Meet Fred
A cloth puppet fights prejudice every day. Fred just wants to be part of the real world; get a job, meet a girl. However, when threatened with losing his PLA (Puppetry Living Allowance), Fred’s life begins to spiral out of his control.
Hijinx are a professional theatre company based in Cardiff, Wales. They produce and create theatre that always includes actors who have learning disabilities. The company call this 'inclusive theatre' - making much of the skills and raw talent of people who often get overlooked in today’s world, giving them a platform to make and perform stunning theatre alongside actors who don’t have disabilities.
In 2014 Blind Summit spent a week's residency with Hijinx. From this week Meet Fred was born. Over the past two years we have designed and built puppets, directed the puppetry and assisted with dramaturgy.
Meet Fred is available for touring.
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Produced by Hijinx Theatre
In association with Blind Summit
Directed by Ben Pettitt-Wade
Devised by the company
Performers: Richard Newnham, Lindsay Foster, Martin Vick, Dan McGowan, Morgan Thomas, Jon Kidd
Puppetry Dramaturgs: Giulia Innocenti and Tom Espiner for Blind Summit
Puppets designed and made by Blind Summit. Makers: Helen Foan and Morven Mulgrew
Lighting Design/Production Manager: Ceri James
Technician: Tom Aires
Theme music: Jonathan Dunn Production
"Slick, smart puppetry for adults with a political edge"
**** The Stage
"Striking visual inventiveness – both funny and poignant"
**** BritishTheatreGuide
***** The Herald
***** Broadway Baby
***** Edinburgh Guide
**** The List
2017:
20 - 21 January Chapter, Cardiff
24 - 25 January Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath
27 January Neuadd Dwyfor, Pwllheli
28 January Galeri Caernarfon
01 February Halliwell Theatre, UWTSD *Closed Perf*
02 - 04 February Salisbury Playhouse
06 February Soar Centre, Penygraig
07 February The Electric Theatre, Guildford
08 February The Woodville Theatre, Gravesend
09 February The Spring, Havant
10 February Ashcroft Arts Centre
11 February Cornerstone, Didcot
21 February York Theatre Royal
22 – 25 February Back to Ours Festival, Hull
28 February South Street, Reading
01 - 05 March Little Angel Theatre, London
07 March Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan
08 March Newbury Corn Exchange
09 March Old Fire Station, Oxford
10 March Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester
14 March Artrix, Bromsgrove
15 March Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
16 March Carriageworks Theatre, Leeds
17 March Junction, Goole
18 March Lichfield Garrick
21 March The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
22 March IMPACT, Perivale
23 March Hertford Theatre
25 March Norwich Playhouse
29 March Tacchi-Morris Arts Centre, Taunton
30 March The Roses Theatre, Tewksbury
31 March Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon
01 April Hafren, Newtown
03 April The Place, Oakengates Theatre, Telford
04 April Aberystwyth Arts Centre
05 – 07 April The Albany, Deptford
08 April Ffwrnes, Llanelli
26 April Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
27 April Square Chapel Centre for the Arts, Halifax
28 April The Grand Theatre Blackpool
02 May Mumford Theatre, Cambridge
03 May ARC Stockton
04 May Barnsley Civic
05 May Rosehill Theatre, Whitehaven
06 May Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
09 May mac birmingham
10 May Borough Theatre, Abergavenny
11 – 13 May Theatr Clwyd, Mold
2016:
26 Feb - 9 March, tour of Wales:
Blackwood Miners', Blackwood
Chapter, Cardiff
Park and Dare, Treorchy
Pontardawe Arts Centre
Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil
The Miners' Ammanford
The Torch, Milford Haven
5 - 26 August, Summerhall as part of Edinburgh Fringe
15 September, Circomedia, Bristol
30 Sept - 1 Oct, Theaterfestival Grenzenlos Kultur, Mainz, Germany