Local Team Brings CBeeBies Poetry to Life!
ON 21st MARCH 2016 CBEEBIES sees a new series of the hit animated poetry show, Magic Hands.
Local interest comes in the form of presenter, Aimee Campbell Nottage, who spent 5 years at The Mary Hare School in Newbury and local resident, Judith Bunting, who is Series Producer for the show.
The new series brings to life poetry classics like the Owl and the Pussy Cat and The Lady of Shallott, acted out by a new, cute cast of cartoon characters, who dress up and play alongside presenters Ashley, Aimee, Donna and Simon.
Judith Bunting said: The mix of sign language, music and fantastic animation creates a world young viewers really seem to love, whether they are hearing or deaf. The new animal characters are cute and funny as well, dressing up as figures from the poems, from The Owl and the Pussy Cat, to the Lady of Shalott, to Romeo and Juliet.” The series who appear in the episodes specially made for the BBC’s Shakespeare Festival, in April.”
The first series of Magic Hands was a surprise hit, enjoying average viewing figures of 250,000 per programme with a 35.6% share of the 0-6year old market – both for television and iplayer. This surpasses other Cbeebies favourites, including, Something Special, Rhyme Rocket and Baby Jake.
The Magic Hands presenting team are all profoundly deaf, so on-screen presentation is in their first language, British Sign Language. Voice-over of the poetry accompanies and is always in the original language of the verse, whether it’s The Spider and the Fly, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, or Romeo and Juliet. This series is inspired by the idea that young children can enjoy the rhythm and meaning of older English, even if they don’t quite understand all the words.
Aimee Campbell Nottage said: Magic Hands is great for all children, hearing and deaf. The presenters are good role models for children who are deaf and many hearing children will never have met any deaf people and are will not aware of BSL, so they will learn something new.”
The show begins on CBeebies on Monday 21st March.
And if you fancy supporting the #LibraryFest2016 then CBeebies will be attening Newbury Library click here for more details