Tickets for all rehearsed readings are free, but must be booked in advance with each theatre.



THE CHILDREN OF MEDEA
Date: Thursday 12 October
Time: 18:45 - 21:00hrs
Location: The Unicorn Theatre

Writers: Per Lysander and Suzanne Osten.
Translator: Ann-Charlotte Hanes Harvey.
Producer: Unicorn Theatre
Director: Tony Graham

The play: A deeply moving, often funny, exploration of children torn by their parents' divorce. It's an easy description to say that Medea's Children is the classical legend seen through the children's eyes. But there is no expectation of familiarity with the original; it stands on its own, as a journey into the real world of children, how they think, and what they talk about late at night.

Tickets: Unicorn Theatre Box Office: 020 7645 0560


BLASTING
Date: Friday 13 October
Time: 14.30 – 17.00
Location: National Theatre (Cottesloe Theatre)

Paired with The Unscrupulous Murderer Hasse Karlsson Reveals the Gruesome Truth of the Woman Who Froze to Death on a Railway Bridge.

Writer: Mats Kjelbye.
Translator: Helena Johansson.
Publisher: Draken Teaterförlag

The play: Ed encircles disaster with a big D. The play is about dreams, conntected thoughts and growing up. Adrenaline rushing to a clenched fist and tears streaming down a bruised cheek. About victims and perpetrators. The intoxication of power and degradation. But also about love and regret. About tenderness in your heart and in your jaw and how it hurts.

Tickets: National Theatre Box Office: 020-74523000



The Unscrupulous Murderer Hasse Karlsson Reveals the Gruesome Truth of the Woman Who Froze to Death on a Railway Bridge.
Date: 13 October
Time: 14.30 – 17.00
Location: National Theatre (Cottesloe Theatre)

Paired with BLASTING

Writer: Henning Mankell
Translator: May Brit Akerholt.
Publisher: Colombine Teaterförlag

The play: Hasse Karlsson is on his way to his mother's death bed. During a break in his journey he tells the story of their long-standing disagreement. It is told from the perspective of a bleak childhood landscape where two boys, Hasse and Svalan meet on the doorstep to another world - and how they practice being adults. To be grown up, is, according to Svalan, to expose the deserving to terror and revenge. Hasse reluctantly becomes ensnared by Svalan's thoughts and is guided towards crimes he does not want to commit.

Tickets: National Theatre Box Office: 020-74523000



TRALALA
Date: Monday 16 October
Time: 13:00-15.00
Location: Unicorn Theatre

Paired with ANGEL AND BLUE HORSE

Writer: Tomas Tidholm
Translator: Gabriella Berggren
Publisher: Draken Teaterförlag
Producer: Polka Theatre and Company of Angels
Director: Roman Stefanski paired with Tidholms Tralala

The play: Hilda and Arnold are building a kingdom in the shade under a climbing frame. The children test their identities through play

Tickets: Unicorn Theatre Box Office: 020 7645 0560



ANGEL AND BLUE HORSE
Date: Monday 16 October
Time: 13:00-15.00
Location: Unicorn Theatre

Paired with TRALALA

Writer: Ulf Stark
Translator: Frank Perry
Director: Roman Stefanski
Producer: Polka Theatre and Company of Angels
Publisher: Colombine Teaterförlag

The play: Angel and God are best friends. One night Angel dreams about a horse so wondrous God must create it - blue with a long soft muzzle and a tail flowing in the wind. God does so - unwillingly - he is jealous - will he not have his Angel to himself anymore? And God's fears come true - Angel and Horse can not bear to be apart. During the hours of darkness God secretly sends the beautiful blue Horse to paradise. But Angel says that love is to always want to be together and braves darkness and danger to fetch his beloved Horse. At last God too understands that they can be friends - all three

Tickets: Unicorn Theatre Box Office:020 7645 0560



FALLEN FROM THE MOON
Date: 16 October
Time: 16.00-18.00 (Paired with THE ALCOHOL )
Location: Unicorn Theatre

