spellbinding journey!Suitable for a family audience and children aged 6+

Back by popular demand, for a second magical West End season, this intimate show is set in a library full of books that hold more than stories within their pages. It is a tale of the power of books, and the bravery of a young boy called Tomas. Tomas loves playing in the mountains where he lives and hates reading and school, but his world is turned upside down the day he meets the Unicorn Lady in his local library...An enchanting and interactive show, I Believe in Unicorns sparks the imagination of both young and old. You too will believe in unicorns after joining Tomas's spellbinding journey!Suitable for a family audience and children aged 6+

Times are tough for the family in the woodThey'd eat like kings if only they couldBut hunger gnaws - famine stalks the landSomething quite wicked has the upper hand!Poor mother and father must do "what is best"...And Hansel and Gretel will be put to the test!Armed with their very last slice of breadWill they eat to surviveOr........leave………………..a..........................trail...................................home..............................................instead? The school edition of Carl Grose and Kneehigh Theatre Company's acclaimed version of Hansel & Gretel, which includes notes for teachers and those studying the play for GCSE English, as written by Anthony Banks.

This is an epic play written to be performed by children. It covers ten thousand years in the history of the American Indians and the European colonists who began to settle in the Americas in the 16th century, and its stage takes in Peru, Mexico, North America and the great rivers. It supplements history and geography lessons in a vivid and fascinating way and explores the American Indian's place in popular culture.

Anthony Clark's award-winning adaptation of Albert Lamorisse's Fifties French film, The Red Balloon, follows the adventures of a lonely Parisian boy and a stray balloon which befriends him. It enjoyed a successful run at the National Theatre in 1996.

Philip Osment's magical play is funny, tender and true. Gabriel has to earn his stripes as a guardian angel to a poor orphaned girl as she grows up with her adoptive parents. Along the way he learns things about his own history and the real reason for his growing friendship with the little girl. Astonishing theatrical skills, including puppetry, live music and song combine to create this wondrous adventure, an unforgettable exploration of the joys and heartaches of living and loving. A family show for audiences of 6+, Little Violet and the Angel won the Peggy Ramsay Award and toured in the spring of 2001.

Winnie the Witch uses her magic to solve some very practical problems. But the results are never quite as she imagined...One day after turning everything in her house black to hide the mess, she discovers she can no longer see her black cat Wilbur. So she decides to use a bit of magic, and that's when the trouble really starts...This wonderful new play for children brings together all three books in the award-winning Winnie the Witch series which have delighted children all over the world. This is the perfect opportunity to introduce children aged 3 to 6 to the excitement of live theatre.

Includes the playsI'm the King of the Castle!Sam Smith, Crime BusterThe Tale of Thomas MeadThree fun-packed plays for children with illustrated suggestions for staging by Laurence Hutchins.

An hilarious sequel to "Alex and The Warrior."Incorporating the themes of friendship and what it means to belong, "Alex and the Winter Star" is not only play jam packed with adventure, danger and magic, but is underlined by important concepts and issues.Ideal for young actors and schools, Alex's new adventures are sure to capture the imagination of young readers, sending them spinning into a mystical world of possibilities.

Pericles, Prince of Tyre is a Jacobean play written at least in part by William Shakespeare and included in modern editions of his collected works despite questions over its authorship, as it was not included in the First Folio. Whilst various arguments support that Shakespeare is the sole author of the play (notably DelVecchio and Hammond's Cambridge edition of the play), modern editors generally agree that Shakespeare is responsible for almost exactly half the play-827 lines-the main portion after scene 9 that follows the story of Pericles and Marina. Modern textual studies indicate that the first two acts of 835 lines detailing the many voyages of Pericles were written by a mediocre collaborator, which strong evidence suggests to have been the victualler, pander, dramatist and pamphleteer George Wilkins. Pericles, the young Prince (ruler) of Tyre in Phoenicia (Lebanon), hears the riddle, and instantly understands its meaning: Antiochus is engaged in an incestuous relationship with his daughter. If he reveals this truth, he will be killed, but if he answers incorrectly, he will also be killed. Pericles hints that he knows the answer, and asks for more time to think.Antiochus grants him forty days, and then sends an assassin after him. However, Pericles has fled the city in disgust. Pericles returns to Tyre, where his trusted friend and counsellor Helicanus advises him to leave the city, for Antiochus surely will hunt him down. Pericles leaves Helicanus as regent and sails to Tarsus, a city beset by famine. The generous Pericles gives the governor of the city, Cleon, and his wife Dionyza, grain from his ship to save their people. The famine ends, and after being thanked profusely by Cleon and Dionyza, Pericles continues on. A storm wrecks Pericles' ship and washes him up on the shores of Pentapolis. He is rescued by a group of poor fishermen who inform him that Simonedes, King of Pentapolis, is holding a tournament the next day and that the winner will receive the hand of his daughter Thaisa in marriage. Fortunately, one of the fishermen drags Pericles' suit of armour on shore that very moment, and the prince decides to enter the tournament. Although his equipment is rusty, Pericles wins the tournament and the hand of Thaisa (who is deeply attracted to him) in marriage.Simonedes initially expresses doubt about the union, but soon comes to like Pericles and allows them to wed. A letter sent by the noblemen reaches Pericles in Pentapolis, who decides to return to Tyre with the pregnant Thaisa. Again, a storm arises while at sea, and Thaisa appears to die giving birth to her child, Marina. The sailors insist that Thaisa's body be set overboard in order to calm the storm. Pericles grudgingly agrees, and decides to stop at Tarsus because he fears that Marina may not survive the storm.

