The Origins

A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow.

"Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh.

"Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than you think. I'll run you a race and prove it."

The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with the Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed. So the Fox, who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners off.

The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a Hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until the Tortoise should catch up.

The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.¹

The race is not always to the swift.

Adaptation transforms existing stories into stage productions, breathing new life into familiar tales. Adaptation allows creators to reimagine beloved stories and challenge traditional theater-making, offering fresh perspectives and unique storytelling techniques.2

There are many different types of adaptations. Some are direct “page-to-stage” adaptations of famous stories such as Alice in Wonderland, Anne of Green Gables, The Wizard of Oz, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and more. There are also adaptations that put an interesting spin on the source material. The play Puffs is a humorous adaptation of the Harry Potter series, focused on the less-featured Hufflepuff House at Hogwarts. The Broadway musical Mean Girls is an adaptation of the movie starring Lindsay Lohan, which itself was adapted by Tina Fey from a nonfiction self-help book called Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman.

When students are exploring what source material to adapt, they’ll have to consider some of the following ideas:

1. What are the most important moments of the story to adapt? You can’t adapt everything, so some moments may need to be changed or omitted for length and pacing.

2. How many characters are in the story, and which are the most important? Are these characters interesting? Would you want to play them onstage? Do they drive the action of the story forward, and how? If there are too many characters, could some of them be combined or omitted? Alternatively, if there are too few characters, could you add an ensemble? 

3. How will you make the story theatrical? There are scenes in every story that are challenging to bring to life onstage. For example, in the musical James and the Giant Peach, directors must figure out how to create characters who are insects onstage (such as Spider, Grasshopper, and Earthworm), as well as stage the giant peach itself, which floats in water, is attacked by missiles, and squashes James’ aunts!3  

Founded as a dance company in 1991 by Stephen Long, lecturer at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, they were initially known as Axis Dance. In 1992 Niladri took over as Artistic Director, continuing our very physical style of devised work but instead focusing on children aged 3-7 years. He renamed the company Tutti Frutti.

They have continued to deliver high quality touring shows ever since and built an excellent reputation for inventive, creative productions for children aged 3+ and their families.

In 2000 they became a resident company at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield and produced middle-scale family Christmas shows- Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Firebird, and Cinderella- in addition to our small-scale national touring productions.

In 2005 Wendy Harris took the helm as Artistic Director and moved them to Hillcrest Primary School in Chapeltown, Leeds, and began a long term co-producing partnership with York Theatre Royal. Our work also shifted from devised work to commissioning – hiring writers for each production. The first year of this collaboration saw the co-production The Girl Who Lost Her Smile adapted by Andrea Earl, and also Mike Kenny’s Jack.

In 2012 they became a National Portfolio Organisation and obtained charitable status in 2014. Now based at Hope House, Leeds they tour a new adaptation nationally in the autumn and internationally in the spring.4 

Theatre for Young Audiences refers to theatrical productions and programs created for children and young people, aiming to entertain, educate, and inspire. TYA productions often tackle complex themes and issues relevant to young people's lives, such as identity, friendship, and social responsibility. The significance of TYA lies in its ability to shape young minds, fostering creativity, empathy, and social skills through interactive and immersive experiences. 

Theatre for Young Audiences refers to theatrical productions and programs created for children and young people, aiming to entertain, educate, and inspire. TYA productions often tackle complex themes and issues relevant to young people's lives, such as identity, friendship, and social responsibility. The significance of TYA lies in its ability to shape young minds, fostering creativity, empathy, and social skills through interactive and immersive experiences. 

In today's fast-paced, technology-driven world, TYA remains an essential component of arts education. As young people face increasingly complex challenges, TYA provides a unique opportunity for them to engage with critical issues, develop empathy, and build resilience. Moreover, TYA plays a vital role in promoting cultural understanding, social cohesion, and community engagement. 

TYA productions and workshops encourage young people to think creatively, explore their imagination, and develop problem-solving skills. By engaging with theater and drama, young people can:

• Develop their critical thinking and analytical skills

• Enhance their creativity and self-expression

• Build confidence in their ability to take risks and experiment with new ideas

• Develop empathy and compassion for others

• Gain a deeper understanding of social and cultural issues

• Cultivate tolerance and respect for diverse perspectives

• Improve public speaking and communication

• Develop collaboration and teamwork

• Foster self-expression and confidence-building5