Plymouth school children cowrite retelling of The Three Little Pigs for UK tour

Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company presents a joyful, family-friendly retelling of The Three Little Pigs, which has been cowritten by nine school children including three from Plymouth.

The unique production, which features raucous puppets and original music, began its UK tour in autumn 2023 and will culminate its run in Plymouth on Tuesday 26 March, playing on The Drum stage until Sunday 14 April 2024.

Led by Artistic Director Niki McCretton, the company supports children’s learning and development through creative activities. Teachers are given a greater understanding about the benefits of learning through the creative arts and given confidence to widen their curriculum planning. Heralding imagination at the forefront of their work, their shows are co-created with children and artists to enable an insightful creative journey, where children and adults can learn together and inspire each other.

With The Three Little Pigs, Stuff and Nonsense present an unmissable reimagination of the classic tale that holds children’s curiosity and playfulness and family connection at the heart of the story.

After tricking the unsuspecting wolf onto a bus, the three little pigs are on the run and in search of help from audiences across the country. With the need to build a strong shelter, these problem-solving pigs call upon the audience to help them outrun and outsmart their unwitting pursuer. The young co-writers worked alongside the team in creating and rehearsing the show as true collaborators. This included attending rehearsals as well as a day at The National Theatre studios in August, as part of National Theatre’s Generate programme.

Whilst the Company regularly delivers workshops for schools and works with children as part of their creation process, The Three Little Pigs is an extension of this way of working that has involved children’s input from beginning to end.

Director and Artistic Director Niki McCretton said: “It is a show about family – three plucky siblings and a Lone Wolf! We have been creating it with a group of wonderfully insightful and inspiring children who have contributed brilliant ideas, so it’s a show that has real heart as well as some exciting adventures.”

Co-writer Anna Murphy said: “I am delighted to be in the theatrical playground that is Stuff and Nonsense’s storytelling. The Three Little Pigs, like their other shows, is a suitcase full of delight, inventiveness, joy, and wonder.”

The Three Little Pigs was commissioned by Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts and Theatre Royal Plymouth, supported using public funding from the National Lottery through the Arts Council Engand, with additional support from the National Theatre’s Generate programme The Lyric Theatre, Bridport and The Point, Eastleigh.

 To find out more and book tickets, visit www.theatreroyal.com/whats-on/three-little-pigs.