A Quirk Theatre adaptation of Five Children & It, a festive family-friendly adventure about a creature that grants wishes, is providing a magical alternative to the panto from 17 to 28 December at Exeter Phoenix.
The production is based on the children’s novel by E. Nesbit, author of The Railway Children.
Five Children & It is the first in a series about the “Psammead”, a sand-fairy with the ability to grant wishes. A group of children encounter the grumpy creature in a gravel pit but discover that their wishes have unintended consequences.
The Quirk Theatre adaptation will instead be set in a library to celebrate the magic that good books bring to the world.
Quirk Theatre is an Exeter-based theatre company led by artistic director Katie Villa and creative director Simon Hall.
It creates original productions for children and families using projection, puppetry and music.
It also hosts workshops and projects in schools, community centres and public spaces in Devon.
This year’s performance will be Quirk’s twentieth Christmas production at Exeter Phoenix.
Performances of Five Children & It begin at 2pm and 4.30pm at Exeter Phoenix on Sunday 17, Thursday 21, Friday 22, Saturday 23, Sunday 24 and Thursday 28 December 2023.
The 2pm show on Sunday 17 December is a “relaxed” performance and the 4.30pm performance on Thursday 21 December will feature a British Sign Language interpreter.
Tickets cost between £10-14 with family tickets available from £40.
Ticket buyers can also donate to Refugee Support Devon and Exeter Foodbank via the Quirk Theatre and Exeter Phoenix “Pay it Forward” scheme.
Last year attendees raised £1,000 for the charities via the scheme, enabling more than 30 families to attend performances who would otherwise not have been able to do so.
There will also be performances of Five Children & It from Wednesday 29 November to Saturday 2 December 2023 at the Plough Arts Centre in Great Torrington.
For more information and to book tickets for all shows visit the Exeter Phoenix website.
