Room on the Broom and other Songs with Julia Donaldson — Transcript

Julia Donaldson performs Room on the Broom and A Squash and a Squeeze with interactive storytelling and songs at Little Angel Theatre.

Key Takeaways

  • Interactive storytelling enhances children's engagement with Julia Donaldson's books.
  • Room on the Broom Day is a special event combining Halloween fun with beloved children's stories.
  • Use of costumes, props, and audience participation creates a lively theatrical experience.
  • Julia Donaldson connects her first book with her popular Room on the Broom story to showcase her work.
  • The performance emphasizes fun and imagination without being frightening for young viewers.

Summary

  • Julia Donaldson welcomes the audience at Little Angel Theatre on Room on the Broom Day, coinciding with Halloween.
  • She performs an interactive storytelling session starting with her first book, A Squash and a Squeeze, using a magic spell to transition.
  • The story of A Squash and a Squeeze is narrated with accompanying actions and characters like the little old lady, wise old man, and various animals.
  • Julia introduces the Room on the Broom story with live audience participation, including children playing the cat and bird.
  • She dresses up as the witch from Room on the Broom, putting on a wig, hat, cloak, and preparing props like a wand and cauldron.
  • Audience members are taught interactive cues such as tapping the cauldron and saying magic spells during the performance.
  • The Room on the Broom story begins with the witch and her cat flying on a broomstick, encountering a dog with a lost hat.
  • The performance includes songs, magic spells, and playful engagement with the audience to bring the stories to life.
  • Julia’s husband Malcolm acts as the storyteller, supporting the live enactment of the story.
  • The event is designed to be fun and not scary, suitable for children and families celebrating Room on the Broom Day.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

