Cloudcuckooland is a music theatre comedy for kids and their families. It's riotous, funny and a touch irreverent, but carries a serious message about not messing up the planet. It's performed by six actor musicians who play twenty-two instruments between them; the musicianship is stunning and a great inspiration for kids.

It was created in the Spring of 2008 with an initial one-off grant from the Onassis Programme and toured the UK, then played for a month at the Edinburgh Festival. It got excellent reviews, much feature coverage and was nominated for the Total Theatre Awards. The Observer picked it in its top seven pieces of theatre at the Edinburgh Festival from thousand of shows.

Most importantly, for the company, it has fabulous feedback from kids, parents and teachers. The story follows an attempt by the birds to take revenge on humans for trashing their habitats. It features a gallery of beautiful and hilarious bird characters (the trombone-playing flamingo on stilts, and the trumpeting dodo with his zimmer frame) and culminates in the chickens trying to roast Gordon Brown for Sunday lunch unless he agrees to their climate change demands. The whole project aims to be ecologically sound and practice the message it preaches, but with with wit and humility.

The company was helped in the creation of the show by a number of organisations, from the RSPB to the Carbon Trust. Many programmers from the UK and worldwide saw the show in Edinburgh and want to book it. One commented: 'I just wanted to say how impressed I was with Cloudcuckooland in Edinburgh. I thought it was unique, exciting and streets ahead of all the other children's shows at the Fringe'.

The company would love to take the show to more kids around the UK and the world (together with a programme of workshops and participation events).

However, they need a sponsor to be able to do that. They envisage this will be a company whose priorities are children getting involved in music and the arts and/or spreading a message of ecological responsibility in a fun way.

The company can

  •  Put the sponsors name and logo on all print, adverts, press releases, mailings, posters, etc.

  •  distribute flyers/product samples with their mailings and at events

  •  have display material in foyers

  •  include adverts in their programme

  •  host the sponsor's guests, with complementary tickets and entertainment opportunities

  •  and be extremely grateful!

The project is managed by Helen Eastman at OP Production Ltd.. Helen has a strong track record in producing and managing large scale arts events and UK and international touring. "We have raised a proportion of funds needed from donations (donors include Dame Judy Dench and Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney) but need to secure £10,000 of sponsorship", she says. "We hope to find a great working relationship with a new sponsor".

Further information, a selection of photos and reviews and examples of previous print and programmes are available on request.

 
Contact: Helen Eastman

More information ...