Factory International

Lost and Found

This event has ended.
An illustration of a boy and a penguin in a small boat out at sea. Ice bergs are visible in the background. An illustration of a boy and a penguin in a small boat out at sea
Date
6 Jan 2024
Venue
The Hall, Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester, M3 4JQ
Tickets
Standard Tickets £15, £20, £25 
Affordable Tickets £7.50, £10, £12.50
Schools Performance 14 Dec 10.30am £10
This event has ended.

Age Guidance: Suitable for all ages.
Running time: 55 minutes

Please note this show contains mild flashing lights.

Accessibility features available for this event: Captioning Audio Description Relaxed Performance BSL Interpreting Wheelchair Access

Come with us on an epic journey to the South Pole as a boy tries to take a wandering penguin home, in this heart-warming adaptation of Oliver Jeffers’ award-winning children’s story.

‘Once there was a boy and one day he found a penguin at his door…’

But everyone knows penguins don’t belong in sleepy seaside towns, so what’s the boy to do? Find out where the lost penguin came from and take it home, of course.

Together they embark on an epic journey across the high seas all the way to the South Pole. Encountering many obstacles along the way, the boy realises what he’s really lost… and found.

This magical stage show of Oliver Jeffers’ Lost and Found was adapted by renowned children’s TV and theatre producer Will Brenton. Original music composed by Gruff Rhys – who many will know as the guitarist and vocalist of Super Furry Animals as well as for his award-winning film and theatre scores – added another layer to this moving story.

Featuring puppetry and video projections, a cast of characters that charmed and delighted, not to mention a gang of rowdy seagulls – audiences laughed and were moved by this touching tale. Full of surprises, they were even called on to help out from time to time.

Watch

The boy and the penguin on stage for Lost and Found

Lost and Found Trailer | Factory International

Behind the scenes

A boy and a penguin in a boat with three puppet seagulls on stage as part of Lost and Found

Building Worlds: Set & Lighting Design

00:04:12

A puppet penguin and actor share a hug in Lost and Found rehearsals

Building Worlds: Story & Direction

04:25

Adult size penguin costume and actor in giant bobble hat with a puppet penguin on his arm

Building Worlds: Puppetry & Performance

00:04:21

Close up of Gruff Rhys' face, wearing a grey peaked hat

Gruff Rhys | In the Studio

00:07:57

  • "It opens young eyes and minds to the possibilites of what can be achieved in theatre... An adorable festive treat"

    Manchester Evening News

  • “A heartwarming, whimsical production which you can’t help but fall in love with... An absolute triumph in immersive storytelling”

    North West End

  • "Lost and Found has a magical aura, igniting the joy of connection, friendship and imagination - a must watch for all the family"

    Manchester Theatres

  • “Beguiling adaptation of Oliver Jeffers’ picture book”

    The Stage

  • "Delightful"

    Financial Times

  • "Catchy songs and breezy fun... a sweet, fun and carefully crafted show"

    The Guardian

Read

How to Draw a Penguin by Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers, author and illustrator of Lost and Found, shares his method for drawing a perfect penguin.

Lost and Found on stage: Telling stories all the way

The Lost and Found creative team explore the importance of storytelling, from childhood onwards.

Meet the Team: Lost and Found

Meet the dream team bringing Oliver Jeffers' Lost and Found to the stage.

Events

Tickets

We have a range of affordable tickets, including options from £10 for those who may need them. You can find out more about our Affordable Ticketing Policy here.

For ticketing and box office related enquiries, please contact tickets@factoryinternational.org.

For more information please visit Ticketing and Sale of Goods Terms & Conditions – Factory International

Schools and Groups

Our dedicated Schools performance is on Thursday 14 December at 10.30am

Bring a school/education group to Lost and Found and get:

  • One free teacher/carer ticket for every 10 student tickets purchased
  • Reserved tickets and an extended payment deadline date
  • No deposits or administrations fees

To reserve tickets or to discuss what other options might be available for your school’s visit to Lost and Found, please contact our Group Bookings team on groups@factoryinternational.org or or call 0161 817 4531 (Phone lines are open 10am – 5pm, Monday – Friday).

Credits

Creative Team

Written by Oliver Jeffers

Adapted and Directed by Will Brenton

Music by Gruff Rhys

Set & Costume Designer, Jean Chan

Puppetry Director, Olly Taylor

Movement & Associate Director, Jess Williams

Musical Director, Jordan Li-Smith

Lighting Designer, Jai Morjaria

Sound Designer, Alexandra Faye Braithwaite

Production Manager, Nigel Mousley

Casting Consultant, Olivia Barr

Commissioning

Commissioning and produced by Factory International.

Meet the cast →

Resources

Access information

The event takes place in the Hall at Aviva Studios. The full address of the venue is Aviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ.

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chop.feeds.chase.

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Aviva Studios is a new purpose-built cultural space in the heart of Manchester. The entrance to our building is through double glass doors.