00:24
Speaker A
Hello everyone. I'm Julia Donaldson, it's lovely to be here in the Little Angel Theatre in Islington.
00:32
Speaker A
A wonderful puppet, mainly puppet theatre, and also I'm going to say hello to all the people that are watching online.
00:46
Speaker A
And it's a very special day, it's Halloween and I can see a skeleton in the audience, I can see someone who looks like a cloud, are you a cloud? I'm not quite sure, I can see a few witches and cats and I think there's a zombie pirate in the audience somewhere or a pirate zombie, I'm not sure.
01:05
Speaker A
Anyway, it's Halloween, but we're not going to call it Halloween.
01:10
Speaker A
We are calling it Room on the Broom Day.
01:14
Speaker A
And we're going to be telling you, acting the story of Room on the Broom.
01:25
Speaker A
It's not scary, you don't need to cry, it's all right.
01:28
Speaker A
Um, maybe it's a little bit scary.
01:30
Speaker A
Um, but first, I'm going to magic us back in time to my very first book.
01:38
Speaker A
Which was A Squash and a Squeeze.
01:41
Speaker A
So I'm going to say a magic spell, maybe you can all join in with this magic spell.
01:47
Speaker A
It goes, Ibbly, what does it go?
01:50
Speaker A
Ibbly, nibbly, nobbly knees, magic us back to a squash and a squeeze.
01:56
Speaker A
Can we try that?
01:57
Speaker A
Ibbly, nibbly, nobbly knees, magic us back to a squash and a squeeze.
02:02
Speaker A
Oh, what's happening?
02:03
Speaker A
Oh, my clothes.
02:04
Speaker A
Oh, my goodness.
02:05
Speaker A
I've turned into the little old lady in my very first book, A Squash and a Squeeze.
02:10
Speaker A
Now her house is very, very small.
02:13
Speaker A
She's only got, oh, there they are.
02:14
Speaker A
She's got a table with a nice checked tablecloth and a chair.
02:17
Speaker A
And a lovely jug, that's my favorite thing, this jug.
02:20
Speaker A
But do you know my house is so small, I wish it was bigger.
02:24
Speaker A
I can hardly move, it's, there's just not enough room.
02:26
Speaker A
I've got a nice neighbor, though, a wise old man.
02:30
Speaker A
Here he comes.
02:31
Speaker A
He's always playing his guitar.
02:32
Speaker A
But he's very nice.
02:33
Speaker A
Um, and I'm going to ask him what to do about my too small house.
02:37
Speaker B
One, two, three, four.
02:42
Speaker C
A little old lady lived all by herself.
02:47
Speaker C
With a table and chair and a jug on the shelf.
02:50
Speaker C
A wise old man heard her grumble and grouse.
02:53
Speaker C
There's not enough room in my house.
02:55
Speaker C
She said, wise old man, won't you help me, please?
02:59
Speaker C
My house is a squash and a squeeze.
03:05
Speaker C
Take in your hen, said the wise old man.
03:07
Speaker C
Take in my hen, what a curious plan.
03:10
Speaker C
Come on then, Henrietta.
03:11
Speaker C
Oh, there she is up on the roof.
03:13
Speaker C
Come on, you come into the house.
03:15
Speaker C
That's what the wise old man said.
03:16
Speaker C
Well, the hen laid an egg on the far side rug.
03:20
Speaker C
Then flapped round the room, knocking over the jug.
03:23
Speaker C
The little old lady cried, what shall I do?
03:26
Speaker C
It was pokey for one and it's tiny for two.
03:29
Speaker C
My nose has a tickle and there's no room to sneeze.
03:32
Speaker C
My house is a squash and a squeeze.
03:34
Speaker C
And she said, wise old man, won't you help me, please?
03:38
Speaker C
My house is a squash and a squeeze.
03:44
Speaker C
Take in your goat, said the wise old man.
03:46
Speaker C
Take in my goat, what a curious plan.
03:49
Speaker C
Come on then, come on then, Georgina.
03:50
Speaker C
Here she comes, oh, she's don't butt me.
03:52
Speaker C
Well, the goat chewed the curtains and trod on the egg.
03:56
Speaker C
Then sat down and nibbled the table leg.
03:59
Speaker C
The little old lady cried, woe is me.
04:02
Speaker C
It was titchy for two and it's tiny for three.
04:05
Speaker C
Even the hen pecks the goat and the goat's got fleas.
04:08
Speaker C
My house is a squash and a squeeze.
04:10
Speaker C
And she said, wise old man, won't you help me, please?
04:14
Speaker C
My house is a squash and a squeeze.
04:20
