The Background

Back in 2007 we at Horse + Bamboo thought we would explore the possibility of a collaboration with Barefoot Books, a small high-quality children’s book publisher. They offered us the possibility of working on a new, as yet unpublished story – Little Leap Forward – a Boy in Beijing, written by Guo Yue and Clare Farrow. It was to be one of Barefoot Books’ first illustrated novels for older readers. Over time we agreed a co-production partnership with Barefoot Books and also with the Royal Exchange Studio in Manchester where the show will open and then run for 21/2 weeks from May 2009. We received an arts council grant to develop the show and to undertake two separate tours of 8 weeks, one in 1009, the next in 2010.

The people involved in the show’s development are:
Alison Duddle – scriptwriter, director and designer/maker of masks and puppets
Bob Frith – Set Designer/maker and Film Director
Loz Kaye- Musical Director
Jonny Quick – technical Manager and performer
Mark Whitaker – Tour manager and performer
Nicky Fearn – Performer
Frances Merriman – performer
Steff Lee – animator
Vanessa Card – maker

As well as Horse + Bamboo’s core staff:
Helen Jackson – Chief exec
Esther Ferry-Kennington – Administrator/Producer
Alithea Wardle – marketing and Publicity
Emma Porter – admin assistant and accounts