Chester singer’s role in Peppa Pig stage show

Feb 4 2010 by Jo Henwood, Flintshire Chronicle

Chester singer Keddy Sutton is pulling no strings for her latest role.

A soloist with the women’s choir A Handbag of Harmonies, actress Keddy is behind the puppet Mummy Pig in the live theatre tour of children’s TV hit Peppa Pig.

Peppa Pig’s Party will be at The Lowry in February and New Brighton Floral Pavilion in June.

Director, Richard Lewis chose to use puppets for the production to help unlock children’s imagination.

He said: “Having worked with puppetry in play groups and elsewhere, I have always been fascinated to see the children disregard the puppeteer and enter the world of the puppet character. It is a very powerful thing to experience a child talking, sharing and even feeding a puppet character that they believe exists entirely in their own right.”

Puppeteer, Nigel Plaskitt, creator of Johnny Vegas’ friend Monkey in the PG Tips advert, is a consultant on the show and Keddy admits that the chance to work with him was the main reason she took the part.

Keddy, from Bromborough, said: “Its actually a lot harder than it looks manipulating the puppets.

“We have to see a physiotherapist because our arms ache that badly.”

She added: “The show is lovely and simple and jam packed full of audience participation. The audience loves joining in with dances and songs.”

Keddy recently appeared at the Buxton Opera House as Fairy Babs Windsor Bowbells in Dick Whittington. She also provides the voices of Martha Hare, Mariel Mouse and other woodland creatures in Brian Jacques’ award winning Redwall Chronicles.

Peppa Pig’s Party is at The Lowry from February 4 to 7 (tel 08432 086000) and at the New Brighton Floral Pavilion from June 26 to 27 (tel 0151 666 0000).