The Wimbledon based theatre have announced it will be launching a pop-up theatre space at the Centre Court Shopping Centre.
With the Polka Theatre building gradually beginning to reopen this Summer after an £8.5m redevelopment, the team at the theatre have announced plans for a pop-up theatre space at the Wimbledon Centre Court Shopping centre with a reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood.
Created and directed by Polka’s Artistic Director Peter Glanville, Maanika & The Wolf will blend the past with the present as a grandmother returns to her childhood bedroom recalling stories from when she was a young
girl. Talking to her granddaughter over Zoom, she brings her Indian dressing-up box back to life and re-enacts her own version of Little Red Riding Hood.
The creative team behind the pop-up production includes newly composed music from British-Asian musician Arun Ghosh, designs by Sophia Lovell Smith and dramaturgical support is from Sudha Bhuchar, co-founder of Tamasha Theatre Company.
Talking about the news, Peter Glanville said: “Prior to our re-opening season at Polka Theatre this autumn,
following a major £8.5m redevelopment, Polka are delighted to be premiering Maanika and The Wolf at Centre Court Shopping Centre in Wimbledon . This is an exciting new venture for us – creating a pop-up theatre in the heart of the community, for our local audiences to enjoy.”
The Polka Theatre temporarily closed for a major redevelopment in February 2019 and plans will soon be announced about its full reopening. During the last year the theatre has kept young audiences entertained with a variety of live, recorded and downloadable activities for children.
Maanika and the Wolf will be performed at the Centre Court Shopping Centre from the 29th July until the 29th August.