This Autumn I am thrilled to be working once again with Murray Lachlan Young and the Funnelwick Limb team on the release of six free audio tales – going back and forward in time – exploring the magical world of Atom & Luna in Tales from the Forest.
The best place to get all the information you need is over at funnelwicklimb.com and sign up to the newsletter!
The Chronicles of Atom & Luna sees many of the team behind The Mystery of the Raddlesham Mumps reunite to work on this brand new project. Lead artist is of course BBC 6 Music Poet in Residence Murray Lachlan Young, creative direction by Action Transport Theatre's Nina Hajiyianni, Design by Bek Palmer, Music by Orbital's Paul Hartnoll and Digital Magic by MBD Ltd.
The story starts with our heroes, Atom & Luna (left home alone by their mother) saved from starvation by the arrival of their magical child minder, Iffly Sney. But Iffly falls terribly ill and only the twins can save him. They must seek out the mysterious Old Mother Redbeard. And so begins Atom & Luna’s journey into the heart of the forest that will change their lives forever.
The story began to develop pre-COVID - in a residency at Kirkgate Arts in Cockermouth (one of 12 partners brought together to help deliver the project). But it was in lockdown that it truly took flight. With the support of those partners, and a whole host of children responding to video tasks, the story began to take on a life on its own.
It's here Murray himself takes up the story:
'In lockdown we started mining a story world that could not be contained by a single form, and rather than put the brakes on we let the story tell itself in the way it wanted to! So, we find ourselves starting with our story casts (perfect bedtime listening in the run up to Christmas). We have several digital surprises up our sleeves for Spring 21 and then the more traditional book and theatre show will follow in Autumn 21. Right now, I'm excited by how as storytellers we can continue telling stories to as many people as possible in these unusual times'
Our series of story casts -Tales from the Forest - will take us into the depths of the forest, to reveal its secrets and prepare us for Atom & Luna’s epic journey.
The audio tales start being released on 30 Nov, 2 a week for 3 weeks. These will be free to listen to and watch (with subtitles and BSL). Think of it as our Christmas present to you! But the giving won’t stop there – more of the story will be released in rather surprising ways in Spring and Autumn 2021!
To be the first to listen and play – and find out more about the project - sign up to the Funnelwick Limb newsletter at www.funnelwicklimb.com
