Speeltheater and Childsplay Coproduction in the US

Sun, Jan 24 - Sun, Feb 21  2016

Between January 24 and February 21, Dutch youth theater Speeltheater Holland, in coproduction with Childsplay, Tempe AZ performs their puppet show “Perô, or the Mysteries of the Night” several times in California and Arizona.

“Perô, or the Mysteries of the Night”

Love can come in many shapes. There are the kinds of love that make you want to scream at the top of your lungs that you love someone, you want to be around that person all the time and never want to be apart. And there are kinds of love that are silent. You just look at the object of your affection and never tell them how you feel, so they will never know you love them. 

Meet Perô, the baker of a small town called Fanghetto, in Italy. He has loved his neighbor Colombina ever since they went to school together. Problem is: she doesn’t have a clue. Every day, Perô looks at Colombina, longs for her, and awaits a chance to tell her how he feels. But he never does. And then, suddenly, she falls in love with the loudmouthed painter Paletino. He sweeps Colombina off her feet with his colorful songs and his zest for life. What a tragedy. Perô is heartbroken and refuses to bake bread anymore. The bakery is closed: due to lovesickness. Meanwhile Colombina finds out that her new prince charming might not be all that he is cracked up to be. 

Will Perô ever get a chance to tell Colombina how he feels? 

“Perô, or the Mysteries of the Night” is for children age 7+. For tickets at the Tempe Center for the Arts, click here. For tickets at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, click here. 

About Speeltheater Holland

Founded in 1976, Speeltheater Holland has performed theater for children for almost 40 years, under the inspiring leadership of Onny Huisink and Saskia Janse. Their performances range in size from plays using one to three actors as well as larger scale productions. Speeltheater Holland makes theater for children from all ages and sometimes for adults. The company not only presents itself in Holland, but also all over Europe, the Antilles, the US and South Africa.  

Most of Speeltheater’s productions are translated into the language of the country where they are performed and include the use of puppets combined with acting and other theatrical disciplines. Different (puppet) techniques and other theatrical means are used for each production, but the visual element plays a prominent part in all performances.

For each production Speeltheater Holland engages new actors, puppeteers and sometimes guest directors, and, depending on the nature of the performance, other experts such as composers, musicians, authors, choreographers etc. In addition to developing and presenting performances Speeltheater Holland also seeks to be a breeding ground for young (puppet) theater makers.

About Childsplay, Tempe, AZ

Founded in 1977, Childsplay is a nationally and internationally respected professional theater company whose chosen audience is children. At Childsplay it is believed that young people deserve to experience challenging, thought-provoking theater of the highest artistic quality. Childsplay respects children’s intelligence and creativity and this drives them to produce new and innovative works by theater’s finest artists. Performing in schools is a core Childsplay activity with three annual touring productions that visit hundreds of schools throughout Arizona.

Performance Schedule

• January 24, 4:00 PM @ Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, Tempe, AZ
• January 30, 1:00 PM @ Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, Tempe, AZ
• January 30, 4:00 PM @ Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, Tempe, AZ
• January 31, 1:00 PM @ Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, Tempe, AZ
• February 6 @ 1:00 PM @ Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, Tempe, AZ
• February 6, 4:00 PM @ Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, Tempe, AZ
• February 7, 1:00 PM @ Tempe Center for the Arts Studio, Tempe, AZ
• February 20, 1:00 PM @ Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater, Costa Mesa, CA
• February 21, 1:00 PM @ Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater, Costa Mesa, CA
• Ferbuary 21, 3:30 PM @ Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Samueli Theater, Costa Mesa, CA