Moving Hands and Birmingham Rep present

The Ugly Eagle

Throughout 2005

Small to medium scale

"Moving Hands Theatre has refined and refreshed this beautiful and touching tale for small children." The Stage

A family show suitable for children aged 3 and over, The Ugly Eagle combines dance, theatre, animation and puppetry in a retelling of The Ugly Duckling, mixed in with the Ghanaian tale Fly, Eagle, Fly.

Larry the duck is ostracised by the other ducks and can’t even get into the synchronised swimming team.

Staring unhappily at his reflection in the pond, he's interrupted by Umhlwethu, a beautiful eagle, played by an African dancer, who tells the story of his childhood spent in Dynamite Lil’s chicken shed.

Caroline McDowell, Artistic Director of Moving Hands Theatre:

"My boy Zie (3) is so lucky to have been born in Africa, with its wonderful colours, sounds and languages. Wanting to share our privilege, I looked for childhood stories from Africa and Europe with similar messages as a way to bring together and celebrate two different worlds, our differences and similarities.
It was also wonderful to work with South African video artists and dancers, being inspired by our surroundings and telling a story through dance, projection, different languages and puppetry.
Both Fly, Eagle, Fly and The Ugly Duckling are about transcendence and not being afraid to be different."

Speaking at Walter Sisulu’s funeral, Desmond Tutu spoke about Fly, Eagle, Fly: "God wants us to spread our wings and lift off and soar so we can become a caring people, a sharing people, and a compassionate people."
"You are a clever chicken, fly eagle fly!" he told the crowd, which ROARED with appreciation.