Lockdown Tales from Wonderful Beast: Recent Episodes
Lockdown Tales from Wonderful Beast
Lockdown Tales: children's stories brought to you by the theatre company of stories, myths and legends.
The Wonderful Beast Singers and cast of First the Dance, Then the Feast sing a traditional Ukrainian folk song ahead of the show's opening night at Thorington Theatre on June 23rd 2022.
Accompanied by Martina Schwarz on accordion, Meg-Rosaleen Hamilton on viola and Bogdan Vacarescu on violin.
When a vain padishah asks his three sons how much they each love him, his youngest answers with the truth. But the padishah does not understand the worth of his son's reply.
Traditional Turkish folktale read by Diana Quick, with original music composed and performed by Sylvia Hallett.
A haughty Padishah tries to change the fortune of his daughter and his kingdom, with unexpected consequences.
Read by Theo Fraser Steele, with original music composed and performed by Sylvia Hallett.
Ann Bryson reads this traditional Turkish folktale, the second in Wonderful Beast's Christmas Unlocked series.
With music composed and performed by Sylvia Hallett.
When a poor boy is given a magical pumpkin, the greedy Mehmet steals it and tries to sell it for a small fortune. Only problem is, he doesn't know how to make it open. What's priceless to one person might be worthless to anyone else, however hard he tries...
Traditional Turkish folktale read by Rob Jarvis, with music written and performed by Sylvia Hallett.
Mary is the bravest servant girl in the land - dark nights, skull bones, she's afraid of nothing, live or dead. But will she triumph when she tries to outwit a ghost?
Version of the folktale by Kevin Crossley-Holland.
Morven Macbeth tells the Scottish tale, The Finger Lock, about a boy who discovers he has unexpected musical talent, with the help of a little fairy.
The tale is followed by Julia Blackburn reciting the folk rhyme The Green Grass.
With original music from Sylvia Hallett. Cover image taken from a photograph by Aghyad Najjar.
When Scarface Claw gets stuck up a tree, the din that ensues is deafening...
Read by Will Hackett-Jones, by kind permission of Dame Lynley Dodd and Penguin Random House New Zealand.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Morven Macbeth tells this folktale about a little boy who doesn't like the dark, and who is always turning on the lights. But when a little girl named Dark shows him how to look at things differently, will she change his mind?
Morven dedicates this story to her father, Ian Macbeth, a keen story-teller and collector of stories.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett. Cover image by Peter de Vink.
Hairy Maclary tears through the town with his delicious bone, pursued by all and sundry. Will he have to share his prize, or will he get to enjoy it in peace?
Will Hackett-Jones reads the this tale from the classic children's series by Lynley Dodd. With original music by Sylvia Hallett. By kind permission of Lynley Dodd and Penguin Random House New Zealand.
Anusha Subramanyam and Prathap Ramachandra perform this Indian folktale about a little boy who longs for a drum.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett and Prathap Ramachandra. This version of the tale was collected by A.K. Ramanujan.
Hairy Maclary sets off from Donaldson's Dairy, accompanied by his canine buddies. But what will they do when they meet the toughest cat in town?
Will Hackett-Jones reads the very first in the classic children's series by Lynley Dodd. With original music by Sylvia Hallett. By kind permission of Lynley Dodd and Penguin Random House New Zealand.
Martina Schwarz performs this little-known tale from the Brothers Grimm.
Simpleton's brothers crash their way through life, abusing the world around them, while Simpleton pleads with them to 'leave the creatures alone!'. When his brothers' bullishness catches them out, will Simpleton's kindness to the natural world be enough to save his life?
With original music by Martina Schwarz, and Sylvia Hallett.
In a very special piece for Wonderful Beast, this is a world premiere of a new story written for by nine-year-old Daniel Shaw, who has kindly allowed us to record and include it in Lockdown Tales.
A letter from the Oracle is found, warning the people of the earth to change their ways to save their planet. But will they listen?
