A small puppet reaches up inside a large oval twig nest against a black background, with a tiny red bird shape suspended above.

Polka Theatre, Wimbledon2024

Tidy

The Production

A Polka Theatre and Theatr Iolo co-production based on Emily Gravett’s picture book, Tidy played at Polka Theatre, Wimbledon from 10 February to 24 March 2024 for ages 3–7. The production used puppetry, original music and playful humour to bring Pete the badger’s cautionary environmental tale to the stage.

40 photographs in the curated edit

Director: Lee Lyford
Lighting Design: Jane Lalljee
Set & Costume Design: Rachael Canning
Sound Design: Yvonne Gilbert
Commissioned by: Polka Theatre and Theatr Iolo
Photography: Steve Gregson

The full stage glows in blue, purple and red light, with red umbrella-like trees, potted plants and a twig nest structure arranged around a circular playing area.

Two performers huddle closely under a red patterned umbrella, with another figure partly hidden behind them.

A performer appears low inside a large twig nest frame, surrounded by deep blue light and shadow.

A performer stretches a long-handled tool toward a red umbrella-like tree while another performer watches from the side of the stage.

A red-lit stage picture frames a performer below a high oval nest, with a musician standing in shadow to the side.

A seated guitarist in an orange animal-eared costume plays under purple and blue light.

Two performers stand beneath red umbrella trees and a high oval nest, one holding a guitar while the other looks upward in warm amber light.

Golden leaves fall around a central performer as the guitarist plays to one side under a glowing orange orb.

A performer in a hat lifts a pale bird-like puppet beneath a red umbrella tree against a dark stage.

Two performers crouch beside a small wheeled contraption while another leans over it near the twig-covered set.

Three performers stand across the front of the stage under blue-green lighting, with the glowing orb and twig set behind them.

A performer balances in a handstand with red buckets on their feet as another performer watches and the guitarist plays nearby.

Three performers cluster around a small puppet or prop under green-blue light, leaning in with focused attention.

A lone performer stands in the twig doorway on an otherwise open circular stage beneath cool white spotlights.

A performer stands below a high twig nest filled with objects, framed by red light and vertical branches.

A performer gestures with a white branch in the foreground while two others and a guitarist stand behind in intense red light.

A performer kicks one leg high between red umbrella trees while another performer stands nearby in warm stage light.

One performer holds a bird puppet in a red bucket while another performer reacts with raised hands beside it.

A performer in a high-visibility vest operates a large yellow toy digger labelled TIDY under blue stage light.

A performer in a top hat gestures from behind a large yellow toy digger while another performer is partly visible beside it.

Two performers crouch around a small animal puppet on a wheeled base beneath blue stage lighting.

A performer sings into a microphone beside a small puppet leaning from an orange barrel, with a blue orb glowing overhead.

Three performers gather under blue and purple lighting, with red umbrella trees and a glowing orb above the circular stage.

Blossom or confetti falls over two performers standing with a red bucket as the guitarist plays nearby.

A performer carries an orange basket beneath pink blossom branches while other performers and the guitarist stand behind.

Three performers sit on a picnic blanket scattered with petals, with the guitarist in the middle.

The orange-costumed guitarist smiles between two seated performers during the picnic scene.

The empty set is lit in red and amber, with pink blossoms, a glowing orb and an oval twig nest dominating the frame.

A performer in orange stands alone in blue light, holding a bright bundle of props against the twig-covered backdrop.

Two performers stretch and lunge around red buckets at centre stage while the guitarist plays at the side.

A smiling performer in a high-visibility vest holds the yellow arm of a large toy digger against a blue-lit twig backdrop.

A puppet and performer fill the foreground while the orange-costumed guitarist plays in the background.

A performer kneels alone in blue light, holding a small animal puppet at the centre of the stage.

Two performers tilt and stretch together at centre stage while the guitarist plays to one side.

The ensemble stands across the stage among flowering branches and fallen petals under blue and amber light.

A performer holds flowering branches toward the audience while two others and the guitarist stand behind in bright stage light.

A green-coated performer, a crouching performer and the orange-costumed guitarist share the stage beneath pink blossom branches.

Two performers smile broadly together at the front of the stage beneath red umbrella trees.

A performer balances with legs spread on a yellow pole at centre stage while other performers and the guitarist remain nearby.

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