Romeo and Juliet fall madly in love, despite being from two feuding families. They arrange to be secretly married, but a series of miscommunications results in the death of the two lovers, as well as some of their most beloved friends and relatives. Romeo and Juliet is the quintessential dramatic tragedy from a master of English literature.

This is a collection of three thirty-minute plays by leading playwrights for children to perform, commissioned by the Unicorn. Class Acts includes: The Wish Collector by Oladipo Agboluaje, The Acme Thunderer by Lin Coghlan, and Of the Terrifying Events on the Hamelin Estate by Philip Osment.

Based on a Romanian folktale, with music by Jonathan Dove and words by Alasdair Middleton, this is a terrifically funny and tuneful family treat. When you're a princess, you expect a fairy-tale wedding; you don't expect your husband to be hairy, smelly, and a genuine pig.

From a version by Tim SuppleFrom the novel by Rudyard KiplingMowgli was still a toddler when he was lost in the jungle – his parents feeing the tiger, Shere Khan. There, Mowgli was brought up by wolves, and educated by the bear Baloo and the panther Bagheera.He was happy while growing up and learning the ways of the jungle –and his name was soon known amongst all the animals. But Mowgli’sgrowing fame provoked resentment and envy, and his life was soon threatened from all sides… First published in the late 1890s, Rudyard Kipling’s two Jungle Books have enchanted generations of children and adults.Often describedas an allegory for the society and politics of the time, The Jungle Book has now been adapted by critically-acclaimed South African playwright, Craig Higginson. The play asks: Who is your family? Those who look the same as you or those who love and nurture you? Here, the tales become a powerful examination of an emerging democracy, and the forces that threaten it. Based on a version by the celebrated director Tim Supple, this adaptation was first staged at Johannesburg’s Market Theatre in 2008. This powerful and magical version of a much-loved classic is as resonant now as it was when it first appeared – both within South Africa and beyond its borders.

A brand new Christmas story for children, Holly and Ivan’s Christmas Adventure is a magical tale of two brave little toys who fall off the back of Santa’s Sleigh on Christmas Eve. Not wanting their new owners to wake up to no presents, they set off on an epic journey to find them.Presented here as both a story book and a play, Holly and Ivan’s Christmas Adventure is packed with charming illustrations. Holly and Ivan will be on stage at the Lyric Hammersmith, London throughout December 2011.

When little Conrad Van der Bosch claims he has an invisible tiger called Sigmund hiding on his wardrobe, his child-psychologist father sees the ‘lie’ as a deliberate act of juvenile defiance. Doctor Van der Bosch is concerned that the boy is mentally maladjusted and in an attempt to terrify Conrad into admitting that there never was an invisible tiger, creates the terrifying figure of Mister Holgado, a child-eating monster who is apparently hiding inside Conrad’s wardrobe, waiting to consume the little boy. This triggers a battle for supremacy, as Conrad and his father struggle to manipulate the myth of Holgado. In desperation, as the Doctor fails to curtail his son’s imagination, he realises he has no choice but to become the child-eating Holgado.Shortlisted for the Writers' Guild Award for Theatre Play for Young People 2013.

Acclaimed as one of the classics of 20th century children's literature, The Mouse and His Child is a moving story about two clockwork mice thrown on a scrap heap who then have to begin a dangerous quest for a place to belong. It is adapted for the stage by Tamsin Oglesby and will be directed by Paul Hunter, Told By An Idiot's Co-Artistic Director. The Mouse and His Child continues the Royal Shakespeare Company's long tradition of creating new stage adaptations of much-loved childhood tales – including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, The Heart of Robin Hood, and Matilda The Musical, the RSC's award-winning Roald Dahl adaptation, currently playing in the West End.

From a version by Tim SuppleFrom the novel by Rudyard KiplingMowgli was still a toddler when he was lost in the jungle – his parents feeing the tiger, Shere Khan. There, Mowgli was brought up by wolves, and educated by the bear Baloo and the panther Bagheera.He was happy while growing up and learning the ways of the jungle –and his name was soon known amongst all the animals. But Mowgli’sgrowing fame provoked resentment and envy, and his life was soon threatened from all sides… First published in the late 1890s, Rudyard Kipling’s two Jungle Books have enchanted generations of children and adults.Often describedas an allegory for the society and politics of the time, The Jungle Book has now been adapted by critically-acclaimed South African playwright, Craig Higginson. The play asks: Who is your family? Those who look the same as you or those who love and nurture you? Here, the tales become a powerful examination of an emerging democracy, and the forces that threaten it. Based on a version by the celebrated director Tim Supple, this adaptation was first staged at Johannesburg’s Market Theatre in 2008. This powerful and magical version of a much-loved classic is as resonant now as it was when it first appeared – both within South Africa and beyond its borders.