Read by Sally Ann Burnett, with original music by Sylvia Hallett. Cover image by Porapak Apichodilok.
Petra Markham reads this classic cumulative tale collected by Joseph Jacobs. When an old woman buys a pig at the market, she finds she can't get it over the stile to go home. How will she persuade the pig to go, and will she ever get home?
With original music by Sylvia Hallett. Cover image by Leah Kelley.
Veronica Lamond reads her own fabulous story in which we meet a Land Rover Defender known as 'Fender' and his owner, Dan, who find more than they bargained for on a beach clean near their home in Cornwall.
This audio is taken from an original animation produced for Veronica by Sharkbay Films, and is included in Lockdown Tales by kind permission of Veronica Lamond and Sharkbay Films. With original music by Veronica Lamond.
Lockdown Tales theme composed and performed by Sylvia Hallett.
Ann Penfold reads Elizabeth Dale's heartwarming story about Daddy bear's efforts to show the little bears there's no need to be afraid. After all, nothing can frighten a bear! But is Daddy bear as brave as he seems?
By kind permission of Nosy Crow books. With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Alfie Enoch reads this gorgeous Brazilian folktale. A little brown beetle shows that even the smallest and plainest among us have hidden talents, and that judging someone on looks alone is never a clever idea.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Julia Blackburn recites from memory this well-loved folk poem.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
A vain little mouse has several proposals from a variety of suitors, but who will she choose?
Told by Montserrat Roig de Puig, with original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Alexa's Fotos.
Rosalind Burt reads Leanne Guenther's adaptation of the classic fairytale.
With original music from Sylvia Hallett.
Rob Jarvis reads Lucy Rowland and Kate Hindley's fabulous story following a little knight called Ned, who always does what he's told with a smile. But when a dragon comes to town, Ned makes some changes...
The story is used by Lockdown Tales by kind permission of Nosy Crow. With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Sally Ann Burnett reads this classic fairytale from the Brothers Grimm. Gretel is a cook who has a taste for her own cooking, and her master's wine. But when she takes one bite too many, will she be clever enough to get away with it?
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Edward Eyer.
A foolish husband sets off to try his hand at becoming a businessman. But when he hears an ear-catching tune, will he spend his money sensibly or not?
Performed by Rob Gildon.
Lockdown Tales theme music composed and performed by Sylvia Hallett.
Hans Christian Andersen's tale of a spoilt princess, whose selfishness brings about her downfall. Hilariously retold by Ann Bryson, with original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Samer Daboul.
Hugh Fraser reads Thomas Hood's poem. A child, too hot to sleep, imagines all the glorious animals they would like to be.
Cleo Sylvestre reads her own gorgeous tale, showing how a tiny hummingbird can be hugely powerful when her friends come to help her out.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Vincent Franklin tells this adaptation of the classic children's folk tale, The Emperor's New Clothes.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Gratisography.
Diana Quick tells this favourite children's fairytale, The Three Little Pigs. Will the little pigs outwit the big bad wolf?
With original music by Sylvia Hallett
Julia Blackburn reads Edward Lear's poem, 'The Quangle Wangle's Hat'.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett. Cover image by our competition winner, Alice Reeves.
When a man comes upon the sea people dancing on the midsummer moonilt shore, he tricks one of them into becoming his wife. Will she stay, or will the sea call her home?
Read by Gemma Jones. With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Blue Kangaroo spends all day seeing Lily being a good and helpful girl, but when night falls, Tiny Teddy is left out in the rain. Blue Kangaroo knows what he has to do.
Written and read by Emma Chichester Clark. With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
The second in our pairing of two 'Vinegar' folk tales, this one following the story of a selfish woman whose greed is never satisfied, and who never remembers to be grateful for what she has.
