Paper Moon
Join Poppy and her dog Peppy on an outer-space dance adventure, as they launch across the canvas sky towards the Paper Moon.
The moonlight is beautiful, shining across the bedroom floor as Poppy Diddle dozes off. But is all as calm as it seems? Suddenly, Poppy wakes up to discover that the MoonMoo (the cow that jumped over the moon) has got stuck on the Moon!
Poppy’s mission is clear - and she needs your help! Will you be Poppy’s friend at Astronaut School and help her build paper rockets to get to space?
A delightful and memorable interactive adventure show for 2-7 year olds, originally created for Cumbernauld Theatre by acclaimed dance company Shaper/Caper, and featuring beautiful set and costume design by Janis Hart. The show features plenty of opportunities for children and adults alike to jump up and get involved!
Age recommendation: 2-7, with older siblings welcome!
Run time: 35 minutes
A Day to Play
Meet A Day to Play: part dance performance, part interactive workshop!
Wee ones and their grown-ups alike are invited to immerse themselves in the world of Paper Moon, getting creative with set and props in a session of guided play. Led by our pro dancers, A Day to Play workshops are designed to encourage a sense of adventure, problem-solving, and collaboration with others for kids - and adults too!
You don't need ANY experience to enjoy A Day to Play, and the more the merrier - so come give it a whirl!
Age recommendation: 2-7
Run time: 45 minutes
Cast & Creative Team
Concept, Choreography & Direction:
Thomas Small
Set and Costume Design:
Janis Hart
Devised by:
Robert Anderson, Miranda Mac Letten & Thomas Small
Dancers:
Robert Anderson & Ellis Saul
Production Manager:
Patrick Dalgety
Dramaturgical support by:
Sheila Allan
With thanks to Ed Robson, Amy Angus, Jean Cairns, Kirstie Connel, Craig Crawford, and all at Cumbernauld Theatre. Special thanks to Jane Whyte and Nursery Rhymes in Dundee.
Merchandise
Missed out on our Space Adventure Essentials Children’s T-shirts on the Paper Moon tour?
Grab one here for your wee astronaut-in-training!
Trailer
Gallery
Make Your Own Paper Rocket!
Cast & Creative Team
Ellis Saul
Dancer
’Poppy’
Thomas graduated from London Contemporary Dance School with a BA (Hons) degree. He has won many awards and commissions for his work including the prestigious Bonnie Bird New Choreography Award and the Robin Howard Foundation Commission.
In 2015, he was appointed as the first ever BBC Radio 2 Artist in Residence in association with The Space. He has also been short-listed for the Peter Darrell award in 2003 and The Place Prize in both 2006 & 2008. Thomas was Choreographer in Residence at The Space, Dundee throughout 2008 and Artist in Residence at The Byre Theatre, St Andrews. In 2013, he was awarded the Creative Scotland fellowship on the Clore Leadership Programme. During his fellowship he undertook a secondment at The Roundhouse, London and V&A Dundee and was mentored by Farooq Chaudhry, Producer at Akram Khan Company and English National Ballet. In 2017, Thomas was mentored by Kerry Nicholls and Christopher Hampson where he worked with Scottish Ballet dancers as part of Scottish Ballet Creates.
He took part in the Royal Opera House’s DanceLines 2009 project where he was mentored by The Royal Ballet’s Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and he presented the work he created during DanceLines at The Royal Opera House FIRSTS Programme in November 2010. He was invited to present his work ‘Falling Man’ at the Cunningham Studios in New York City in 2011 and Berlin in 2012. His work received five star reviews in the 2011 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was featured on the BBC Culture Show. He was a Creative Partner with National Theatre of Scotland for their 2012 Exchange Festival. His work, ‘Within This Dust’ was selected for the 2012 Made In Scotland Showcase and went on to enjoy a sell out run at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The work tours to New York City, Brazil and Bangladesh in 2013. In 2014, he was commissioned to choreograph La Banda’s Struileag: Children of the Smoke for Festival 2014, directed by Dan Ayling and featuring music by Artistic Director, Jim Sutherland.
