Handa’s Surprise

A woman stands on stage, holding a giraffe puppet.
  • Kids & Families
  • Musical Theatre
  • Theatre
  • Australian premiere
  • Wild Things
  • Utzon Room
  • Run time: 45 minutes, 35min show and 10min playtime Subject to change

Seven delicious fruits. Seven very cheeky animals. What could go wrong? 

United Kingdom

Based on Eileen Browne's beloved bestseller, Handa’s Surprise is a puppet safari like no other, brought to life through physical performance, live music and song.

Travel to Kenya and follow in Handa’s footsteps as she journeys to see her best friend Akeyo, in the next village. Handa is taking seven delicious fruits as a surprise, but seven different animals have seven very different ideas... could you resist the sweet-smelling guava? How about a ripe red mango or a tangy purple passion fruit?

Featuring physical performance, puppetry and live music, audiences are invited to sing along with Handa and Akeyo. Children and adults sit on cushions and mats around the stage for a truly immersive experience, with a chance to join in the dancing at the end. 

For a deeper experience, on Friday 2 October, after the 11:45am show, join the cast for a discussion about Handa's Surprise. Young audiences can ask the artists questions and hear about the inspiration behind the show.

This play is based on the original book Handa’s Surprise, written and illustrated by Eileen Browne. Published by Walker Books ltd.

Sydney Opera House presents a Little Angel Theatre production

Event details

Charming and engaging. All the young children I saw it with were entranced.

Musical Theatre Review

A wonderful example of how to combine puppetry, simple music and songs focusing on rhythm and repetition to capture young children’s imaginations!

Why the Wild Things Festival Curator loves this show

About Little Angel Theatre

Little Angel Theatre has used puppetry to create and share inspiring stories since 1961, sparking the imaginations of children and young people for over sixty years. Built on a spirit of artistic innovation, the theatre is committed to pushing the boundaries of what puppetry can be, whilst preserving its heritage. 

As well as producing their own shows which play in-house and tour nationally and internationally, they welcome puppetry companies from around the UK and overseas to perform on their stages. Their creative learning department also delivers education and participatory activities in venues, schools and community settings. 

Little Angel is nothing less than an icon of North London childhood.” Time Out

Credits

Adapted from the book by Eileen Browne  
Originally Directed by Marleen Vermeulen  
Set designed by Sophia Lovell Smith  
Puppets made by Peter O’Rourke  

Attending this event

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Plan your visit

Address

Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Getting to the venue

The Opera House is a 7-10 minute walk from Circular Quay, and is easily accessible by car, train, ferry, lightrail, bus, bike and on foot.

Location and access

Utzon Room

The Utzon Room is located on the Eastern side of the Opera House, in front of the Joan Sutherland Theatre. Best accessed through the Box Office Foyer or the Covered Concourse. All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators).

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