Messy Jesse loves dancing.  He's not necessarily that good at it, but he always tries his best.  There's a dance competition at Kids Club but no-one will partner him.  Enter Olive.  She doesn't love dancing.  She loves cooking.  And the prize is dinner at celebrity chef Monsieur Nincompoop's new restaurant…

Will they work together as a team?

What will happen if the restaurant staff all get food poisoning, thanks to poor hygiene?  Who will be able to save the day and cook a delicious nutritious meal, sourcing tasty fresh seasonal vegetables from the garden (that aren't necessarily the 'perfect' shape), for the celebrity guests – enigmatic pop star Solar Pa'nelle and Rapper Scool Yo, who thinks vegetables come out of his nan's freezer?

And what will Trixie say – supposedly Olive's best friend, and keen to win the dance competition herself?

Should we always read the label?  Using PSHE and relationships education to help youngsters tackle bullying and peer pressure, WONKY encourages kindness and helps children celebrate their differences, and cultivate a healthy body image and self-esteem, whilst learning more about nutrition and where their food comes from.

There will be cooking!  There will be dancing!  There will be rapping!  Not all at the same time.

Olive faces a huge challenge in Monsieur Nincompoop's restaurant and needs YOUR help.  Can you learn this chant and encourage her to believe in herself when Messy Jesse asks you to?

Girls can be chefs and boys can dance
We've got to believe and take a big chance
Just try, don't be shy; I'm sure that you'll fly
Especially if you wear some really big pants!

This show is a springboard into learning for the new primary curriculum, focusing on relationships education, and has an extensive accompanying resource pack for teachers, brimming with discussion points and activities in art, physical education, music and food growing.  We've been shown round some incredible edible playgrounds in schools and it's wonderful to see children connecting with nature and learning how to grow food and develop a healthy attitude to nutrition.  Gardening also links to the mental and physical benefits of being outdoors and exercising.

For WONKY, please may we have:
A parking space for our car
Access to a plug socket
Two tables that can be sat at and two chairs
An hour in the space beforehand to set up, and at least 30 minutes afterwards to pack away
Lots of brilliant kids in the audience!

"Fantastic performance.  Brilliant themes and messages – kids loved it and were totally engaged.  Will definitely be back!"
Family, Courtyard Arts Centre

"Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed watching WONKY.  Not only was the entire assembly completely engaged, the pupils learned so many valuable lessons linked to the PSHE, science, and literacy curriculum about friendships, bullying, living things and cycles, and poetry.  It's also really kind of the performers to meet pupils before and after the show.  The children love purchasing their beautifully illustrated books which continues to promote reading for pleasure.  A huge thank you to Joe and Willow for another great storytelling performance – we can't wait to watch another creative invention of theirs!"
Miss Sopta, UKS2 phase leader, Belmont School

"Great performance which teaches children lots of concepts in a fun and engaging way, empowering and inspiring them to follow their strengths and aspirations.  Should be in all schools"
Mother, Old Oak Centre

"I loved it, can you make more shows, it's amazing!"
Khloe, age 6, Old Oak Centre

"A heady mix for a young audience, but Joe and Willow embraced the subject matter with playfulness and bags of fun in a captivating tale… clever well thought out audience participation that had the kids enthralled and eager to join in.  This highly entertaining production has a strong uplifting message.  Delightful!"
Newbury Weekly News

"It was awesome.  Loved the dancing and rapping!  Loved the morals.  Made us happy and laughed a lot"
Family, Watermill Theatre

"The best show yet!  We love Really Big Pants Theatre Company.  Such an important message, so much fun, and two amazing ladies!"
Cody, age 8; Casey, age 10; and Mummy, Brentwood Theatre

"Thank you SO much for yet another WOW of a show!  You had them rapt from beginning to end.  We've had some lovely feedback from the schools, so of course you went down a treat"
Artistic director, Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival

"That was so cool!"
Y5 pupil, Leigh Primary 

"It was fantastic!!!"
Max, age 9, The Cockpit

"I LOVED IT!"
Y4 pupil, Lowther Primary

"Joe and Willow's boundless energy and engaging style will keep children of all ages hooked.  The clever way they weave different themes into their show really give the performance an added dimension"
Headteacher, Lowther Primary

BOOK NOW!
childrenstheatre@reallybigpants.co.uk

It's Book Day and Joe wants to read.  But Willow wants to play.
That pesky book!  She'll try anything to tempt Joe away (even really big pants).
But what does she find in the toy basket to make her change her mind?

For public venues, we have an optional stay-and-play crafting activity after the show of creating a bookshelf collage.  We provide the materials for this.

For THE REALLY BIG LOVE BOOK DAY PLAY, please may we have:
A parking space for our car
Two chairs
30 minutes in the space beforehand to set up, and 30 minutes afterwards to pack away
Lots of brilliant kids in the audience! 