Writer: Lucas Svensson
Translator: Frank Perry
Publisher: Colombine Teaterförlag
Director: Anna Östergren
Producer: RADA

The play: Rosa lives with her mum in a basement. Mum cleans the loos in a hospital and calls herself Cinderella. She dreams about Rosa becoming a brilliant piano player so that they both can be rich and famous. But Rosa would much rather play pinball than piano and to escape the recital at the library her mum has advertised all over town, Rosa runs away with her friend Edwin. A funny, quirky, bright story about a strong girl fighting bravely and creatively for her own space in the bleak landscape surrounding her.

Tickets: Unicorn Theatre Box Office: 020 7645 0560



THE ALCOHOLE
Date: 16 October
Time: 16.00-18.00 (Paired with FALLEN FROM THE MOON)
Location: Unicorn Theatre

Writer: Christina Gottfridsson
Translator: Eivor Martinus
Producer: RADA
Director: Anna Östergren
Publisher: Colombine Teaterförlag.

The play: This is a play about how Nickan copes with life when mum drinks and little sister mucks things up. By her side is Doris the velvet crocodile. Doris entertains when life is boring, hollers when needed, comforts when Nickan is sad and takes a knock or two when her anger has to be directed somewhere. Because as Nickan says "you can't get by on a crocodile fart when you are 11 years old."

Tickets: Unicorn Theatre Box Office: 020 7645 0560



NIGHT ON THE RUN
Date: Monday 16 October
Time: 19.00-21.00 (Paired with MONDAY IS FISHCAKES)
Location: Unicorn Theatre

Writer: Martina Montelius.
Translator: Ann Henning Jocelyn.
Publisher: Colombine Teaterförlag.
Producer: Hampstead Theatre

The play: Karin Helander writes: "Night on the Run has the feeling of the wild stories children love to invent. Maria Montelius' expressive text is a wonderful mix of bizarre word combinations, linguistic whims, razor sharp imprints of feelings and breakneck absurdities. It is crazy and poetic, wise and freaky, hurtful and longing, consoling and sympathetic. It is a runaway play about a charging night in an abandoned girl's life. In a department store closed for the night she searches for her omniscient storyteller."

Tickets: Unicorn Theatre Box Office: 020 7645 0560

MONDAY IS FISHCAKES
Date: Monday 16 October
Time: 1900 - 2100 (Paired with NIGHT ON THE RUN)
Location: Unicorn Theatre

Writer: Anders Duus.
Translator: Charlotte Barslund.
Publisher: Colombine Teaterförlag
Director: Anthony Clark
Producer: Hampstead Theatre

The play: Ritva and Irene are practically invisible. They belong to those who serve too much, or too little. Ritva has been a dinner lady since they invented primary school. She hates children and she hates change. Irene is new. She is full of ideas. She wants the children to see her, she wants to please and surprise. Monday is fishcake day, full stop. And has been since Queen Victoria's time. But the Local Education Authority has to cut spending and an efficiency consultant is called in. Of course, such a small school only needs one cook? Suddenly, working in the dining hall turns into a competition. Monday is Fishcake Day is a play about a low income occupation most children experience first hand. A political play for children, of our time.

Tickets: Unicorn Theatre Box Office: 020 7645 0560




THE DREAMED LIFE OF NORA SCHAHRAZADE
Date: 20 October
Time: 10:35 – 1335
Location: Polka Theatre

Writer: Mia Törnqvist.
Translator: May Brit Akerholt
Producer: Polka Theatre and Company of Angles

The play: A popular Swedish play for young people, this moving script tells the tale of a couple broken by grief at the death of their daughter, Nora. A mystery girl whose imagination knows no bounds comes into their life and together they play out the life of Nora Schahrazade throughout her childhood, until she is old enough to marry and go on a honeymoon far, far away.

Tickets: Polka Theatre Box Office: 020-8543 4888