School Shows

The Moon & Sixpence provides very different marionette productions for junior and senior primary school classes.

For Junior Infants to 3rd classes, we perform traditional tales with a twist in the story and a moral to the tale:

Red Riding Hood and the wolf in a Moon & Sixpence marionette performance.

RED RIDING HOOD

Our most popular junior show (Infants to 2nd / 3rd class) is a panto-style version of Red Riding Hood, featuring the classic fairy-tale characters joined by a talking dustbin, who encourages children to pick up litter. This is a live marionette performance with string puppets, music and sound effects. It elicits great audience reaction – often as much from teachers as from the pupils!

Marionette characters performing Jac & The Beanstalk.

JAC & THE BEANSTALK

Jacqueline and the Beanstalk is a panto-style retelling of this traditional fairy tale, with music, sound effects and audience interaction and a change of hero to heroine. This marionette production also tackles the issue of bullying, showing how it can be overcome with the help of friends, and how bullies can change their ways when they realise the pain they cause.

Cinderella characters in a Moon & Sixpence marionette performance.

CINDERELLA

Cinderella is a marionette production of the classic fairy tale in the cheeky style of Moon & Sixpence productions. The Fairy Godmother comes to the rescue when the electric pumpkin carriage wasn’t plugged in to charge overnight! With the help of the audience, the show follows the traditional tale, but with messages about persistence, being yourself and not letting others bother you woven into the story.

For 3rd to 6th classes, we provide marionette performances based on our own original stories that hit the right note in balancing cheeky banter with positive messages:

Leprechaun character in the Moon & Sixpence production Over the Rainbow.

OVER THE RAINBOW

As a senior show for 3rd to 6th class pupils Over the Rainbow features Leprechaun Michaelín Bheag, as he tries to outwit a baddie, who attempts to steal the treasure from the end of his rainbow. Helping Michaelín are two Gardaí who have very different ideas about fighting crime! The story underlines the importance of patience and friendship as Michaelín and his pals discover the real treasure at the end of the rainbow.

Two clown marionettes in the Moon & Sixpence production Send in the Clowns.

SEND IN THE CLOWNS

Send in the Clowns is a colourful story starring two clowns who attempt to stop a greedy businessman from trying to close the circus – to build a car park! Despite the best intentions of the clowning duo, the baddie’s plans are foiled, but only with the help of everyone in the circus and audience support. Amidst the fun and games, this show underlines the importance of teamwork and persistence.

THE CLOONIES HAVE LANDED

Arriving in Dublin from the planet Cloone, two friendly aliens are on a mission to find the answers to three questions about the Earth’s humans. The Cloonies interact with various earthlings only to find themselves being misunderstood and the source of unintended merriment and laughter. As the duo complete their mission, they expose human frailties, our failings to act on our principles; our hypocrisy about what is really important in life; and whether we really care enough for our corner of the galaxy.