Rats’ Tales, Carol Ann Duffy’s celebration of the power of story-telling is staged by Bath Spa Productions at The Egg

Bath Spa Productions present Carol Ann Duffy’s Rats’ Tales at The Egg Theatre from Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th June, in a magical, family-friendly show performed by graduating students and directed by Chris Garner.

Rats’ Tales blends the retelling of traditional European fairy-tales with new folk stories created by ex-Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, in a lively play dramatised by Olivier and Tony award-nominated director Melly Still who first staged it in 2012.

Rats’ Tales explores the power of story-telling to guide children through the exciting and perilous forest of life in an unmissable, mysterious and comedic theatrical experience for all members of the family to enjoy. Recommended for audiences over the age of 8, Carol Ann Duffy’s wonderful cycle of tales is packed with thrills, laughs and enchantment.

Centred around the story of the Pied Piper, Rats’ Tales deliciously confronts the dark side of the imagination with characters that have powered the play of children over the centuries. Covering themes of love, growth and the exhilarating adventure of life, the production proves that sadness cannot prevail in the quest for a joyous “Happy Ever After”.

Bath Spa University’s in-house production company Bath Spa Productions comprise talented final year BA Acting students and Theatre and Festival Production students. Rats’ Tales features 8 actors, with a total of 22 final year students participating either on stage or behind-the-scenes in design and stage management roles to bring this show to the stage at The Egg.  

Bath Spa Productions staging has been aesthetically inspired by Marc Chegall. The show features atmospheric musical performances adapted by Director Chris Garner and award-winning, Bristol-based Musical Director Elizabeth Purnell, who has worked on BAFTA, Emmy and Oscar-winning scores for television, films, pop arrangements and BBC natural history series. 

Director Chris Garner has been an actor and director for 35 years. As a director, he has worked with theatre companies including Salisbury Playhouse, Northern Broadsides, Manchester’s Royal Exchange, Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre, Bristol’s Tobacco Factory Theatres, and drama schools and educational establishments UK-wide. Chris is also Artistic Director of Stroud Theatre Company.

In addition to their staging of Rats’ Tales, the cast have also written their own fairy-tales which will be available to purchase in a book. All proceeds from sales of the book will be donated to the Bath Area Play Project, a local voluntary organisation and registered charity, which provides quality play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities in the local community. 

Rats’ Tales appears at The Egg at the Theatre Royal Bath from Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th June. Tickets are on sale at the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on +44 (0)1225 448844 and online at www.theatreroyal.org.uk/ustinov.