Speaker C
Take in your pig, said the wise old man.
04:22
Speaker C
Take in my pig, what a curious plan.
04:25
Speaker C
Come on then, Percy.
04:26
Speaker C
Percy, in you come.
04:27
Speaker C
Knocked out to the bins.
04:29
Speaker C
Come on, in you come.
04:30
Speaker C
Well, she took in the pig who kept chasing the hen.
04:34
Speaker C
And raiding the larder again and again.
04:37
Speaker C
The little old lady cried, stop, I implore.
04:40
Speaker C
It was titchy for three and it's teeny for four.
04:43
Speaker C
Even the pig in the larder agrees, my house is a squash and a squeeze.
04:47
Speaker C
And she said, wise old man, won't you help me, please?
04:51
Speaker C
My house is a squash and a squeeze.
04:57
Speaker C
Take in your cow, said the wise old man.
04:59
Speaker C
Take in my cow, what a curious plan.
05:02
Speaker C
Come on then, Ermintrude.
05:03
Speaker C
In you come, I think there's just about room for you this way.
05:05
Speaker C
Well, the cow took one look and charged straight at the pig.
05:09
Speaker C
Then jumped on the table and tapped out a jig.
05:13
Speaker C
The little old lady cried, heavens alive.
05:17
Speaker C
It was teeny for four and it's weeny for five.
05:20
Speaker C
I'm tearing my hair out, I'm down on my knees.
05:23
Speaker C
My house is a squash and a squeeze.
05:25
Speaker C
And she said, wise old man, won't you help me, please?
05:29
Speaker C
My house is a squash and a squeeze.
05:35
Speaker C
Take them all out, said the wise old man.
05:37
Speaker C
But then I'll be back where I first began.
05:40
Speaker C
So, she opened a window and out flew the hen.
05:44
Speaker C
That's better.
05:45
Speaker C
At last I can sneeze again.
05:47
Speaker C
She shooed out the goat.
05:48
Speaker C
And she shoved out the pig.
05:50
Speaker C
My house is beginning to feel pretty big.
05:52
Speaker C
She huffed and she puffed and she pushed out the cow.
05:55
Speaker C
Just look at my house.
05:57
Speaker C
It's enormous now.
05:58
Speaker C
Thank you, old man, for the work you have done.
06:01
Speaker C
It was weeny for five, it's gigantic for one.
06:04
Speaker C
There's no need to grumble and there's no need to grouse.
06:07
Speaker C
There's plenty of room in my house.
06:09
Speaker C
And now she's full of frolics and frivolities.
06:12
Speaker C
It isn't a squash and it isn't a squeeze.
06:15
Speaker C
Yes, she's full of frolics and frivolities.
06:18
Speaker C
It isn't a squash or a squeeze.
06:24
Speaker A
Thank you very much.
06:25
Speaker A
Now it really is time for Room on the Broom.
06:26
Speaker A
But we can't just do this just by ourselves.
06:30
Speaker A
We need some animals.
06:31
Speaker A
And I'm very pleased to say we do have a cat and a bird in the audience.
06:36
Speaker A
And they are, their real names are Natalie and Honor.
06:40
Speaker A
So can we give them a big clap as they come on the stage?
06:45
Speaker A
Can you turn around and say, wave to the people who are watching us?
06:47
Speaker A
And perhaps if you now go, go backstage to put your costumes on.
06:50
Speaker A
And I think I need a costume too.
06:53
Speaker A
Because I don't really look like a witch anymore, do I?
06:55
Speaker A
I know I've got a hat and a cloak.
06:58
Speaker A
But I think my hair's not right, is it?
07:00
Speaker A
In, in the story, the Room on the Broom, the witch has ginger hair in a plait.
07:04
Speaker A
Oh, what am I going to do?
07:06
Speaker A
Wow, look at that.
07:07
Speaker A
A ginger wig.
07:08
Speaker A
Put that on.
07:11
Speaker A
Whoops.
07:12
Speaker A
Oh.
07:13
Speaker A
Got a bit caught up there.
07:14
Speaker A
Oh, do you know, it's even got a spotty bow.
07:17
Speaker A
Just like in the book.
07:18
Speaker A
So do I look exactly like a witch now?
07:20
Speaker B
No.
07:21
Speaker A
Oh.
07:21
Speaker A
What do I need on my head?
07:23
Speaker A
What do I need?
07:24
Speaker A
A hat.
07:25
Speaker A
Can I have my hat back, please?
07:26
Speaker A
Thank you.
07:27
Speaker A
Put my hat on.
07:29
Speaker A
I don't think witches wear blue spotty dresses really, do they?
07:32
Speaker A
What do they have?
07:33
Speaker A
What do they have that's black to wear?
07:35
