A tale of family, folklore and finding home

We’re currently in the middle of a UK tour of the award-winning Grandad Anansi – an uplifting tale of love, courage and letting go for ages 4–9. The show has already visited 18 theatres and schools across the country to celebrate Black History Month, with a further eight venues still to come, including a stop at Half Moon Theatre from Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 November.

Featuring live music, singing and dancing, Grandad Anansi is a humorous and heartfelt intergenerational adventure that shines a light on Jamaican culture and the Windrush generation.

Abi and her Grandad share stories of Anansi the spider – the trickster hero of West African and Caribbean folklore. Together they work in the garden, surrounded by beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables, planting both memories and seeds as they build a bond that nothing can break.

But Grandad has something important to tell his granddaughter: he plans to return to Jamaica, his beloved homeland. Can he find the right way to say goodbye?

A co-production with Z-arts, this contemporary retelling of traditional folktales was originally developed in partnership with the African Caribbean Care Group and schools in Hulme, Manchester. Following a successful 2022 tour, the show went on to win Best Performance at the Manchester Culture Awards 2023.

Grandad Anansi is the first piece of children’s theatre by Greater Manchester writer Elayne Ogbeta, who drew inspiration from her Jamaican heritage. The character of Grandad is partly based on her own father, 89-year-old Ashley Malcolm, who moved from Jamaica to Preston in the 1960s as part of the Windrush generation.

“I grew up listening to lots of wonderful stories about the roguish spider Anansi told by my dad,”  Elayne told us.

“He’s still a great storyteller today and has delighted all nine of his grandchildren with his gripping versions of the classic Jamaican tales. Grandad Anansi takes these oral stories, passed down through generations, and places them on stage for new audiences. It’s also a universal story about intergenerational love, growing up, growing older and the meaning of home.”

If you’re looking for a joyful family outing this November, join us for Grandad Anansi, a joyful family adventure filled with laughter, music and heart.

Grandad Anansi is at Half Moon from 6-8 November. Tickets cost £9 from www.halfmoon.org.uk or by calling the box office on 020 7709 8900.

Stephen Beeny is the Communications Manager at Half Moon