Whispering Smith
This show is an interactive and completely engaging theatrical experience for young children, reworked with Arts Council funding in 2015. It can be performed end-on for large audiences or create real magic for small audiences (mazimum 40 per show) in an immersive gazebo. This show has a long set-up time and therefore may not be appropriate for shared use spaces within school, but should we be able to install it for a residency you will find it enchanting.
A very shy creature gets stuck up a tree and has to find his voice so he can get help.
Hand, rod and shadow puppetry, storytelling, lighting effects and a bit of magic make this a very special show for children aged 2-7.
“Eye-catching and original theatre for children” The Wessex Hotel, Winchester Hat Fair
“A delight to watch” Hill, Blue Elephant Theatre, Camberwell, 2010
“Thanks very much for coming to Buxton. Whispering Smith was excellent, I know all the children enjoyed it very much and it was nice to meet you” Pat Russell, Buxton Opera House, Buxton Puppet Festival
- Set up time: minimum 4 hours
- Performance time: 45 minutes
- Performance space: 8m wide, 10m long, 3.5m high for the immersive show. 7m wide, 3.5m deep and 2.6m high for the end-on version
- Ideal audience size: 40 (immersive) – 300 (end on)
- Age range: 2-7 and family audiences
Audiences say:
“Brilliant, utterly enchanting for kids and grown-ups too! The entire performance was lovely and great fun”
“Magical for children in an old fashioned way, loved all the different types of puppets, shadow stuff and butterflies with music”
“Brilliantly entertaining show, we all loved every minute”
“I enjoyed it incredibly, very kid focused, nice ethos. My face hurt afterwards from smiling too much”
“Amazing adlibs, smooth flow to a happy conclusion. Dynamic colours and music. Non-patronising content towards children”
“It was fantastic, I adored it, my favourite bit was when the dragon did the magic” Ayla aged 6
“It was the best puppet show I have ever seen, I liked it when the fruit came down” Meadow aged 6
Plot Synopsis
Whispering Smith is hungry and has waited a long time for his favourite fruit to fall from the tree. What do the audience think he should do?
After trying all the suggestions Whispering Smith climbs up the tree and eats the delicious fruit, but how will he get down?
He begins to ask the animals in the wood for help, but he is shy and only asks very quietly. A bird, a badger, a squirrel and some rabbits go about their business unaware- then a Dragon comes along- he sees Whispering Smith in the tree and says hello, but Whispering Smith has never seen a dragon before and is too shy to say anything at all!
Night falls, Whispering Smith is uncomfortable and frightened in the tree as scary shadows loom around him. When the day brings music and butterflies he is so happy he forgets he was ever afraid in the day and decides to ask for help from the first creature he sees.
The animals come back, one by one and this time they hear him SHOUTING! They all go off to get help, but Whispering Smith doesn’t know they have gone to get help, he thinks they have just gone, and he keeps on shouting.
The animals go to the dragon for help, because he is magic, but he does need some help from the audience.
Whispering Smith flies down from the tree and we see all the characters again in colourful shadow puppetry while bubble machines float extra magic over the audience. Whispering Smith is safe on the ground, he has made new friends and he has even found a new way to get fruit out of the tree.
“Thanks for your beautiful work” Sian, Winchester Hat Fair
