Polka Presents Maanika and the Wolf - Relaxed Performance Pack - Polka Theatre
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Polka Presents Maanika and the Wolf Relaxed Performance Pack
Maanika and the Wolf
Maanika and the Wolf is a captivating retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, including
the exciting journey to visit Grandma’s house and includes the iconic encounter with
the big, bad wolf. The classic moments ‘What big ears you have’, ‘What big eyes you
have’ and ‘What big teeth you have’ will all feature in this engaging story, as Little
Red Riding Hood saves her Grandma from the wolf. The production has been
devised, which means the play has been created and developed during the
rehearsal time, with no set script or structure in place. It was made through the
creative process of sharing and experimenting with ideas.
Maanika Jain will re-enact her own version of the tale, inspired by and making
reference to her Indian cultural heritage. The story of Little Red Riding Hood mirrors
Maanika’s reality in the play, with the character’s own scary wolf, the estate agent Mr
Lupinosa, who features only as a voiceover on the phone. Her loving relationship
with Granddaughter Ruby is what inspires Maanika and carries her through this tale
to ultimately defeat the “big bad wolf” characters.
Created and directed by Polka’s Artistic Director Peter Glanville, with music by Arun
Ghosh and design by Sophia Lovell Smith. Additional dramaturgical support comes
from Sudha Bhuchar, co-founder of Tamasha Theatre Company.
We hope you enjoy the show!
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The Location
When you get to the Centre Court Shopping Centre, there are three main entrances,
this is what they look like:
Main Station Entrance M&S / Tesco Entrance
(Upper Level Entrance) (Ground Floor Entrance)
Side Entrance
Side Entrance
(Ground Floor Entrance)
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Inside Centre Court you can expect to see a standard shopping centre layout:
The Polka Pop-Up Theatre is located on the upper level, on the left hand side and
towards the back of the building next to the Covid Vaccination Centre.
The outside of Polka’s Pop-Up Theatre looks like this:
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This is a picture of the FOH area:
You can take a seat on one of our benches before entering the performance space.
If you would like to view more information on the Centre Court Shopping Centre
please look at this website: http://www.centrecourtshopping.co.uk/
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Covid-19 Regulations
STATEMENT ON POLKA COVID-SECURE MEASURES AFTER 19 JULY 2021:
We take the safety of our audiences, staff and volunteers seriously and we want you
to have confidence when coming to a Polka show. We are maintaining some Covid
secure measures beyond 19 July to remain in line with industry guidance.
We’re only selling our next show Maanika and the Wolf to 50% of
ticket capacity for the Relaxed performance, to make sure it is a
bit roomier with no overcrowding, with well considered seating arrangements.
This one-woman show will also have no physical interaction between audience
and performer.
We strongly recommend wearing face coverings inside our venues to help
protect staff, performers and other audience members (unless exempt).
We will continue to offer flexible ticketing under the updated ‘See it Safely
kitemark’- the ‘See it Safely kitemark’ means a venue is Covid-secure and
following the latest Government guidance for live arts events.
There will continue to be an enhanced cleaning regime and
hand sanitiser stations available at our venues.
Our team will continue with regular lateral flow testing and will be wearing face
coverings or visors.
We’ll have the NHS Track & Trace available for you to check in, although this
is no longer compulsory.
For more information on the ‘See it Safely Kitemark’ please visit this link:
https://officiallondontheatre.com/see-it-safely/
Picture information strip - this is what you will do when you go inside:
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To prepare you for your visit to the Polka Pop-Up Theatre we have put together a
synopsis, this is to help you to understand the story that you are about to see and
prepare you for what to expect during the performance. The performance will last
approximately 35 minutes.
Maanika and the Wolf
A heart-warming story of a grandmother’s fight to keep her family home from being
knocked down. Maanika is inspired by the wonderful memories she has from the
room and acts out the tale of Little Red Riding Hood as she did as a child. This is a
one-woman play, however the actor will use props to act out the roles of Little Red
Riding Hood, The Wolf and the Grandmother ‘Nani’.
The props are made for storytelling purposes and are not real. The wolf character is
classically the villain in this story and, therefore, may be characterised scarier in
comparison to the other characters.
This is what the characters look like:
Maanika Jain Little Red Riding Hood
Wolf Nani
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You will also hear the voices of two other characters: Granddaughter Ruby and
estate agent Mr Lupinosa. These voices are pre-recorded and will be played though
the speakers.
During the show Maanika will ask you to help her and join in mixing the
‘lentil dhal’ and fanning the ‘roti’. This play has interactive moments
and you are welcome to respond to Maanika and laugh or smile.
During the show you might see something that makes you feel sad or
scared. You are allowed to feel sad or scared, that is ok.
This is the performance space:
Set as you first see it:
There is a blue door decorated with red detail, white drawers in front of the window
with green curtains, a chest filled with toys placed in the centre of the room and a
small bed that granddaughter Ruby usually sleeps in, which is placed opposite the
door at the other end of the room.
