The Crowstarver
From the award-winning novel by Dick King-Smith.
The Crowstarver is a gripping and moving story set in a close-knit rural community in the early days of the Second World War. When a baby is found abandoned in a lambing pen he is adopted by the shepherd Tom Sparrow and his wife Kathy. As the boy grows up it’s clear to everyone that the mystery of his birth is not the only thing about him that’s special. John Joseph turns out to have an extraordinary gift with animals of all kinds. Foxes will eat out of his hand, hares and otters come close and he can even gentle a bucking bronco in true horse whisperer style. As the years pass, being different means John faces threats of all kinds, from ignorance and prejudice to the war itself, which brings its own share of tragedy. Full of unforgettable characters and scenes The Crowstarver combines an inspiring and heart-warming story with powerful performances, beguiling animal puppets and a stunning live score.
First brought triumphantly to the stage by Theatre Alibi in 2006, The Crowstarver tours again to delight a whole new audience of adults and young people from eight upwards.
A Co-production with Exeter Northcott Theatre & Oxford Playhouse
- Photographs of the last production
- To watch a clip from The Crowstarver click here
The Crowstarver Set Model
Designer: Trina Bramman. From 2006 design by Stuart Nunn.
Schools
Drama / Theatre Studies at GCSE AS, A2 and BTEC
A free education pack can be downloaded here. A DVD recording of The Crowstarver will also be available (£18+vat), enabling students to study the production in detail. We’ll also give you permission to put the recording on your school Intranet for study purposes. Please contact us to order on info@theatrealibi.co.uk or phone 01392 217315.
- The Crowstarver Education Pack
- The Crowstarver Script
- What teachers have said about The Crowstarver & other shows
Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3
- The Crowstarver Education Resource Pack
- A Drama Workshop for 8-10 Year Olds
- A Drama Workshop for 10-13 Year Olds
- What teachers said about our last production