Adapted and performed by Hilary Greatorex. With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
The first in our Mr. & Mrs. Vinegar pairing. Sam Wright reads a variant of the classic 'Vinegar' folktales. This story follows Mr. Vinegar's greedy progress as he trades his way to the top...and what goes up, must come down.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Couleur.
Bethany O'Halloran reads this Hungarian folk tale following a poor man who is given an unexpected helping hand.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Şahin Sezer.
Matt Prendergast reads this classic German fairytale from the brothers Grimm.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Rodrigo del Per.
Annie Firbank reads this ancient tale of a daughter whose honesty challenges her father's self-image. A Cinderella tale for all the family, and a source for many tales that followed it.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Karolina Grabowska.
When a hard-working shoemaker leaves his work out ready to be done the next morning, he is amazed to find it miraculously finished for him when he returns.
Read by Theo Fraser Steele. With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Dmitry Demidov.
Petra Markham, with style and some impressive tongue-twisting skill, tells this familiar folktale following Henny Penny on her ill-fated journey to tell the king the sky is a'falling.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Berend de Kort.
Sasha Mitchell reads three of her favourite poems written by her father, poet and playwright Adrian Mitchell.
Diana Quick tells this childhood favourite, following naughty Goldilocks' adventure in the house of the three bears.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Lily's favourite toy is Blue Kangaroo, and she sleeps with him every night. But as new toys begin to fill up Lily's bed, what will happen to Blue Kangaroo? Emma Chichester Clark reads her own heart-warming tale.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
The exchange between a mother and son, over the course of the war. Read by Hilary Greatorex.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Dame Penelope Wilton tells a favourite folk tale, The Little Red Hen. When the Little Red Hen asks her friends to help her, they don't seem particularly motivated. But what will happen when they find out what she's made?
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Will Hackett-Jones reads Leo Tolstoy's short story, 'The Two Brothers'. What would you do if you found a prophecy written on a stone in the forest? Disagreeing with a sibling is always a strong place to start.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Janko Ferlic.
Petra Markham reads four poems by Walter de la Mare: 'Silver', 'The Listeners', 'Hide & Seek', and 'Dream-Song', all evoking the magical light of the moon and the mysterious wonder of the night.
By kind permission of the de la Mare family and the Society of Authors.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett. Cover image by Rok Romih.
Actor and author Sophie Neville reads the tale of a boy called Charlie Cook, who sat down to read his favourite book, taking the reader on a concertina of an adventure that will delight young and old alike.
Written by the creators of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Charlie Cook's Favourite Book celebrates its 25th Anniversary in 2020. By kind permission of Macmillan Children's Books.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Actor and producer Jenny Hall reads this magical excerpt of a conversation between two fairies, from William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett. As heard on BBC Radio Suffolk.
Cover image by #cottonbro.
Poet Dean Parkin reads two of his poems, and invites children to try writing your own 'Word List Poem'. Which words would you choose? With original music by Sylvia Hallett. As heard on BBC Radio Suffolk.
Hilary Greatorex retells the classic Princess and the Pea story. When a bedraggled girl claiming to be a princess seeks refuge at the home of a fussy prince, the palace isn't convinced she is really what she says.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Tracey Hocking.
A podcast series sending stories to children separated from loved ones by the Covid-19 restrictions.
Actors and authors have contributed home-recordings of themselves reading much-loved stories to children from whom they are separated due to the lockdown, and shared with children worldwide.
Sally Ann Burnett reads two Lord Alfred Douglas favourites, and Edward Lear's 'The Table and the Chair'. As heard on BBC Radio Suffolk.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett.
Cover image by Felipe Borges.
Petra Markham reads 'The Pear Tree's Wedding', by her mother, the poet Olive Dehn, and Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Foreign Lands'. As heard on BBC Radio Suffolk.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett. Cover image by photos_by_ginny.
Emily Holt reads Edward Lear's poem, 'The Duck and the Kangaroo'. As heard on BBC Radio Suffolk.
With original music by Sylvia Hallett. Cover image by Ethan Brooke.