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Drama company tours libraries

Children's theatre company presents 16 interactive performances

Children's drama company Marvellous Productions are bringing their unique interactive shows to the borough's libraries. The 16 performances, aimed at children aged up to five, bring picture books to life and feature exciting props such as a bubble machine, magic carpet, giant toothbrush and colourful hats.

Children are given the chance to feel, smell and taste different props throughout the shows, which also incorporate songs, rhymes, stories, movement and music.

The one-hour performances run at 10.30am from 15 June to 9 July as follows:

- Five Minutes' Peace - session based on book by Jill Murphy, featuring bath, bubble machine, movement and percussion instruments. Runs at Hammersmith Library, Shepherds Bush Road, W6 on Tuesday, 15 June; Fulham Library, 598 Fulham Road, SW6 on Wednesday (16); Sands End Library, 59-61 Broughton Road, SW6, on Thursday (17) and Shepherds Bush Library, 7 Uxbridge Road, W12 on Friday (18)

- The Very Hungry Caterpillar - based on book by Eric Carle. A chance for children to pretend they are caterpillars and crawl through giant fruit-shaped boxes. Runs at Hammersmith Library on Tuesday, 22 June; Fulham on Wednesday (23); Sands End on Thursday (24); Shepherds Bush on Friday (25)

- Old Hat New Hat - based on the book by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Hats galore to try on and a hat-shaped mirror to see how they look. Runs at Hammersmith on Tuesday (29); Fulham on Wednesday (30); Sands End on Thursday (1 July) and Shepherds Bush on Friday (2)

- I Am Not Sleepy - based on book by Lauren Child. Giant toothbrush and toothpaste tube among the props at this session, which runs at Hammersmith on Tuesday (6 July); Fulham on Wednesday (7); Sands End on Thursday (8) and Shepherds Bush on Friday (9).
Each session is followed by a half-hour discussion for parents and carers, based on the themes of the stories.

The programme, called In, Round, Through and Off!, is funded by the Arts Council.

Cllr David Williams, deputy for education, said: "We are working hard with a number of partners to bring books alive and encourage children to come into our libraries. We hope children will have a great deal of fun and that families will be encouraged to visit libraries more regularly.
The number of books and other items issued at our libraries and the number of visits to local libraries has continued to rise, despite a decline in library usage nationally. This is excellent news but we need to keep on making our libraries attractive and relevant to local people to ensure they continue to be well used."