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Brave Bettie

For ages 3-8 and their family and friends

Calendar Icon 10 Feb 2026
Age Rating IconAges 3-8
Clock Icon60 minutes

Bettie loves the forest – it’s her sanctuary, where she feels calm and in control. But when the council threatens to cut down her favourite tree, Bettie must find the courage to fight for what she loves.

The night before the woodcutters come, Bettie meets the bold and mysterious Paida Moyo. The chance encounter sparks an extraordinary journey of friendship, bravery and self-discovery. Can the two friends save the woodlands and its critter crew before it’s too late? And how might the forest help Bettie in return?

Written by Tatenda Naomi Matsvai, Brave Bettie is a magical woodland adventure told through poetry, songs, live music and stories that explore their home heritage in Zimbabwe. This playful yet powerful production looks at resilience, self-belief, social activism and the environment, offering an urgent message for young audiences.

In February 2026 Brave Bettie was nominated for a Fringe Theatre Award.

⭐️ BEST THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES WRITING | Tatenda Naomi Matsvai

Brave Bettie is a Half Moon and Z-arts co-production: an exciting collaboration by the UK’s leading small-scale young people’s venue and touring company and Manchester’s unique arts centre for children and families.

Explore the Brave Bettie tour dates

Brave Bettie will proudly be the first Half Moon production to follow the Theatre Greenbook, a global initiative by theatre makers to create a more sustainable industry. We will be aiming for the Basic standard of sustainability, and so:

  • 50% of everything on stage (costume, props and set) will have been used and repurposed for our production.
  • 65% will be stored and used again after the production.

By helping to make theatre more sustainable, we hope to play an important role in fashioning a more sustainable world.

Brave Bettie was developed with support from the Leche Trust and the Austin & Hope Pilkington Trust.

It is supported by The Royal Victoria Hall Foundation

Please note: Performances on Thursday 5, Friday 6, Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 February are schools’ performances. Members of the public are very welcome, but please be aware that there may be large school groups in attendance.

For schools’ booking please contact androulla@halfmoon.org.uk

All seating is unreserved. All performances are relaxed performances and blind and visually impaired audiences can pre-book touch tours prior to all performances.

Find out more about how to find usaccess and some FAQs about your visit.

If the show you want to see is sold out, you can join our waiting list and we will get in touch if any tickets become available.

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