The stage is set in Maanika’s childhood bedroom, a room where she created many
happy memories with her family growing up. Throughout the show Maanika will use
props and move items of the set to transform the space.
You are welcome to sit on the benches provided or on the carpet. Seating has been
structured considering social distancing.
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There are a few moments where you might hear noises coming from the speakers,
or a change in the projection from the actor. Some children don’t like loud noises. If
you don’t like loud noises we can help you. There is a symbol in the pack telling you
when there will be a noise so you can put your fingers in your ears, or use your ear
defenders and still enjoy the fun.
If you see this symbol it means there will be a loud noise and you can
put your fingers in your ears.
If you see this symbol it means the actor will sing a song in Hindi or
chant a prayer in Sanskrit.
If you see this symbol it means you will hear a sound effect, this could
be a door bell or a phone ringing or a pre-recorded voiceover, all
coming from the speakers.
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Scene 1. Maanika’s Bedroom
Part 1: Maanika enters the room with a sad energy and begins telling her story to the
audience, referring to the sale of her family home and the letters she is receiving
from the estate agent.
Part 2: As she explores her memories the mood changes and she opens the chest in
the middle of the stage. She takes out a toy wolf, horse and monkey and makes the
relevant sound effects.
Page | 10Part 3: The sound of a phone ringing will come from the speakers - this is an
incoming call from Maanika’s granddaughter Ruby. You will hear Ruby’s voice.
This is pre-recorded and will be coming from the speakers.
As Maanika continues to narrate she reflects on her travels to India with Ruby.
Part 4: Maanika will ask the audience to join in and help her to stir the large pot that
the lentil dhal is made in. She will then ask the audience to help her to fan the roti.
You can join in with Maanika here to help her.
Maanika will sing a song in Hindi and gets up to dance.
Page | 11Scene 2.The Forest
Part 1: Maanika puts on a red hood, acting as Little Red Riding Hood and she begins
to set up the scene for the tale. Maanika will transform the stage using the green
curtains to make the room look like a forest.
Part 2: Through the speakers you will hear the sound of a doorbell that is repeated a
few times. Maanika picks up a package that has been delivered to her.
Maanika calls Ruby. You will hear the sound of an outgoing phone call and Ruby’s
voice.
Page | 12Part 3: Maanika begins to tell the adapted version of Little Red Riding Hood. On her
travels she screams as she comes across a scorpion, a snake and a cheeky
monkey. Maanika uses the Monkey toy and playfully performs cheeky monkey
sounds directed towards the audience.
These are not real, Maanika will mime the scorpion and will use a prop belt for the
snake and a monkey toy. It is ok to jump and be scared or laugh at this time.
Part 4: As Maanika continues to narrate, she introduces the wolf into the story.
Maanika will be characterising the role of the wolf so her physicality and voice will
change to appear scarier.
Page | 13Scene 3. Nani and the Wolf
Part 1: Maanika will use props to transform the set again. She uses a blue silk cloth
located in the drawers to create the river Ganges.
Part 2: Maanika chants a prayer in Sanskrit whilst playing the role of Nani.
Page | 14Part 3: Wolf reaches Nani before Little Red Riding Hood. Nani will try her best to
fight off the wolf. The Wolf eats Nani, and Nani is placed inside his tummy which is
represented though the pillow on the bed.
This moment might be tense and may include struggle and screaming, it is ok to feel
scared at this time.
Part 4: You will hear an incoming call followed by a spoken phone message from Mr
Lupinosa. You will hear another incoming call from Ruby. You will hear Ruby’s voice.
These are pre-recorded and will be coming from the speakers.
Page | 15Part 5: Maanika continues the story as Little Red Riding Hood. As she figures out
Nani is actually the wolf, the wolf tries to eat her and they fight until Little Red
Riding Hood places the wolf back in the chest.
This will be a louder moment including some struggle and screaming as Little Red
Riding Hood fights the wolf - it is ok to feel tense and scared at this time.
Part 6: Little Red Riding Hood finds Nani stuffed in the Wolf’s tummy and rescues
her.
Page | 16Part 7: Maanika sings Nani’s prayer as she rests her back in the bed.
Part 8: You will hear an outgoing phone call. Maanika is feeling much happier and
brave enough to leave a message for Mr Lupinosa telling him she will not sell her
house.
The End. The show has now finished. At the end of the show everyone will clap
their hands which is to show the actor and production team that they have enjoyed
the show.
Page | 17Thank you for coming - we hope you enjoyed the show!
Polka is reopening! Discover our wonderfully refurbished venue.
Whether you’re seeing a show or getting creative in a workshop, relaxing in the Café
or exploring our free-to access indoor and outdoor play spaces, we can’t wait to
welcome you back!
Connect with us on social media, @polkatheatre
Polka Theatre
240 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1SB
Box Office 020 8543 4888
boxoffice@polkatheatre.com
polkatheatre.com
© Polka Theatre 2004 – 2021 | Polka is a registered charity no. 256979
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