Spike is the wonderful story of a little girl, her grandmother and her favourite dinosaur – powerfully told through theatrical storytelling and dance.
"The story of a little girl and a newly-hatched dinosaur has a spellbinding effect in Spike!"
The whole performance was magical and educational. The movement on stage was so beautiful.
Starcatchers presents SPIKE! – a dinosaur caper by Andy Cannon and David Trouton
SPIKE! a dinosaur caper
Mary Anne lives in an ordinary little town
with an extraordinary museum.
There’s
rockets and planes
boats and trains
tigers and sloths
butterflies and moths
and a dinosaur egg………
A wonderful tale of a little girl, her grandmother and her favourite dinosaur, SPIKE! a dinosaur caper is powerfully told through theatrical storytelling and dance.
Join Spike for a magical story about the passing of time and the tales that bring families together, all set to original music.
“The story was easy to understand and follow for my 5 year old. I didn’t feel like I had to explain the scene. He recognised the different dinosaur names and loved that they sat on the floor up close to the cast. The sound effects and story-telling was beautifully done.” Audience member, 2021 tour
Lead artist / concept and creation – Andy Cannon
Composer – David Trouton
Creative Movement Adviser – Ethelinda Lashley-Scott
Designer – Becky Minto
Design Associate and Costume Supervisor – Megan Adair
Lighting Designer – Suzie Normand
Performers – Jennifer Steele, Monica De Ioanni and Louise Montgomery
Production Management – Michael Graham and Sophie Wright
Stage Manager – Suzie Normand
With thanks to Brian Hartley, Catherine Wilson Garry and the children of Canal View and Greengables nurseries, who took part in the early development of Spike.
Spike toured to:
2022
Perth Theatre | 10 & 11 June
The Byre Theatre, St Andrews Wed 8 June
Cumbernauld Theatre at Lanternhouse | Sat 4 June
Traverse Theatre | 31 May & 1 June
Catstrand, as part of Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival | 28 & 29 May
Centrestage, Kilmarnock | 24 & 25 May
Regal Reconnect, Bathgate | 18 & 19 May
2021
Beacon Arts Centre | 23 – 24 October
The Brunton | 19 – 20 October
Aberdeen Music Hall | 14 – 16 October
Eden Court | 9 – 11 October
Birnam Arts | 5 October
Macrobert Arts Theatre | 30 Sept – 2 October
Can you make your bodies into the shape of different parts of a dinosaur? Try being a tall, strong leg, or a swishy tail, or turn your arms or legs into huge snapping jaws! Use your bodies to build a dinosaur together.
Can you use your bodies to tell a story? If you've been to the theatre, watched a film or read a book together, try and use your bodies to share the story with someone else - without speaking!
Let your cuddly dinosaur (or any toy) lead you in a dance around the room! Spin in circles, move them fast and slow, high and low, and let your body follow them, pretending they are in charge of the dance.
This is a great game for a bus or car journey, or even going for a walk. When you see something red, shout "RED!" and everyone has to freeze, When you see something green, shout "GREEN!" and everyone can move again.
This is a dinosaur version of Grandmother's Footsteps - as you sneak up on "Granny" you need to move like dinosaurs and freeze in a dino pose every time "Granny" turns around. At the end shout your own dinosaur name, e.g. Jake-a-saurus!
"I remember the very first day we met..." Wee ones love hearing stories about themselves, so tell them what you remember about them being younger: first cuddles, first laughs together, the first time you realised how much you love them.
Telling a story rather than reading from a book is a wonderful way to connect with children and provides fantastic opportunities for children to shape the narrative themselves. Andy Cannon has been telling stories professionally for over 20 years on stage and in nurseries and schools. He believes we’re all story tellers – here are his Top Storytelling Tips!
Associate Artist
Andy Cannon is one of Scotland’s leading storytellers and was a founder of Wee Stories Theatre where he created productions including Labyrinth, Treasure Island and Arthur, Story of a King.
Composer, SPIKE! – a dinosaur tale
David Trouton is a musician who has been making up music for theatre shows for longer than he can remember. He has collaborated on many shows for children and young people and also likes to work with dancers; visual artists; filmmakers; writers and anyone else who has interesting ideas and likes to make things.
