Download Cranky Bear learning.. - Patch Theatre Company

Adapted from the
best-selling book,
The Very Cranky Bear,
by Nick Bland
Cranky Bear
Director’s Note
“Who in your life do you remember most
fondly? Those who were kindest to you, I bet?”
Goerge Saunders.
When I first read Nick Bland’s book, The
Very Cranky Bear, I was smitten! The more
I investigated it the more I realised what a
beautifully simple yet sophisticated work it is.
Leonardo Da Vinci said, “Simplicity is the
ultimate sophistication” and that is what
we get with this story: an easy to read,
entertaining, funny and poignant story that
is loaded with insight and meaning. Like
all the best stories, it connects us to big
human themes in a compelling way that is
immediately accessible to a 4 year old. That’s
some achievement! That is why we felt
compelled to adapt this story for theatre – to
honour the story and open it up in a new way
for live audiences.
We have chosen to present Cranky Bear as
a “cabaret show” because the flamboyant
threesome of Zebra, Lion and Moose seem
to exist naturally within that world. They’re
entertainers – audacious, extravert, confident,
self-assured, charming and playful. They are
cabaretiers by nature! They represent the
whimsical, chaotic and outlandish aspect
of personality in the extreme. They have
self-belief almost beyond reason – hubris.
What they lack a little of is the kindness and
compassion of the unassuming sheep, who in
our story, gives credence to the importance of
empathy and humility.
Our misunderstood Cranky Bear finds a soulmate when the kind and thoughtful sheep
acts with courage and empathy to resolve the
Bear’s troubles.
In our theatre adaptation, we explore the big
human themes that our story offers – insights
into self-belief, being misunderstood, feeling
overwhelmed, finding courage, acting with
integrity, the power of humility, the meaning
of empathy and the importance of kindness.
We are excited to present the humour and
pathos of this wonderful children’s story for
our audiences to enjoy and absorb.
“Kindness allows us to live stronger, more
optimistic, serene and loving lives.”
Nikki Gemmell
The Importance of Play
“Play is the highest form of research.”
Albert Einstein
There is nothing I love more than sitting in
a theatre full of children watching a quality
show. Children are enchanted by theatre and
parents and carers love sharing the magic.
Yes! In the world of the mega-movie, the iPad
and other amazing technological delights,
children love theatre – because theatre does
things differently. It is elegant and simple.
It is universal and timeless. It is whimsical
and metaphorical. It invites children to use
their imaginations to create the world being
suggested to them through the story, music,
song, costume, lights, image, dance, sound,
mask, movement and design.
Good theatre is an important part of the rich
and diverse palette of activity all parents
should wish their children to be part of.
And children deserve the best. Engaging,
challenging, refined, sophisticated and
entertaining experiences that touch their
hearts and minds.
Patch Theatre is a 42-year old Adelaide-based
professional theatre company that specialises
in developing and producing high quality
theatre for 4-8 year olds. Each year we perform
locally, nationally and internationally. Our
mission is to energise the creative instincts of
the 4-8 year old child in order to keep “those
instincts alive in the child” beyond those
years.
“Every child is an artist; the challenge is to
keep them so.” Albert Einstein
Dave Brown
Artistic Director, Patch Theatre Company.
Health Partners Learning Activities
With generous support from our project partner, Health
Partners, every child attending our performance will
receive a Cranky Bear mask.
The mask is a springboard for a range of creative learning
activity that explores the themes and ideas of the Cranky
Bear story, available through our dedicated Cranky Bear
website.
K-3 children from Sturt Street Community School worked
with Patch Theatre artists over a 5-week period to develop
these creative learning activities.
Please take the time to share our learning adventures
with your children by viewing our simple-to-use online
resource.
www.crankybearpatch.com
Revisit the Performance
We have provided images from the
performance in the pages that follow,
together with some conversation
starter questions, as an entry point to
the learning activities provided online.
“There is no greater gift we can give each other than the gift of understanding, of looking and
really seeing, of peering beyond the persona and into the person with an awareness that
however different our struggles and circumstances may be, we are bonded by the great human
longing to be truly seen for who we are.” Maria Popova
Patch Theatre Company
Cranky Bear
1. Showtime
How many performers are in
the show?
How many characters did they
play?
1
2. Scene Changes
There are six scenes in the show:
Scene 1 - The Jungle
Scene 2 – Four Little Friends
Scene 3 – The Cranky Bear Experience
Scene 4 – Zebra, Lion and Moose’s Big Idea
Scene 5 - What Bear Wants
Scene 6 – A Kind and Thoughtful Sheep
Can you tell us what happened
in one or more of these scenes?
3. The Jungle
A storm in the jungle is no
place to be.
Why?
2
4. Moose’s Antlers
Moose loves his antlers.
What are some things that you
like about yourself?