Speaker A
A what?
07:35
Speaker A
A cloak.
07:36
Speaker A
All right, so here's my cloak back again.
07:39
Speaker A
Nearly there now.
07:41
Speaker A
Feeling much more witchy now.
07:43
Speaker A
Um, except, I think if I want to do some magic spells, what, what would I need for my magic spell?
07:49
Speaker A
A wand.
07:50
Speaker A
Have I got one of those?
07:51
Speaker A
Brilliant.
07:52
Speaker A
My wand.
07:54
Speaker A
Just one more thing, if I want to mix up some ingredients to make a magic potion, what am I going to need for that?
08:00
Speaker A
A cauldron.
08:00
Speaker A
Have I got that?
08:02
Speaker A
Fantastic.
08:04
Speaker A
So I think I just need a storyteller.
08:07
Speaker A
I've got a storyteller.
08:08
Speaker A
This is actually my husband Malcolm, I think we could give him a clap.
08:13
Speaker A
Thank you.
08:14
Speaker B
And the cat.
08:15
Speaker A
Oh, yeah.
08:16
Speaker A
I'll get the cat in a minute.
08:17
Speaker B
So we've got two things to practice before we do the story.
08:20
Speaker B
The first thing is when Julia taps her broom, we're imagining the broom.
08:25
Speaker B
So when I say the witch tapped her broomstick, you tap the cauldron.
08:29
Speaker B
And we all have to say, and whoosh, they were gone.
08:32
Speaker B
Okay, should we try that?
08:33
Speaker B
The witch tapped her broomstick, and whoosh, they were gone.
08:36
Speaker B
Excellent.
08:37
Speaker B
And the final thing is the spell at the end, which goes, iggity, ziggity, zaggity, zoom.
08:42
Speaker B
Should we all try that together?
08:44
Speaker C
Iggity, ziggity, zaggity, zoom.
08:47
Speaker B
Fantastic.
08:48
Speaker A
So I just think I'll call my little pussycat.
08:51
Speaker A
Here she comes.
08:52
Speaker A
Oh, isn't she sweet.
08:53
Speaker A
Get on the broomstick, my dear, and hold on tight.
08:55
Speaker A
We're going to fly really high today.
08:59
Speaker B
The witch had a cat and a very tall hat.
09:03
Speaker B
And long ginger hair which she wore in a plait.
09:06
Speaker B
How the cat purred.
09:08
Speaker B
And how the witch grinned.
09:11
Speaker B
As they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind.
09:14
Speaker B
But how the witch wailed.
09:17
Speaker B
And how the cat spat.
09:19
Speaker B
As the wind blew so wildly, it blew off her hat.
09:22
Speaker A
Down.
09:23
Speaker B
Cried the witch and they flew to the ground.
09:26
Speaker B
They searched for the hat, but no hat could be found.
09:30
Speaker B
Then out of the bushes on thundering paws, there bounded a dog with a hat in her jaws.
09:34
Speaker B
She dropped it politely, then eagerly said.
09:37
Speaker B
As the witch pulled the hat firmly down on her head.
09:40
Speaker C
I am a dog as keen as can be.
09:44
Speaker C
Is there room on the broom for a dog like me?
09:47
Speaker A
Yes.
09:48
Speaker B
Cried the witch and the dog clambered on.
09:51
Speaker B
The witch tapped her broomstick and whoosh, they were gone.
09:55
Speaker B
Over the fields and the forests they flew.
09:58
Speaker B
The dog wagged her tail and the stormy wind blew.
10:01
Speaker B
The witch laughed aloud and held on to her hat.
10:04
Speaker B
But away blew the bow from her long ginger plait.
10:07
Speaker A
Down.
10:08
Speaker B
Cried the witch and they flew to the ground.
10:11
Speaker B
They searched for the bow, but no bow could be found.
10:15
Speaker B
Then down from a tree with an ear splitting shriek, there flapped a green bird with a bone in her beak.
10:19
Speaker B
She dropped it politely and bent her head low.
10:22
Speaker B
Then said as the witch tied her plait in a bow.
10:25
Speaker C
I am a bird as green as can be.
10:29
Speaker C
Is there room on the broom for a bird like me?
10:32
Speaker A
Yes.
10:33
Speaker B
Cried the witch and the bird fluttered on.
10:36
Speaker B
The witch tapped her broomstick and whoosh, they were gone.
10:40
Speaker B
Over the reeds and the rivers they flew.
10:43
Speaker B
The bird shrieked with glee and the stormy wind blew.
10:46
Speaker B
They shot through the sky to the back of beyond.
10:49
Speaker B
The witch clutched her bow, but let go of her wand.
10:52
Speaker A
Down.
10:53
Speaker B
