What tales to tell in such strange times? Asks the wondrous creatives of 1927, the theatrical troupe known for their magical fusion of storytelling, animation and live music.

5-30 October

Roots_trailer(S) from 1927 on Vimeo

In the night, a thick tangled root had grown from the boys navel,

and a tough fleshy root had grown from the girls navel, and these roots were connected to their mothers navel, rooting the three of them together.

They tried to cut the roots. But they could not….

Sitting on a shelf in the British library is an unassuming red book.  “The Aarne index” has categorised thousands of folktales, offering a glimpse in to the imaginations of pre industrialised people. 1927’s Roots is a medley of these rarely told stories.

Tales of tyrannical ogres, magic bird's hearts and very, very fat cats are brought to life with 1927's signature fusion of handcrafted animation and storytelling. With a live score involving Peruvian prayer boxes, donkeys jaws, violins and musical saws, Roots playfully considers the narratives of the past and how they might shape the stories of our future.

Roots had its world premiere at Spoleto Festival USA on 24 May 2019