Varmints

In gorgeous large-scale painted and photoshopped images that recall the work of Shaun Tan, the book tells the story of a world overtaken by industrialisation, where its inhabitants can no longer hear the sound of bees or the wind in the grass.

One rebellious varmint has been quietly tending one small piece of wilderness and uses it to revolt against this world so full of noise where no one thinks any more.

Now Travelling Light Theatre Company has turned the story into a live dance-theatre show aimed at audiences aged over eight.

“We’re trying not to add to the story, but just try to interpret what we find in the book,” says artistic producer Jude Merrill.

“Dance is obviously a wonderfully expressive medium which doesn’t tie up all the knots and doesn’t give you all the answers. But that said, the show does have a very clear storyline throughout.”

Dance is integral to the performance, with the director Sally Cookson and choreographer Wilkie Branson sharing directorial credits.

“[Wilkie] is certainly having a lot of fun with it, as he’s performing in the show too,” says Merrill. “He’s brought his particular skills to the piece, so there is a lot of hip- hop work and b-boy moves, there’s also a contemporary dance element too.

“I think sometimes people are put off dance because they think it’s going to be too unresolved and too unexplained and – although I said we want the audience to use their imaginations – this isn’t an abstract piece.

“I think the audiences will really care about the hero, the little varmint. He doesn’t mean to be a hero but he becomes one as his world is being destroyed.

“He ends up just grabbing a bit of it, which then becomes his friend, in the friendless city. It’s quite an emotional piece so I think there’s a lot in there to interest people of all ages.”

The original book was inspired by Helen Ward’s own experiences.

“I think she wrote it in a sense of frustration because she’d been staying somewhere in the country to do some writing but could hear traffic all the time and it was killing the sounds of birdsong,” says Merrill.

“It was born out of a sense of frustration and not getting the peace and quiet that she felt everybody needs in their lives.

“The intention is to remind people of the need for there to be under-developed parts of the world, for there to be moments where we can breathe, places where we can see the sky and still hear birds and bees and moles.

“We need to take care of the world.

“One of the things Helen Ward writes about is that people no longer have time or space in their lives to stop and think.

“It’s a message which young children in particular absorb and embrace very readily.”

• Varmints is at The Old Market, Upper Market Street, Hove, on Tuesday, May 21, and Wednesday, May 22. Starts 6pm, 1.30pm matinee on Wednesday, tickets £9/£6. Call 01273 709709