te POOKa Shows
- Exploding Haggis |
- The Many Faces of the Clown |
- Secrets of the Forest
- Biodiversity - a Living Lecture |
- Walkabout Acts
"Exploding Haggis"
A 40 minute high-energy fire spectacular based loosely on a (not quite) traditional Burns Supper.
If you are looking for a unique Scottish finale to your event - this is the one!
The audience gathers around the stage which is set with a Scottish Flag fire sculpture up stage centre, flanked either side by two 12 foot tall puppets - a fiddler and a piper. Thistle fire sculptures sit in the downstage corners.
Before the start of the show, characters move through the crowd, getting the craic and building up the atmosphere. The costumes depict Scotland through the ages from traditional plaids to modern mini-kilts.
A performer enters on stage wheeling a small cannon behind him, which he fires. The cannon shot cues pipe music for the 'piping of the haggis.' All the performers process through the crowd to the stage carrying a large silver platter. A table is brought on stage and all performers gather around it for a brief rendition of 'Ode to a Haggis'. The lid is lifted off the platter, but the haggis bursts into flames. The dinner party collapses into chaos when two performers start eating the flaming haggis! What follows is a fiery medley of diverse fire manipulation including staff spinning, fire hula-hoop, fire acrobatics and a flaming sword fight and dance, culminating in lighting the Scottish Flag and Thistle fire sculptures. This is set to different Scottish tunes, traditional and modern, punctuated by excerpts of Burns' and other Scottish poetry.
"The Many Faces of the Clown"
A 40 minute high-energy circus and fire show where the clowns rule.
Look Out! The clowns are on the loose and they are creating mischief and mayhem in their wake.
This troupe of clowns - Bubbles, Trouble, Nasty, Morose and Deploris love to show off and have fun but often at each others expense. Using a variety of circus skills the audience is posed with an interesting and challenging look at 'real' life - like how do you cheer someone up who is depressed? How do you encourage an obese person to hula hoop? Are there repercussions to being a nasty bully? And what happens when you co-operate together?
te POOKa's style of performance dissolves the barrier between performer and audience, so be prepared to get involved!
The clowns will entertain children and adults alike with a number of skills including acrobatics, fire spinning, fire eating, crystal ball juggling, hula hooping and trapeze.
"Secrets of the Forest"
A magical guided walk through a woodland or stately garden.
Your woodland or garden will be turn into a realm of magic using flags, drapes, candles, strange faces, fire light and magical doorways. Once transformed the audience travel through this space experiencing what most people haven't - the true woodland at night.
Led by two (almost) human guides, your guests will be immersed in an other-worldly experience. Along pathways lit by fire torches creatures appear; ethereal beings who hang from trees, woodland elves who play with crystal balls and faery folk who create mischief. The secrets of the forest slowly unveil themselves through magic, circus, fire and masquerade.
Versions of this show have been performed over the last 5 years for The Forestry Commission, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, Community Woodland Association.
This show can be adapted to include local tales or children's stories.
Visit the Secrets of the Forest gallery
"Biodiversity" - a Living Lecture
Join our professionals, Prof. Gunter Steinbalmovitz from the Institute of HOW - Harmonizing Our World and Dr. Idloveabite from the University of LIFE, for a thought provoking lecture on biodiversity. With their lovely assistant Salmonella, they tell a vivid story about its decline and the consequences we are now facing. We didn't even have to persuade our special quest, Queen Beatrice the Bee, to come along and share her views as she thought it was urgent that people know about the plight of the bees.
This is a serious comedy looking at questions such as 'What is biodiversity?', 'What threatens biodiversity?' and 'How to conserve biodiversity'. Using a variety of presentation styles ranging from games and circus to Powerpoint (well, OpenOffice Impress actually), they deliver an inspiring message on a grim subject.
Though the show may appear that it is only suitable for children, it was originally developed to educate teachers for Scottish Natural Heritage.
WALKABOUT ACTS
Gargoyles
Through the years and places traveled, the gargoyles have evolved into creatures who, despite being mischievous and allover the place, are yet meaningful. Through the intimate interaction with people, they challenge people to re-evaluate their lives through the values the gargoyles uphold. Is there more to life than what society tell you it should be? Is playing REALLY just for children? Surely you DID NOT just drop you litter on the ground?!?
No-one can tell you what exactly is going to happen as there is no script. There is only the moment and the relationship that is briefly formed between the character and the member(s) of the public. Only question is: will you shy away or rise to the challenge and go where the gargoyle takes you?
These gargoyles have been out on many an occasion. The highlights include Edinburgh and Stirling Castle, Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince Book launch with J.K. Rowling, Edinburgh's Torchlit Procession, Streets of Brighton and Glastonbury Festivals. They have quite a lot of mileage behind them.
