The Phantom Tollbooth, written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Jules Feiffer, is a children’s adventure novel published in 1961 that follows the journey of a young boy named Milo as he travels through a magical kingdom. Transported by a mysterious tollbooth, Milo encounters characters like Tock the Watchdog and the Mathemagician, navigating wordplay-filled landscapes like Dictionopolis and Digitopolis. The story is a playful exploration of the wonders of language, the importance of learning, and the joy of discovery. 

The Lion King tells the coming of age of Simba, a young lion, as he overcomes the death of his father and ousting from his pride which rules the Pride Land, a kingdom of animals in Africa. Simba ultimately regains his rightful place as king of the pride, and in doing so, restores the kingdom’s natural order, referred to in the animals’ shared vocabulary as the “circle of life.”

We are delighted to be bringing the Matter of Britain to the Kalabash stage, based on T.H. White’s beloved book and the unforgettable Disney adaptation.

Before there was a famous king named Arthur, there was a curious boy named Wart and a kind old wizard named Merlyn. Transformed by Merlyn into the forms of his fantasy, Wart learns the value of history from a snake, of education from a badger, and of courage from a hawk--the lessons that help turn a boy into a man. Together, Wart and Merlyn take the reader through this timeless story of childhood and adventure--The Sword in the Stone.

This classic fable chronicles King Arthur's humble beginnings, and how he learns the power of love, kindness, knowledge and bravery in the path to become one of the most beloved kings in English history.

Young orphan Annie has lived a hard knock life in an anything but happy orphanage run by the ruthless matriarch Miss Agatha Hannigan. She quietly escapes her orphanage and sets out to find her parents, who she believe will claim her as their own with a broken locket. Her path leads her to be placed in the care of eccentric billionaire Oliver Warbucks. After a few days, Warbucks realizes that Annie means more to him than life itself. But Miss Hannigan, along with crooks Rooster and Lily plots to do away with Annie and will stop at nothing to reclaim her

Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination, and sometimes, an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package. Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of kids and adults alike that sunshine is always right around the corner! We are delighted to be bringing this story to our handmade theatre stage!

When Colin and Susan are pursued by eerie creatures across Alderley Edge, they are saved by the Wizard. He takes them into the caves of Fundindelve, where he watches over the enchanted sleep of one hundred and forty knights. But the heart of the magic that binds them - Firefrost, also known as the Weirdstone of Brisingamen - has been lost. The Wizard has been searching for the stone for more than 100 years, but the forces of evil are closing in, determined to possess and destroy its special power. Colin and Susan realise at last that they are the key to the Weirdstone's return. But how can two children defeat the Morrigan and her deadly brood?

We are thrilled to be bringing another Studio Gibli masterpiece to the Kalabash handmade theatre stage! During a forbidden excursion to see the surface world, a goldfish princess encounters a human boy named Sosuke, who gives her the name Ponyo. Ponyo longs to become human, and as her friendship with Sosuke grows, she becomes more humanlike. Ponyo's father brings her back to their ocean kingdom, but so strong is Ponyo's wish to live on the surface that she breaks free, and in the process, spills a collection of magical elixirs that endanger Sosuke's village! We can’t wait to bring this aquatic adventure to life!

We are delighted to be bringing one more story from our favorite Tove Jansson to the stage, and this time we’re going back to the very beginning. Moomins and The Great Flood is the forgotten first story about the Moomins and how they found Moominvalley. It’s the tale of Moominmamma and Moomintroll’s quest to find the lost Moominpappa who has gone off with the Hattifatteners, and how they find their way to the beautiful Moominvalley, born as a result of a great flood. They move through a forest full of suspense and a monumental flood, counter a stream of surprises and meet all kinds of peculiar beings along the way, including the Hemulens and the Hattifatteners and a “little creature” who, in fact, is an early Sniff who joins them for the journey.

“Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.

Matilda is a children's book written by Roald Dahl and published in 1988. The book Matilda is about is an extraordinary girl with horrible parents who don’t see what a miracle she is! One day she discovers that she possesses a special power; she can move things with her mind. Once she learns to control this extraordinary gift, Matilda uses it for good, with a bit of mischief added to the mix.

We end our summer series with the legendary galactic hero's quest of Star Wars!! The Imperial Forces -- under orders from cruel Darth Vader -- hold Princess Leia hostage, in their efforts to quell the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon, work together with the companionable droid duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess, help the Rebel Alliance, and restore freedom and justice to the Galaxy.

We kick off the summer with a magical Ghibli favorite Our Neighbor Totoro!!!! This acclaimed animated tale by director Hayao Miyazaki follows schoolgirl Satsuke and her younger sister, Mei, as they settle into an old country house with their father and wait for their mother to recover from an illness in an area hospital. As the sisters explore their new home, they encounter and befriend playful spirits in their house and the nearby forest, most notably the massive cuddly creature known as Totoro.

Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a compelling story about love, healing friendship and magic. The book tells the story of Luna, a girl who was left in the woods as an infant and taken in by a kindly witch named Xan, a bog monster, and a “simply enormous” dragon. She begins to uncover a magical new world and must learn how to harness and control the powers she has. 

In Comet in Moominland, a philosopher predicting disaster, black rain, and rumour of a threat from space take Moomin and his two friends Little My and Sniff on an adventure to find out what is coming their way. More and more interesting characters join the adventurers: the inventor Snork, his sister Snork Maiden, and the stamp collecting Hemulen. Not forgetting the giant octopus, the Snork-eating plant and the lizard guarding a ravine full of amethysts, the journey turns into a real adventure.

When a retired opera singer leaves her inheritance to her cat, Duchess (Eva Gabor), and three kittens, the woman's butler abandons them in the countryside in order to inherit the fortune himself. Lost in unfamiliar territory, Duchess and the kittens meet Thomas O'Malley, an alley cat willing to help them return to their home in Paris. They meet several kooky characters along the way, including two English geese and a jazz cat band.