Goodbye, Mr. Muffin

Goodbye, Mr. Muffin is a theatre production for children by Swedish Teater Allena. We are all going to die – you and I and daddy. Perhaps can one meet one’s mother or wife? But I don’t know if there is a heaven? Mr. Muffin (aged 7) sits in his shoe box wondering about life.

Information

(Objekt ID 2043)
Object type Production
Premiere April 11, 2003
Produced by Teater Allena
Coproducers Nordland Visual Theatre
In collaboration with Nordland Theatre
Based on Goodbye, Mr. Muffin by Ulf Nilsson
Audience Children, Families (from 6 to 10)
Language Swedish
Keywords Puppetry, Performance for children
Running period April 11, 2003  

Requirements to venue

Minimum stage width 8m
Maximum stage width 8m
Minimum stage depth 8m
Maximum stage depth 8m
Minimum stage height 3m
Maximum stage height 3m
Blackout Yes
Rigging time 60 minutes
Downrigging time 60 minutes
Audience 60
More

Goodbye, Mr. Muffin by Teater Allena is about the guinea pig Mr. Muffin. He was strong and healthy once, but all of a sudden, a Tuesday, his stomach started hurting. It hurts when he sneezes and the veterinary says there is no more to do. Mr. Muffin remembers his little, rich life. He has lived with his wife and six fluffy children. He thinks about all the cucumbers, the little blue house with a mailbox, dandelions and all the times Martin (aged 7) has cuddled him.

Lasse Åkerlund tells an unsentimental and warm story about death. Soberly he looks cautiously down into the shoe box called life. The production builds on the critically acclaimed book by the same name by Ulf Nilsson. The book Goodbye, Mr. Muffin won the August award for best book for children in 2002.

Goodbye, Mr. Muffinwas made in collaboration between Nordland Visual Theatre and Teater Allena.

Contributors (9)
Name Role
Ulf Nilsson – Author
Lasse Åkerlund – Direction
Gunnar Fretheim – Stage design
Lasse Åkerlund – Actor
Jaap den Hertog – Performer (Doktor)
Lasse Åkerlund – Puppeteer
Jaap den Hertog – Puppet maker
Lasse Åkerlund – Producer
Rolf Engelsen – Consultant (Regikonsulent)
Festivals (1)
Vinterlys 2008
Press coverage

"Tender and beautiful (...) unsentimental and easy to enjoy, for adults and children. For those who have lost a pet, the production can help understanding their own feelings and provide hope that the pet is all right even after death."

Lofoten Tidende

 "A moving story... A warm, touching and thought-provoking play moving us all."

Lofotposten