I Want My Hat Back Trilogy
Aimed at ages 3-6
Duration: 40 minutes approx.
A bear has lost his hat. What if he never sees it again? WAIT! He has seen his hat.
A fish has stolen a hat. And he’ll probably get away with it. Probably.
Two turtles have found a hat. The hat looks good on both of them. But there are two turtles. And there is only one hat.
Jon Klassen’s beloved books, I Want My Hat Back, This is Not My Hat and We Found A Hat, have found a new life of their own LIVE on stage. All your favourites including Bear, Little Fish and the Turtles will be making an appearance in this one-of-a-kind trilogy.
You can view the freesheet for I Want My Hat Back here for more information about the cast and the creative team.
Age guidance
I Want My Hat Back Trilogy is aimed at ages 3-6. There is nothing really scary in shows for this age group, but they can be a bit more dramatic than those for the youngest children, including in their use of sound and lighting, and characters may face some perils.
This show has standard seating for our studios. There are rows with chairs and soft blocks facing the stage, and some mats on the floor at the front. There will be up to 70 people watching the show (sometimes more if you come when there are school groups).
This isn’t an interactive style of show, but bookers will be sent a guide for a simple craft activity in advance, and there is a part in the show where children will be invited to wave the fish they have made, or wave their hands if they don’t have a fish. We also welcome vocal responses from young audiences. The audience stay in their seats while watching, but you can leave and re-enter the auditorium at any time.
The play contains three simple, funny and gently paced stories where animal characters act on feelings about ownership, wanting
things and fairness that children of this age can relate to. So there is some conflict, and in the first two stories it is implied
that small animals have been eaten by bigger animals (off stage). The final story shows a friendship.
All ages are welcome at our shows and age ranges can only be a rough guide, but please bear in mind that I Want My Hat Back was not specially designed for under-threes. A show aimed at two-year olds would have some differences – those shows are carefully made to hold their attention for the duration, and not to be unsettling for them.
School Bookings
Tickets for school groups are £7 for each adult and each child, or £8.50 for private schools and nurseries. These rates are only available on weekdays before 3pm during Islington term time. Free adult tickets are available for children with SEND who need 1:1 support.
Before requesting a booking, please check dates, times and availability here. Maximum school capacity for this show is 95 people per performance.
The Education Pack for I Want My Hat Back is available here.
The Visual Story for I Want My Hat Back is available here.
Please fill in our school booking enquiry form here.
Download our information for undertaking a risk assessment for school visits here.
Accessible Performances
BSL Interpreted Performance: Saturday 25th April at 1.45pm
Click here to book for this BSL performance.
These performances are provided for those who use British Sign Language. The interpreter will be at the front of the stage and lit with a spotlight. They will provide a linguistic and artistic interpretation of the show for people who are D/deaf or for whom BSL is their preferred language.
Relaxed Performance: Saturday 11th April at 3.45pm
For more information and to book, please visit the I Want My Hat Back Relaxed Performance page here
Relaxed Performances are provided for people who would benefit from a more relaxed environment, or are uncomfortable with sudden lighting changes or loud noises, including those with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, sensory or communication needs or a learning disability.
If you are interested in arranging a weekday Relaxed Performance for a school group, please contact [email protected]
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Credits
Director: Ian Nicholson
Designer: Sam Wilde
Lighting Design: Sherry Coenen
Sound Design: Jim Whitcher
Stage manager: Sinead Francis
Performer: Michael Larcombe/Ian Nicholson and Paige Leavy