Wee Stories Theatre
Wee Stories is a multi award winning touring theatre company, creating a high quality, unique brand of story-telling theatre for all generations, believing that a shared theatrical experience is the best theatrical experience.
Established in 1995, Wee Stories’ previously acclaimed productions include: The Emperor’s New Kilt (Winner, Best show for Children and Young People, Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland 2008); Arthur, The Story of a King (Winner, Best show for Children and Young People at the TMA Awards and the Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland, 2004); Treasure Island; Labyrinth; and Is This a Dagger?
The company maintains a growing repertoire of productions, touring extensively both in terms of geography and scale of venues, from schools and village halls to the country’s most renowned theatres.
Our goal is to produce theatre that is accessible to the broadest possible audience, creating exciting, rewarding and stimulating theatrical events for everyone.
History
Founded in 1995 by Creative Director Andy Cannon and General Manager Lara Bowen, the company was set up as a non-profit theatre company passionate about storytelling with all productions designed to be a family experience that everyone can enjoy.
Although initially created as a theatre company who make theatre for children, Wee Stories productions have always been enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
Creative Directors
Andy Cannon has been the Creative Director of Wee Stories since 1995. Andy has performed in and developed or directed all of Wee Stories’ work since then.
Iain Johnstone has been a regular collaborator of the company since 1999, writing scripts, music and lyrics, performing in and directing Wee Stories productions. Iain was appointed Co-Creative Director in 2005.
Productions
1995 “Ivan” December, schools tour.
1996 “Oops!” Autumn. “Spring and the Selfish Giant” December, schools tour.
1997 “A Duck called Ping” February and June. “Sir Janet” Autumn and Spring. “The Singing Ringing Tree” December.
1998 “Know Nothing Norman” February. “Labyrinth” October. “A Christmas Carol” December.
1999 “Labyrinth” August. “The Loch Ness Affair” Autumn. “Rashiecoat” December.
2000 “Laird’s New Kilt” May – July. Pilot Project at Museum of Scotland, October. “Peter Pan” with Shona Reppe, December.
2001 “The Tale of the Hare and the Tortoise” (Wee Stories Early Year’s Project), February. “Treasure Island” spring – autumn. “Molly Whuppie” (Wee Stories Early Year’s Project), December. “Peter Pan” with Shona Reppe, December.
2002 “Tae a Mouse and A’ That” (National Museum of Scotland), January. “A Wolf’s Tale” (National Museum of Scotland), February. “Treasure Island” spring and autumn. “Wee Witches” (Wee Stories Early Year’s Project), May. “A Christmas Carol” December.
2003 “Labyrinth” spring. “Quest” spring. “Quangle Wangle” (Wee Stories Early Year’s Project), spring. “Excalibur” summer. “Arthur, the Story of a King” autumn. “A Christmas Carol” December.
2004 “Arthur, the Story of a King” spring. “Treasure Island” summer. “Tam O’Shanter” autumn. “The Emperor’s New Kilt” winter.
2005 “Treasure Island” spring. “Labyrinth” summer. “Arthur, the Story of a King” autumn. “Peter Pan” winter.
2006 “Is This a Dagger?” autumn. “Jock and the Beanstalk” winter.
2007 “Tam O’Shanter” spring. “One Small Step” autumn. “Jock and the Beanstalk” winter.
2008 “The Emperor’s New Kilt” (a co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland), spring. “One Giant Leap” (a co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland), autumn. “Bad King Wenceslas” schools tour - December.
2009 “One Giant Leap” spring. “Once Upon a Time Machine” spring. “The Sun, the Moon and a boy called River” autumn. “Spring and the Selfish Giant” schools tour, December.
Future Productions “Treasure Island”, from spring 2010.
Awards
Awards: For The Emperor’s New Kilt, a co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland, (2008) Critics Award for Theatre in Scotland [CATS] ‘Best Production for Children and Young People’.
For Arthur, the Story of a King (2004) · TMA Equity Award for ‘Best Show for Children and Young People’; · Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland [CATS] ‘Best Production for Children and Young People’.
For Labyrinth (1999) · Herald Angel Award
Nominations: For The Emperor’s New Kilt (2008) · TMA Award for Best Show for Children and Young People; · CATS Award for Best Design: Becky Minto; · CATS Award for Best Direction: Andy Cannon & Iain Johnstone; · CATS Award for Best Use of Music and Sound: David Trouton · CATS Award for Best Production.
For Arthur, the Story of a King (2004) · CATS Award for Best Director: Andy Cannon & Iain Johnstone; · CATS Award for Best Production.
External Links
Wee Stories' Facebook fan page
Wee Stories' Flickr photostream
References
http://www.list.co.uk/article/7862-the-emperors-new-kilt/
http://www.list.co.uk/article/20705-the-sun-the-moon-and-a-boy-called-river/