Internationally renowned puppeteer and performer Austin Mitchel Hewitt returns to his home town of Liverpool to present the world premiere of his first solo show I’m Happy Here (honest) at The Unity Theatre on March 25th and 26th.
This new production features a compelling mix of puppetry, shadow, music, clowning, visual theatre and storytelling to explore the burred line that memory creates through the retelling of stories; making them almost ‘fairytale’ in quality. It features an original soundtrack and songs by local musician Barry Han, who has written for Tmesis Theatre and Periplum Theatre companies.
Through the telling of a very personal story, Austin explores themes we can all relate to: happiness – childhood, identity, otherness, rejection and grief, as well as the joy that can be found in the smallest of moments. It takes a look at our current obsession with acquiring happiness, and discovering along the way, that it may already be there, ready, willing and waiting to be stepped into.
Austin has worked and toured with theatre companies such as Tall Stories (The Gruffalo), Fuse Theatre (The Peacemaker) as well as resident puppet director at the Unity Theatre (The Adventures of Sinbad the Sailor) and consultant puppet advisor for Spike Theatre, 20 Stories High, Everyman and Playhouse Theatres. Austin is a core member of street theatre company Artemis Productions who perform throughout the U.K. and Europe.
I’m Happy Here (honest) sees collaboration between Austin and acclaimed artists Elinor Randle (Tmesis Theatre) and Steve Tiplady (Indefinite Articles) Ed Bixter (Popular Demand), film -maker Anna Levin and award-winning designer Colin Eccleston, who designed for the recent production of The Master and the Margarita at the Unity Theatre.
Tickets for I’m Happy Happy Here (honest) are available from the Unity Theatre Box office, by telephone on 08448732888 or online at www.unitytheatreliverpool.co.uk and are priced at £8 with concessions at £7.