The Mousehole Cat by PuppetCraft

The Mousehole Cat

A puppet show for any age from 4 to very grown-up

by PuppetCraft

Based on the award winning book.
Text ©1990 Antonia Barber. Illustrations ©1990 Nicola Bayley. Published by Walker Books Ltd.

The story is told through the eyes of Mowzer the cat, about the Cornish fishing village of Mousehole where a storm has been raging for weeks. Everyone is hungry as the boats cannot leave the harbour to fish.

Old Tom the fisherman and his cat Mowzer set out to sea in their small boat, braving the fury of the Great Storm-Cat to try and save the village.

The story is inspired by an old folk legend - which is still celebrated each year in the village of Mousehole.

A charming tale brought to life using carved wooden puppets, coloured shadows, live music, song and sound-effects.

Set in a beautiful stage of sea, sky and the little Cornish village.

Feel free to enquire about bookings, with no commitments.

Credits: see Team behind the puppets.

Based on the award winning book.
Text ©1990 Antonia Barber. Illustrations ©1990 Nicola Bayley. Published by Walker Books Ltd.

Designed and directed by John Roberts.
Textile work by Sue Field.
Adapted by Patrick Cooper.
Puppet, props and stage made by: Chloe Bardolf-Smith, Martin Corbin, James Richardson, John Roberts.
Painting by Bridget Green and Philip Oliver.
Sound-scape recorded by Richard Gonski.
Performed by: Rachel Miller (storyteller + musician) and John Roberts (puppeteer).
Thanks to South Hams District Council for a little funding.

Review

Puppeteers bring Mousehole Cat alive

There is only one way to see a puppet show, and that’s to see it surrounded by children. It was good to see the theatre packed to the gunnels for PuppetCraft’s production of “The Mousehole Cat”.

Based on the award winning children’s book by Antonia Barber, set against a backdrop of the village of Mousehole which for visual appeal came close to matching Nicola Bayley’s original illustrations and told through the miaowing and purring of Mowzer the Cat, from start to finish it grabbed everyone - of whatever age, from four years old upward - in a paw-like grip, matched only by that of the Great Storm Cat’s.

Using a mix of carved wooden puppets, coloured shadows, live music, song and sound effects the puppeteers brought to life the legendary Tom Bawcock, who saved the villagers of Mousehole from starvation by putting to sea in a fearsome gale on the day before Christmas Eve and catching seven sorts of fish, enough for everyone to make and enjoy a life-saving, local delicacy - starry gazey pie.

Laced with good humour, from orchestrated audience participation.... the chorus of “starry gazey pie”, the singing and the dancing, to the unrehearsed, spontaneous cries of pleasure, the Devon-based company PuppetCraft, which has been performing nationally and internationally for the past decade, did more than enough to convince all concerned that as the song says, Mousehole is, indeed a merry place to be on Tom Bawcock’s Eve.

The Cornishman Newspaper. February 2000

Technical Details:

Ideal for 4 to 10 years, and families. (not under 4’s)
Show runs 50 minutes.
Audience size up to 200.
Blackout or greyout important.
Space for our stage: 5m wide x 3m deep x 2.7m high.
Set up =1 ½ hours. Pack up = 30 minutes.
All lighting and sound carried.
1 electric socket.
No raised stage needed.
Puppets perform at tabletop height.... so audience sitting on the floor or raked seating is ideal.

FOR PUBLICITY:
Please use the following credit and details
The Mousehole Cat
A puppet show for any age from 4 to very grown-up
by PuppetCraft

Based on the award winning book
Text ©1990 Antonia Barber.
Illustrations ©1990 Nicola Bayley.
Published by Walker Books Ltd.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additional details if required:
The story is told through the eyes of Mowzer the cat, about the Cornish fishing village of Mousehole where a storm has been raging for weeks. Everyone is hungry as the boats cannot leave the harbour to fish.
Old Tom the fisherman and his cat Mowzer set out to sea in their small boat, braving the fury of the Great Storm-Cat to try and save the village.

The story is inspired by an old folk legend - which is still celebrated each year in the village of Mousehole.

A charming tale brought to life using carved wooden puppets, coloured shadows, live music, song and sound-effects.
Set in a beautiful stage of sea, sky and the little Cornish village.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If the illustration is used please print this credit:
Illustration © Nicola Bayley

Illustration
Click on drawing for a large download: 2.89MB

Tom and Mowzer
Click on picture for a large download: 650KB

Sunday's Dish -Star-Gazy Pie Recipe:

- Prime Pilchards in Pastry -

Shortcrust pastry made with 10 oz plain flour

8 pilchards, sardines or small herrings
Salt, pepper
1 large chopped onion
Approx. 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
3 hard-bailed eggs
3 rashers streaky bacon
beaten egg to glaze

Roll out pasty far double-crust plate pie. Cover the plate.
Brush the rim with water and roll out another piece for the lid. Keep it aside.

Preheat the oven to gas 6, 200C (400F)

Clean and bone the fish, leaving their heads in place. Season inside and stuff with finely chopped onion and parsley.
Fold back into shape.

Lay the fish an the pasty like the spokes of a wheel with their heads on the rim so that they can gaze upwards.
Fill the gaps in between with chopped bacon and hard boiled eggs.
Put the pastry lid in place, pressing dawn between the fish heads so that it meets the pasty of the lower rim, making a wavy effect. Brush with beaten egg.

Bake for 30 minutes, though if the fish are on the large side be prepared to give them
15 minutes more at the reduced heat of gas 4, 180C (350F).

Serve hot.

Recipie supplied by Felicity Sylvester, Appledore Festival.

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