"Such an endearing show which combines the value of reading and playing with a wonderful sense of fun"
Assistant head, Cheapside Primary

"Our children were completely engrossed… brilliant"
Reception team, St Richard's Primary

"Thank you for making such an anxious experience in hospital really enjoyable.  Our little boy couldn't wait to show his mum the craft you helped him make, and was telling her about the funny show he saw.  Thank you for the important work you do x"
Dad, hospital, Starlight Live Tour

"The Really Big Pants Theatre Company were a really pleasant surprise.  Their warmth and enthusiasm made our afternoon magical.  I loved the simplicity and joyfulness of their act and my 3-year-old delighted in being in the show.  Thank you for fostering a love for the arts for our youngest"
Roxana, Karamel Kids

"My 2½-year-old has never sat still for so long!  Wonderful!"
Arabella's mum, The Vineyard School summer fair

"My little one was enthralled!  She loved all the silliness and watched it twice"
Mum, The Vineyard School summer fair

BOOK NOW!
childrenstheatre@reallybigpants.co.uk

Red loves bedtime stories with Grandma.  As well as reading them from a book, they make up their own too.  Stories with a beginning, middle and an end; goodies and baddies; adventure; excitement – and lots of 'suddenlies'!

But one evening, as Red and Grandma settle down with 'Once upon a time…', they are interrupted by their neighbour, the wily Mr Wolfe, urged by his new wife to demolish Grandma's ancient treehouse.  Enraged, Grandma sends him off with his tail between his legs – back to the vain Svetlana with her passion for endless stuff, and his son, Edwin, a spoilt but lonely child, who struggles with reading and needs help with his story homework.

Edwin sees his chance to get his father's attention and brings a faulty genie into their lives… triggering a dangerous quest and a race against time!

Can Red inspire Edwin to be a) Adventurous, b) Brave and c) Curious?

Will Edwin ever get the attention he needs from his dad?

And will Svetlana finally accept that Perky Purple hair dye will never be the new black?!

Join the battle to save Grandma's treehouse!  Meet a magic mirror!  Persuade a bird of paradise to lay an egg!  Learn about the importance of friendship and why 'stuff' doesn't always have to be bought.  And there'll be a trip on a flying carpet!

This show is a springboard into learning for the new primary curriculum, focusing on literacy.  SUDDENLY…! provides a thorough entry point into storytelling, using traditional tales and PSHE, history and nature.  Our resource pack for teachers is bulging with discussion points and activities in art, drama and physical education for use prior to and following our performance.

Pre-show activity
Grandma will need all the help she can get sorting out that faulty genie!  She's going to try a spell from a very special book but it calls for LOTS of voices… can you help her by learning it before the show and remembering to say it with her when she needs you?  You'll be just like actors learning their lines for a play!  Here it is:

Share, care, try your best
Mind your manners and wear your vest
It all comes back to the A B C
Be the hero of your own story!

Plus we can provide a pants (really big ones) template as an optional pre-show craft activity.  The children can decorate them for Grandma and hang them on washing lines in our playing space before we arrive.  We have performed under some marvellous displays!

For SUDDENLY...!, please may we have:
A parking space for our car
Access to a plug socket
An hour in the space beforehand to set up, and at least 30 minutes afterwards to pack away
Lots of brilliant kids in the audience! 

"What a wonderful show!  Such enthusiasm, creativity and warmth.  We thoroughly enjoyed it"
Parent, Stratford Literary Festival

"We honestly had such a wonderful experience with you, all the children LOVED the show and were so excited when they returned to their class to find out they have their own class copies of the book!  They were engaged throughout and us adults enjoyed the show just as much!  A wonderful idea and concept that provides a little bit of magic for children and reading!"
Mrs Dockerill, Y5 teacher, Hilltop Junior School

"Thank you SO much!  The BookFest 'buzz' was brilliant because of your talent, creativity and energy.  We can't wait to see you again"
Linton Children's Book Festival

"Fantastic show.  Full of variety, very creative and smartly done!"
Mum, Lyric Hammersmith

"SUDDENLY…! enthralled our whole school from the littlest Y1 to the coolest Y6.  Full of fun and energy with some great messages about the joy of reading and looking out for your friends, we loved Really Big Pants.  Joe and Willow are amazing"
Senior Senco assistant, St Richard's CE Primary

"That was awesome!"
Deputy headteacher, Soho Parish Primary

"Today was a brilliant success and the kids absolutely loved the show"
BookTrust, Pyjamarama

"An amazing play! A fantastic afternoon enjoyed by all.  What a great start to book week!"
Headteacher, Blackmore Primary

"Such energy on the stage!   So so impressed!  My children adored it"
Annie, Alex, Lyra and Midge, Dulwich Village Christmas Stocking

