As part of a storytelling project funded by The Ragdoll Foundation, the theatre company will take their new show, ’The Tortoise and the Hare’ on the road, performing in Children’s Centres, primary schools and to local asylum seekers, reaching families who would not otherwise have access to live theatre.

The show is directed by Artistic Director, Joanna Carrick and stars Red Rose Chain’s Associate Artist, Darren Latham alongside Ellie Smith, a young actor who has come up through Red Rose Chain’s youth theatre programme. The project uses play, music and storytelling to capture the imagination of families, as well as encouraging them to read stories together with each child receiving a specially created illustrated book of the story!

Audiences can catch ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’ across 4 weeks in Children’s Centres in Ipswich, as well as two 1-hour performances for the public at The Avenue Theatre on Saturday 20 May.

Red Rose Chain are also excited to be working with the National Trust to bring the show to visitors at Sutton Hoo on Saturday 13 May. Sutton Hoo is the home of Red Rose Chain’s critically acclaimed Theatre in the Forest, with more family entertainment on offer this July and August with Shakespeare’s ‘The Winter’s Tale’.

Katy Frost, Community Director at Red Rose Chain says “We are so excited to be back with another under 5s show for what will be our 4th year of this incredible project. It’s even more exciting to be able to work this year with our partners at the National Trust to perform the show to families at Sutton Hoo! This project is really special to us as for many families it is their first experience of live theatre and with so much fun, music and interaction, it’s the perfect way to introduce them!”

Tickets for the live show at Sutton Hoo are available via www.nationaltrust.org

Tickets for the live show at The Avenue are available via www.redrosechain.com