Once inside, there is step-free access to all areas of the venue. You will arrive into the Social, a large public space where there are a range of seats (including those with arms), a bar and toilets (including accessible toilets).

The bars in the Social and Hall Foyer have lowered accessible service points.

The Hall entrance is by lift, escalator or stairs from one side of the Social beside the brick arches.

There are accessible toilets on all public levels of the building.

Accessible toilets (a mixture of wheelchair accessible cubicles with right- or left-hand transfer as well as accessible ambulant cubicles with grab rails) are located in the brick arches in the Social. This is also where you will find our Changing Places facility.

There are additional accessible toilets located in both Hall Foyers.

You do not need a key to use the accessible toilets at Aviva Studios.

If you need to bring an assistance dog to this event, please contact access@factoryinternational.org

To book access tickets and personal assistant tickets please call 0161 817 4531 (Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm) or email access@factoryinternational.org

Access bookings can be made by email or phone. They will also be available in person from our venue from 27 September 2023.

There is a captioned performance of Lost and Found on Thursday 21 December at 3pm. Caption units will be positioned either side of the stage.

There is an Audio Described performance on Saturday 23rd December. A Touch Tour will be taking place at 2.45pm which is open to all ticket holders. Please meet our staff member holding the Audio Described tour sign near the orange box in the Social if you wish to take part. The Touch Tour lasts 30 minutes.

An audio introduction takes place in the Hall at 3.45pm prior the performance.

There is a relaxed performance of Lost and Found on Thursday 28 December at 3pm.

The story will stay the same for the Relaxed shows, but the lighting, and sound will be adjusted.

These adjustments include:

  • The volume of the show will be turned down
  • Lighting will not be pointed towards the audience seating
  • The theatre house lights will be partially lit  at 60% their brightness throughout the show.
  • You can enter and leave the theatre whenever you want to.
  • You will be welcome to move, wriggle or make noise if you need to.
  • The seagulls will only be stealing and interacting with Factory International staff members instead of audience members
  • You can leave the performance space and come back at the Relaxed shows.

Please note this event includes haze, a special effect that looks like smoke. This is made out of water vapour and is safe. Haze has a slight sweet smell.

There is a BSL-interpreted performance of Lost and Found on Thursday 4 January at 11am. This event will be translated by BSL Interpreter Samantha Vanterpool. They will be positioned stage left.

Travel information

The building can be approached along Water Street (coming from Quay Street) or along Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).

The Water Street route is the quickest way to arrive at our City Square entrance.

Our closest stations are:

Salford Central station: 0.4 miles

Deansgate station and Deansgate-Castlefield tram: 0.6 miles

St Peter’s Square tram: 0.6 miles

Manchester Victoria station is approximately one mile from Aviva Studios

Manchester Piccadilly station is approximately 1.3 miles from Aviva Studios

Click on the links above to find detailed access information for each station.

By Bike

There are 40 bike parking spaces at Aviva Studios including space for two accessible bikes.

National Cycling Route 6 passes close to the venue and this TfGM webpage can help with route planning.

You can also hire bikes from on-street docking stations across the city centre. The closest docking stations to our venue are currently on Deansgate by Liverpool Road and (400m from the building) and by King Street (500m from the building). Take a look at Transport for Greater Manchester’s webpage for advice on cycle hire.

By Walking and Other Active Means

Aviva Studios can be approached along Water Street via Liverpool Road (coming from Deansgate or Castlefield).

If you're coming from Quay Street, the safest route to avoid construction works is via the cut-through opposite Gartside Street and past Booking.com.

All footways in the surrounding area are well lit and there are appropriate crossings across all main roads.

Pedestrians with visual impairment are recommended to approach the building via Water Street, from Liverpool Road. This route has traditional carriageway and footway design with fixed street furniture which should help with navigation to the entrance.

A footbridge at Left Bank in Spinningfields provides an accessible link across the River Irwell to Salford Central station, and a further footbridge also links Aviva Studios with the Salford area of Middlewood Locks.

Free bus services stop at all city-centre stations, and near to Aviva Studios along Deansgate, Bridge St and Quay St. Buses on these free routes are wheelchair accessible. For full details of the free bus routes, please visit the TfGM website.

There is a car park approximately 0.6 miles from Aviva Studios at Water Street Car Park, New Elm Rd, Manchester, M3 4JH.

There is also a NCP car park (Manchester Spinningfields) approximately 0.5 miles away from Aviva Studios at Spinningfields, New Quay Street, Manchester, M3 3BE. It has 35 accessible bays.

There are a small number of Blue Badge spaces along Water St and Quay St. Otherwise head towards Liverpool Road, Great John St and Lower Byrom St – close to our neighbours, the Science and Industry Museum where there are a small number of additional Blue Badge spaces.

For a list of other parking bays available in the area, visit Manchester City Council website.

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