"You are legendary!!!  Super super super amazing!!!"
Y1, Danegrove Primary, Beanstalk BookFest

"A for Amazing
B for Brilliant
C for Crackingly fun!!
Cannot wait to bring this into schools so more children can laugh and enjoy this wonderful story.  The most engaging 50 mins I've had in a long time!"
Lillie McCotter, The Reading Room

"Ladies, you are super duper!  Thanks for letting me be the brake on the magic carpet!  Second time seeing the show"
Helen, parent, Brentwood Children's Literary Festival

"The children absolutely loved it – brilliant!  Come back next year!"
Mr Cooper, deputy head, Heathmere Primary; organiser of Roehampton Reads festival

"Wow! An amazing performance.  The children were thoroughly engaged from start to finish – even Year 6 who are a tough audience.  Excellent humour for all ages.  You really did bring the story to life and I can't thank you enough.  Please come back and work with us on World Book Day!"
Mrs Handley, deputy head, Bourton Meadow Academy at Buckingham Literary Festival

"Fabulous performance kept over 400 Y3-Y6 children rapt for an hour.  The magic of storytelling!  Thank you for opening BuckLitFest 2018!"
Festival co-ordinator, Buckingham Literary Festival

"That was sooooooo amazing.  Can we see it again?"
7yo, Grasmere Primary at Stoke Newington Literary Festival

"Tremendously enjoyed a marvellous performance.  Can't recommend the show enough and so looking forward to getting lost in the book when we get home!  Inspiring work, such huge talent!"
School governor and parent, Belmont Primary

"The best show we've ever had!  Moved me to tears"
Y2 teacher, Southfield Primary

"The best story in the whole wide world!"
7yo, Redbridge Children's Storytelling Festival

"So clever considering there were just two actors and a few props portraying many characters!  Great audience interaction and involvement.  The CD is just as funny as the show!  #TeamSvetlana!"
Parent, Courtyard Arts Centre

"You rock!  I am so encouraged to read more"
Hannah, age 8, Brentwood Children's Literary Festival

"What a rare pleasure it was to have Really Big Pants perform for us.  Keeping a school entertained from Reception to Year 6 is quite a feat, but the show had a rapt audience.  So much content that can be explored in the classroom… a real must-see!"
Mrs Roberts, Cheapside Primary

"Classic British nonsense.  Loved it :)"
Parent, Barnes Children's Literature Festival

"We loved the show – the children were spellbound!  What a fantastic, energetic and hilarious performance!"
Parent, Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival

"Awesome!  We were in stitches!"
Parent, Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival

"Spellbound from the start… it's thoroughly entertaining, but there's also a strong educational aspect to the show… performed with infectious energy and enthusiasm"
Theatre Things

"I love this show, it has inspired me to write my own stories and plays"
Tilly, age 9, Cockpit Theatre

"We had a great time and thank you so much for your boundless energy!  It has been a fabulous World Book Day for children big and small!"
Mrs King, Y2 teacher and literacy co-ordinator, Dulwich Village Infants

"Amazing performance and a deep moral behind.  It touched me.  Very well done"
Marianna, parent, Waterstones Chiswick

"FANTASTIC.  Funny, educational and engaging – a great hour for the kids"
Parent, Chiswick Book Festival

"Amazing!  You are such wonderful storytellers.  The staging and movement across the floor as well as your acting and audience interaction is fantastic.  We'll come again and again until my children outgrow you!"
Amy, parent, Watermill Theatre

"Years 3-6 were utterly gripped… the children all loved the performance especially the fact they didn't just sit back and watch, instead they all had the opportunity to get involved with actions and sound effects.  The hall was filled with laughter and wonder!"
Miss O'Donnell, Y4 teacher, St Boniface Primary

"I didn't think that only two people could keep Year 3 entertained for an hour, let alone Year 6 and the teachers, but every time I looked around the assembly was in stitches and applause.  I could have watched all afternoon"
Debbie, KS2 teacher, Avondale Park Primary

"Well presented for the age range and kept the children's attention brilliantly.  We did some writing afterwards that was superb!  Great stimulus for further activities"
Toby, KS1 teacher, Gospel Oak Primary

BOOK NOW!
childrenstheatre@reallybigpants.co.uk

Whilst searching for hidden treasure, a famously selfish pirate captain has left a once beautiful tropical island littered with rubbish and its inhabitants struggling to survive.  It's up to Maggie and Roy to save it.  The trouble is… they're REALLY not friends.  Teleported from their school trip at a maritime museum into the centre of a swashbuckling adventure in the Amazon, can they win the race to find the legendary gold – and restore the place to its natural glory?

Will Maggie learn to work as part of a team and become a true friend?

Will anyone avoid sinking into that squelchy swamp?

And will Roy ever put down his clipboard?