3
4
Patch Theatre Company
Cranky Bear
5. Lion and Zebra
What makes the Lion happy?
What makes the Zebra happy?
6. Sheep is Plain
At the beginning of our
story sheep is very shy and
feels overwhelmed by the
confidence of Zebra, Lion and
Moose.
Tell us about a time when you
have felt shy.
7. The Cranky Bear Experience
Tell us about a time when
you’ve been scared by
something.
8. Out in the Rain Again
Would you rather be in a cosy,
warm cave with a cranky bear
or out in the jungle during
a storm with thunder and
lightning all around?
Why?
5
6
7
8
Patch Theatre Company
Cranky Bear
9. Parade of Possibilities
Zebra, Lion and Sheep think
they know how to cheer up the
Cranky Bear.
Go to our website
www.crankybearpatch.com
to make a Snap Pack of cards
and explore the meaning of
empathy.
9
10. Who Did This To Me?
Why does the bear get angry
when Zebra, Lion and Moose try
to cheer him up?
11. Cranky Bear is Miserable.
Cranky Bear doesn’t like being
in this story very much because
all he gets to do is roar and be
cranky! He feels miserable and
misunderstood. He wishes he
could be a happy bear.
Have you ever felt miserable
about something?
12. What Bear Wants
Bear wants to be in a story
where he gets to sing,
dance and be happy.
Does he get his wish?
10
11
12
Patch Theatre Company
Cranky Bear
13. Bear Hug
13
Sheep, with some kind
thoughts, a listening ear and a
big hug, helps the bear feel
better about himself.
Can you think of a time when
someone did that for you?
14. Shorn Sheep
Why did sheep clip off half her
wool? Won’t she get cold out in
the jungle rain?
15. A Pillow for Bear’s Head
There are four words that
describe sheep’s actions in this
story; “brave”, “kind”,
“thoughtful” and “empathetic”.
Can you tell us how sheep was
each of these things?
16. Song and Dance
A shy sheep and a cranky bear
are transformed by their
adventure.
Make you own costumes for
each of the characters in the
story and make up some more
Cranky Bear stories.
www.crankybearpatch.com/activities
Patch Theatre Company acknowledges the generous
support of our Digital Partner, Freerange Future.
14
15
16
Cranky Bear by Patch Theatre Company
Based on the book The Very Cranky Bear written and illustrated by Nick Bland.
Text and illustrations copyright © Nick Bland 2008.
First published by Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Australia Pty Limited in 2007.
This production produced under license from Scholastic Australia Pty Limited.
Cranky Bear song lyric copyright © Nick Bland 2008.
Words by Nick Bland. Music by Belinda Gehlert. Additional Libretto by Dave Brown.
Collaboratively devised by: Dave Brown, Geoff Cobham, David Gadsden, Belinda Gehlert, Jude
Henshall, Tim Overton, Ailsa Paterson, Stephen Sheehan with creative development support from
Cameron Goodall.
Director: Dave Brown
Composer/Arranger: Belinda Gehlert
Production Designer: Ailsa Paterson
Lighting Designer: Geoff Cobham
Production Manager: David Gadsden
Stage Manager: Catherine Turnbull
Lighting/Sound Operator: Steve Tilling
Costumes: Enken Hagge
Stage Management Secondment: Laura Palombella
Set Construction: State Theatre Company of SA
Curtain Painting: Scenic Studios
Cabaretier/Zebra/Bear: Tim Overton
Cabaretier/Lion/Sheep: Jude Henshall
Cabaretier/Moose: Stephen Sheehan
Understudy: Stuart Day
Associate Director in Residence (rehearsal period): Thom Browning
Associate Director in Residence (creative development): Naomi Edwards
Health Partners Community Engagement Project
Project Co-ordinator: Roz Hervey
Educators: Anne Marie Shin, Jenni Harpas, Poh Keng Low
Artists: Morag Cook, Roz Hervey, Ashton Malcolm, Sam Oster
Researcher: Elspeth Harley
Creative Education Partnership: Sturt Street Community School and Patch Theatre Company,
supported by ArtsSA and the Australia Council for the Arts
Cranky Bear Snap Pack Software: designed by Freerange Future
Cranky Bear Community Engagement Activities
Devised by: Roz Hervey, Thom Browning
Presented by: Roz Hervey, Dave Brown, Jude Henshall, Tim Overton, Stephen Sheehan
Patch Theatre Company Staff
General Manager: Christine Schloithe
Bookings Coordinator: Elda Corbo
Marketing Coordinator: Helen Preece
Program Coordinator: Lynda de Koning
Odeon Theatre Manager: Paul Taylor
Patch Theatre Company
Odeon Theatre
57A Queen Street
Norwood SA 5067
Ph: +61 8 8333 0444
Fax: +61 8 8332 2256
[email protected]
www.patchtheatre.org.au