Cried the witch and they flew to the ground.
10:56
Speaker B
They searched for the wand, but no wand could be found.
11:00
Speaker B
Then all of a sudden from out of a pond, there grew a drippy wet frog with a drippy wet wand.
11:04
Speaker B
She dropped it politely, then said with a croak.
11:07
Speaker B
As the witch dried the wand on a fold of her cloak.
11:10
Speaker C
I am a frog as green as can be.
11:14
Speaker C
Is there room on the broom for a frog like me?
11:17
Speaker A
Yes.
11:18
Speaker B
Cried the witch and the frog bounded on.
11:21
Speaker B
The witch tapped her broomstick and whoosh, they were gone.
11:25
Speaker B
Over the moors and the mountains they flew.
11:28
Speaker B
The frog jumped for joy and the broom snapped in two.
11:31
Speaker B
Down went the cat, the dog and the frog.
11:34
Speaker B
Down they went tumbling into a bog.
11:37
Speaker B
The witch's half broomstick flew into a cloud.
11:40
Speaker B
And the witch heard a voice that was scary and loud.
11:43
Speaker C
I am a dragon as mean as can be.
11:47
Speaker C
And I'm planning to have witch and chips for my tea.
11:50
Speaker A
No.
11:51
Speaker B
Cried the witch flying higher and higher.
11:54
Speaker B
The dragon flew after her breathing out fire.
11:57
Speaker A
No.
11:58
Speaker B
Cried the witch and they flew to the ground.
12:00
Speaker B
She looked all around, but no help could be found.
12:03
Speaker B
The dragon drew nearer and licking his lips said, maybe this once.
12:07
Speaker B
I'll have witch without chips.
12:10
Speaker B
But just as he planned to begin on his feast.
12:13
Speaker B
From out of the ditch rose a horrible beast.
12:16
Speaker B
It was tall, dark and sticky, it was feathered and furred.
12:20
Speaker B
It had four frightful heads and wings like a bird.
12:23
Speaker B
And its terrible voice when it started to speak was a yawl and a growl and a croak and a shriek.
12:27
Speaker B
It grins and it squelched as it strode through the ditch.
12:30
Speaker B
And it said to the dragon, buzz off, that's my witch.
12:33
Speaker B
The dragon drew back and he started to shake.
12:36
Speaker B
I'm sorry, he spluttered, I've made a mistake.
12:39
Speaker B
It's nice to have met you, but now I must fly.
12:42
Speaker B
Then he spluttered his wings and off through the sky.
12:46
Speaker B
Then down flew the bird, down jumped the frog.
12:49
Speaker B
Down climbed the cat and said the dog.
12:52
Speaker B
Thank you, oh, thank you, the grateful witch cried.
12:55
Speaker B
Without you, I'd be in that dragon's inside.
12:58
Speaker B
The witch picked up a cauldron and said with a grin.
13:01
Speaker B
Find something, everyone, throw something in.
13:04
Speaker B
So the frog found a lily, the cat found a cone.
13:07
Speaker B
The bird found a twig and the dog found a bone.
13:10
Speaker B
They threw them all in and the witch stirred them well.
13:13
Speaker B
And as she was stirring, she muttered this spell.
13:16
Speaker C
Iggity, ziggity, zaggity, zoom.
13:19
Speaker B
Then out flew a truly magnificent broom.
13:22
Speaker B
With seats for the witch and the cat and the dog.
13:25
Speaker B
And a nest for the bird and a shower for the frog.
13:28
Speaker B
They all clambered on and the witch tapped her broom.
13:31
Speaker B
And whoosh, from the ground they went flying to the moon.
13:34
Speaker A
Thank you.
Topics:Julia DonaldsonRoom on the BroomA Squash and a Squeezechildren's storytellinginteractive theatreLittle Angel TheatreHalloweenchildren's bookspuppet theatrefamily event

Frequently Asked Questions

What stories does Julia Donaldson perform in this video?

Julia Donaldson performs two stories: her first book, A Squash and a Squeeze, and the popular Room on the Broom.

How does Julia Donaldson engage the audience during the performance?

She uses interactive elements such as magic spells, audience participation with tapping and chanting, and includes children from the audience as characters.

Is the performance suitable for young children?

Yes, the performance is designed to be fun and not scary, making it suitable for young children and families.

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