Can YOU help them defeat this dastardly litterbug pirate?!  Join these colourful characters (and some perky puppets) as they set sail on their quest!  Explore new habitats and learn about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling; caring for endangered animals; and looking after our world.

Pre-show activity
Maggie and Roy have to climb a very steep hill on the island and need a marching song to give them a boost.  Can you learn it and sing along to help them reach the top?  It's to the tune of The Grand Old Duke of York.

Oh, the famous pirate Anne
She fought ten thousand men
She marched them up to the top of this hill…
And here's what happened then!
She pushed them off the top
They cried, "No, Anne, please stop!"
She didn't care… they sailed through the air…
And landed with a PLOP!

Feel free to dress up as a fearsome crew member too!  Arrrrrrr!

This show is a springboard into learning for the new primary curriculum.   PLUNDERED! provides a thorough entry point into the environment topic.   We utilise PSHE and geography in our storytelling.  Our resource pack for teachers is a treasure trove of discussion points and activities in art, music, maths, languages, physical education and geology for use prior to and following our performance.

Working towards your Eco-Schools Green Flag award?   Our show counts as topic evidence in children's learning about the environment.

For PLUNDERED!, please may we have:
A parking space for our car
Access to a plug socket
Three smallish tables (they all get covered with cloths so don't need to be fancy)
A chair (sturdy enough to be stood on)
An hour in the space beforehand to set up, and at least 30 minutes afterwards to pack away
Lots of brilliant kids in the audience!

"Wow, so amazing and I loved it!  You two are absolutely incredible.  So brilliant.  Can't wait to see more shows in the future. YOU ROCK!!!"
Hannah, age 10, Brentwood Theatre

"Lovely show.  Very entertaining.  My son [with selective mutism] has never laughed so much"
Mum, The Exchange Twickenham

"What a funny, fabulous show with such an important message.  We loved it!"
Family, Lyric Hammersmith

"Great fun for all ages.  We had a blast"
Rosie, St Margaret's House

"I loved this show and I found it amazing how you learnt all of those lines and so much energy"
Cecily, age 9, Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre

"Magical show.  We all loved it"
Yossi and Bella, Poplar Union

"Grace insisted on reciting the 'reuse, recycle' mantra on the way home.  Congratulations for what is one of the best shows for children I've taken her to (well worth a second visit).  The many shows I see who undervalue pace and slapstick and surprise (and message!) would do well to come and see how it should be done and how to involve their young audience and make them laugh.  Bravo!"
Grace's grandpa, Barnes Children's Literature Festival

"Fantastic!  We loved the way you embedded important lessons within the show in such a creative way.  Very humorous, and amazing acting!"
Zakiyya, Adan & Musa, Redbridge Children's StoryFest

"We just thought it was fab!  Kids laughed loads and were engaged throughout, excellent job.  More please"
Home Education Hub parents at Museum of London Docklands

"We were SO impressed by the standard and quality of the performance.  The children were still singing the recycle song back at school"
Miss O'Brien, Y2 teacher, St Joachim's Primary at Museum of London Docklands

"45 wonderful minutes of being a child again"
Grandpa, age 73, Chiswick Book Festival

"The looks on their faces were unbelievable – pure joy all the way to Year 6"
Bevington Primary

"Brilliant and bonkers!"
Parent, Devizes Arts Festival

"Elena wishes Really Big Pants could come to Oaklands EVERY DAY!  #bigfan"
Parent, Oaklands Primary

"Fabulous show – lots of fun learning!  Splendid acting from a dazzling duo!  Superb"
Emily and Grandma, Cryer Theatre

"We saw our son transformed through the theatre piece – amazing to see his engagement with it"
Parent, Museum of London Docklands

"A sincere story of friendship, teamwork and Roycycling.  There's lots of audience interaction and plenty of the cheeky humour you would expect from a company named after oversized undies.  It's not easy to create this style of pop-up theatre, able to adapt to a range of venues and hugely varying age ranges, and creating shows that can tackle varied subjects and different bits of the curriculum… a successfully sweet, educationally-focused experience"
Children's Theatre Reviews

"What a triumph – great to see the theatre so full of pirates!  We look forward to welcoming you back"
Paul Hart, artistic director, Watermill Theatre

"A brilliant afternoon at the theatre.  We sang 'Reduce it…' all the way home"
Paul, parent, Cockpit Theatre

"The audience included some children with developing English, some with short concentration spans and some who can sit glued to a screen but not when listening to a story – all watched you for close to an hour!!  We really loved it"
Nicky, Head of EYFS, Gospel Oak Primary

"PLUNDERED! is a GREAT show!  Let's teach our young children about pollution and hopefully produce a generation of kids that are aware and can teach their parents the dangers of plastic.  It's a wonderful thing Really Big Pants Theatre is doing"
Alison Steadman, actress, children's author, and conservationist

BOOK NOW!
childrenstheatre@reallybigpants.co.uk