Drama & Theatre (D&T): Hello, good to meet you. Tell us about your organisation.
Little Angel Theatre (LAT): At Little Angel Theatre, we've been sparking imaginations and bringing stories to life through the magic of puppetry since 1961. We are a world-leading, award-winning children's theatre that for over six decades has embraced artistic innovation, creating captivating shows that inspire children and young people. While we continue to honour the heritage of puppetry, we're always exploring new ways to push its creative boundaries.
Our shows, produced in-house, travel from our two theatres in Islington to national and international stages. Our work doesn't stop there. Through our creative learning programmes, we connect with schools and communities, offering educational activities that inspire young minds. Our Schools Partnership Programme supports eight local primary schools with enriching resources and exciting artistic opportunities. For schools outside the programme, we offer engaging puppetry workshops, teaching children – from Early Years to A Level – the art of puppet design, creation and performance. Whether on stage, in the community or in the classroom, we aim to inspire, educate – and bring puppetry to life.
D&T: What are you most excited for at this year's Expo?
LAT: It's a great chance for us to meet new schools and community partners, especially around London. We can't wait to share the magic of puppetry and showcase how we use this art form to inspire the imaginations of young minds. We've been providing high-quality, impactful learning experiences for years, and our in-school workshops are a perfect mix of fun and creativity. They're designed to help students explore the curriculum in fresh, engaging ways, while giving them a platform to express themselves, develop new skills, and most importantly, have fun. The Expo is the perfect opportunity for us to connect with educational practitioners who share our passion for creative learning. We're looking forward to sharing ways that we can spread Little Angel Theatre's magic further, be that by visiting your classrooms and spaces or by welcoming you to our theatres.
D&T: What is one thing you would like teachers and students to learn from the work of LAT?
LAT: We hope that both teachers and students who engage with our work take away a simple yet powerful message: creativity is limitless. Through puppetry, we show that stories can be told in countless ways, and imagination has no bounds. We want students to see how creativity can open up new ways of thinking, learning, and expressing themselves. And for teachers, we aim to provide tools that bring the curriculum to life in a way that's both fun and deeply impactful. Puppetry is not just an art form – it's a doorway into new worlds of learning, artistic innovation, and possibility. We have a broad offer that means that there's plenty to tick everyone's boxes.
D&T: Tell us about any upcoming productions, workshops or CPD sessions.
LAT: We've got so many exciting opportunities lined up at Little Angel Theatre for schools and students to get involved. Our programme of productions delight school audiences at our venues, and we've got a treasure trove of free digital shows that can be enjoyed right in the classroom. Whether you're looking for an unforgettable theatre visit for your class or want to bring the magic of puppetry to your own school or nursery, we've got you covered.
For those wanting to bring students to visit our theatres to watch one of our productions we have two shows running from February to April 2025: a brand-new adaptation of A Squash and a Squeeze by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler for ages 3–8, which will then be touring across the UK, and Little Angel Theatre's original show Miniature Travelling Circus for ages 2–5.
We also have a range of productions that can tour directly into schools. Some are available on specific tours, while others can be booked year-round, offering flexibility to suit your school's needs. We will be touring our baby show, Persephone: A Tale of the Seasons to nurseries from 17 February to 20 April 2025; and Story of Stories, a show specially designed for classrooms to ignite children's passion for storytelling in March 2025; and the Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson from 15 September to 24 December.
And let's not forget about our workshops – whether you're looking for curriculum-focused puppetry workshops or something more tailored, we cater to all age groups, from EYFS to higher education
We also offer professional development for teachers with our CPD sessions and adult learning programme, and digital education packs that give teachers the tools to weave puppetry into their own teaching. Plus, thanks to our in-house design workshop of professional designers and makers, we even take commissions to help bring your school's next big show to life by building custom-made puppets!
In 2025 we launch our National School Partnership Programme, which provides access to Little Angel Theatre productions and educational content no matter where you are located. Sign up at any time during the school year and choose one of three packages for your school that include access to digital screenings as well as touring productions that can come to your school. We cannot wait to spread the magic of puppetry to students everywhere!
You can find Little Angel Theatre at stand C10 on 30 and 31 January at the Music & Drama Education Expo at The Business Design Centre, London. Book your FREE ticket and view the full exhibitor list and programme musicanddramaeducationexpo.co.uk