Thomas is a Trustee at The Barn (Woodend Arts Limited) and was Chair of the Advisory Board for Performing Arts at Scottish School of Contemporary Dance at Dundee & Angus College. He was a Trustee for Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) 2013 to 2016. He was the founder and Artistic Director of the acclaimed Smallpetitklein from 2000 to 2015. He established and Chairs the first Scottish chapter of the What Next? movement in Dundee. He has also Chaired the Dance Forum for Federation of Scottish Theatre. Thomas is a trained mentor on FST's Step Up programme.
Originally from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Ellis found dance at Dame Allan's Schools and began training as part of the Dance City CAT scheme. Ellis graduated from London Contemporary Dance School with a first-class honors degree and a recipient of the Peggy Hawkins Scholarship for outstanding potential.
Upon graduating, she was part of the post-graduate company EDge 2016, touring widely around the UK and Europe. Ellis went on to complete her Master’s degree with distinction at LCDS.
Ellis has since performed with Tony Adigun’s Avant Garde Dance, in the role of Nancy, touring ‘Fagin’s Twist’ around the UK as well as China and South America. She has performed works by Crystal Pite, Mathieu Geffre, Alexander Whitley, James Cousins, Renaud Wiser, Shaper/Caper and Joseph Toonga.
Ellis became an alumni choreographer in Youth Dance England Young Creative’s programme and choreographed work in collaboration with Wimbledon College of Art and for the Newcastle CAT. She is the choreographer to circus artists, Nikki & JD and collaborated in ‘Knot’, which has since won the Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane award for Circus 2019.
Alongside performing and choreographing, Ellis now works as a freelance company manager for Avant Garde Dance and as a rehearsal director.
Thomas Small
Concept, Choreography & Direction
Robert Anderson
Dancer
’Papa’/’Peppy’
Born and raised in Newcastle Upon-Tyne, Robert began B-boying at the age of 15, quickly joining the world renowned Bad Taste Cru, with whom he battled, taught and performed with internationally, and continues to do so.
In 2015, Robert graduated from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance with a first class honours degree and the Carolyn Woolridge award for outstanding performance. He then went on to tour with the post-graduate company Verve 16, under the artistic direction of Gianluca Vincentini, performing across the UK and Europe.
Over his performing career, Robert has worked with choreographers such as; Anton Lachky, Richard Chappell, Renaud Wiser, Robby Graham, Josh Hawkins, Efrosini Protopapa and Anthony Lo-Guidice.
At the beginning of 2017, Robert began creating his own work after being awarded a commission from Dance city. “Them..” a duet choreographed in collaboration with Clementine Telesfort, premiered at Dance City as part of Dance Edits in October of the same year.
Rob performed in Shaper/Caper’s mass participation show for the opening of V&A Dundee.
Janis Hart
Set & Costume Designer
Janis has designed many and varied theatre, dance and opera productions and worked as an art director for film. Theatre credits include residencies/ associations at Plymouth Theatre Royal, Theatr Powys, Worcester Swan Theatre, London Bubble Theatre co, South Hill Park Art Centre, Derby Playhouse and Company Chordelia in Glasgow. Freelance work has included companies and spaces all over Britain.
She enjoys interesting collaborations and spaces - which have included an abandoned hospital in Birmingham, the banks of the Water of Leith in Edinburgh, Methil Docks, the Gorbals Rose Garden and many of London’s urban and green spaces.
Recent credits include 'Lady Macbeth: Unsex me here' for Company Chordelia / Solar Bear, winner of last year's Best Live Performance - Sunday Herald Scottish Culture Awards.
Promoters Information
We have various resources available including a Promoters Booklet with detailed information about the production and a Marketing Pack to support venues to sell the production. We can also provide you with images, a press release, and print.
If you would like a Promoters Booklet or for more information about the show, please contact:
Melissa Rutnagur
Artistic Creation Producer
