To Catch The Moon

A Brief Overview of a Unique Storytelling Experience

Event: To Catch The Moon
Location: A local pub in Walthamstow
Occasion: Part of the Walthamstow Art Trail
Collaborators: OneRiseEast and E17 Art Trail

Summary: “To Catch The Moon” was an intimate storytelling experience revolving around the moon landings. Hosted by PRONK! Productions at the Castle pub, this unique event blended science, history, and humour to engage audiences of all ages, particularly children.

Key Features:

1. Interactive Storytelling: Jack and Robert, dressed in orange NASA space suits, led the audience through a vivid retelling of humanity’s journey to the moon, starting from the first photograph of the moon to the Apollo 11 landing.
2. Engaging Visuals and Props:
   • An inflatable space rocket suit and an inflatable moon.
   • A detailed replica model of the Saturn V rocket.
   • Projected images and videos of historical moments.
3. Educational and Fun: The show combined factual storytelling with humour, including a comical entrance by Jack in a jetpack costume and playful interactions with the audience.
4. Live Music: Original compositions by Robert Moutrey provided an atmospheric backdrop to the narrative.
5. Audience Participation: Children and adults alike were invited to join the performance, including a volunteer who helped demonstrate the scale model of the Saturn V rocket.

Script Highlights:

• Prologue: Introduction of Jack and Robert, setting the stage for an exciting journey.
• Shooting the Moon (1839): A dramatic retelling of the first photograph of the moon.
• Space Dogs (1950s): A humorous yet informative segment on the history of animals in space exploration.
• Valentina Tereshkova (1963): The story of the first woman in space, interspersed with reflections on the beauty and fragility of Earth.
• Apollo 11 (1969): A detailed and engaging recount of the historic moon landing, including audience participation.
• Epilogue – The Future: Reflections on the legacy of the Apollo missions and the ongoing fascination with space exploration.

Reception

The event was a hit, especially with the children, who were captivated by the inflatable props and interactive elements. It served as a successful research and scratch material session for PRONK! Productions, providing valuable insights for their subsequent audio project, Isolation Tapes.

Conclusion

“To Catch The Moon” was a memorable and educational experience, combining storytelling, visuals, and music to bring the history of space exploration to life in a local pub setting.