Previous Shows

Nursing Lives

Set in wartime Britain, Nursing Lives has all the qualities of a classic Vamos show: a full mask adventure with engaging soundtrack, dance sequences, puppetry, humour and pathos, aimed at audiences from eight to one hundred and eight.

In 1939, Florence is a young trainee nurse thrown into the harsh realities of work on the ward. She encounters the wrath of Sister Martin; endures and enjoys the pranks of fellow nurses, falls in love with her soldier sweetheart, Johnny; and confronts the heart wrenching inequalities in the use of the new super drug penicillin…will her dream of saving lives come true?

Nursing Lives toured the UK from March 2010 - April 2011 and played at 125 venues from the tiny Ashby Magna Village Hall to Exeter Northcott (more than 1000 people over three nights). Audiences topped 13,000 and the show sold out at over 50% of venues.

Writer: Rachael Savage
Director: Amanda Wilsher
Soundtrack: Janie Armour
Masks: Russell Dean
Set Designer: Verity Quinn
Costume Designer: Claire Mawson
Performers: Sarah Hawkins, Honor Hoskins, Rachael Savage
Funded by: Arts Council England, Worcestershire County Council

Storybag

Storybag was created to appeal to a younger Vamos audience of 4 to 7 year olds and their families. The show magically mixes tales from around the world in one joyous hour of story, live music and song, puppetry, and audience participation. Engaging and accessible, the show played at 122 venues throughout 2008.

Storybag is a co-production with The Roses Theatre Tewkesbury.

Writer and Director: Rachael Savage
Composer and Musical Director: Janie Armour
Set designer: Genevieve Belgard
Performer: Honor Hoskins

Funded by: Arts Council England

Storybag 2

Following on from the success of Storybag, and keeping to its popular recipe of engaging world tales told with imagination, music, song, and puppetry, Storybag 2 brought more magical and mysterious tales to our younger audiences. The show played throughout 2009 to over 7,500 audience members and workshop participants.

Writer and Director: Rachael Savage
Composer and Musical Director: Janie Armour
Set designer: Claire Mawson
Performer: Honor Hoskins
Funded by: Arts Council England

In Your Face

In Your Face is the story of Jonah, a boy with a passion for Spiderman, who finds it hard to fit in at his new school. Jonah learns about confidence, how to overcome bullying, and the meaning of friendship. A full mask show, In Your Face is a colourful and humorous production for 8 - 11 year olds.

Writer and Director: Rachael Savage
Guest Director: Amanda Wilsher
Soundtrack: Janie Armour
Set Designer: Chris Bassett
Performers: Emma Jane Benning, Honor Hoskins, Rachael Savage

In Your Face was first written and directed by Rachael Savage for Tangere Arts. Funded by: Malvern Theatres, The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts, Worcestershire County Council

The Best of Storybag

Children, parents, grandparents and teachers who saw Storybag and Storybag 2 asked for more, and in response we created The Best of Storybag.

The Best of Storybag consolidates our audiences’ favourite stories and songs from both Storybag and Storybag 2, tales from all over the world including Eastern Europe, Africa, China and India.

Writer and Director: Rachael Savage
Composer and Musical Director: Janie Armour
Set Designer: Claire Mawson
Performer: Honor Hoskins

George and the Dragon - a Right Royal Riot!

George and the Dragon was created in collaboration with the University of Worcester, Malvern Theatres, and Worcester Live. With more than a tip to Mummer’s plays, but with a unique Vamos twist, George and the Dragon is a riotous open-air romp, featuring a chinese dragon, a Danish doctor, and a very small horse.

Writer and Director: Rachael Savage
Composer and Musical Director: Janie Armour
Performers: Jennie Byrns, Natalie Edwards, Jonathan Garratt, Tim Hoad, Laurie Rautiainen
Stage Manager: Natasha Bird

Funded by: Worcester Live, The University of Worcester, Malvern Theatres