Old Man and the River

A grumpy little old man lives in his little house in the woods by the river. Every day is the same and he likes it this way-until one day, a magical creature leaps into his world and everything changes!

This beautifully designed puppetry work performed without words to an enchanting musical score, reveals a storybook world where rivers sing, trees laugh, and curious dragonflies come to visit. With its themes of friendship, communication, play, adjusting to change, Old Man and the River is perfect for the youngest theatregoer.

Old Man and the River has toured throughout Canada and has received unanimous praise from children, parents, grandparents, and teachers for its artistry and engaging story.

Old Man and the River
Created by Lynda Hill and Thomas Morgan Jones
Inspired by the story by Thomas Morgan Jones
Concept, Dramaturgy and Direction by Lynda Hill
Original Design by Kelly Wolf
Original Music by Nicky Phillips
Lighting Design by Jennifer Lennon
Puppetry by Mike Petersen and Eric Woolfe

Old Man and the River was developed and premiered by Theatre Direct as part of the 2014 WeeFestival of Arts & Culture for Early Years. Since then, it has performed for thousands of children and their families in Toronto, throughout Ontario and across Canada.

The show was fantastic!! The staff and students loved it and during lunch, the students kept talking about their favourite parts (i.e. the sweeping of the leaves, the fairy in the water). The content was age-appropriate and the students responded positively to the play. Educator

That performance has given me new insight as to how I can present storytelling materials for my students to use. My experience with this show has given me the inspiration to take out the traditional puppet theatre and hand puppets and replace it with a long table with stable props (e.g. – the river, a house) as well as, to offer objects that can more easily be moved about for creative storytelling (e.g. – Lego people, toy vehicles). Let the imagination begin!! Educator

The play brings the children into a world where actions and gestures tell a story. The ensemble of story tellers not only weave a lyrical tale, but they employ so many strategies that support early learning. Educator

The performance was wonderfully engaging. The children were on the edge of their seats and some even cried when the Old Man rejected the River Fairy. We had a great discussion back at school about the importance of friendship. The whole experience was fantastic for the children. Having the opportunity to visit live theatre for our children is an amazing opportunity. Educator

What children say about Old Man and the River

The old man kept saying “shoo” to the bugs and the leaves, he was so funny
The best part was when the old man was saying “sweep sweep”
The flying fish did such a cool flip, it looked like magic
I liked it when the old man saw a flying mermaid
I laughed then the old man said “uee uee” to the sun
The trees were funny when they dropped leaves on the man’s head
The sun went into the man’s house when he was sleeping and I laughed so hard.

That was the best play in my whole life

What Parents say:

Our family LOVED Old Man and the River. Before JK this morning my 4 year old son said, “Maybe after school today we can go to Old Man and the River again. Thanks for another great performance.

In December I took three young friends (ages 2 1/2, 5 and 8) to see Old Man and the River at Theatre Direct. The venue was intimate and the story very moving and funny. My three charges were mesmerized by the puppets, especially the ancient grumpy old man. It is rare to see a tiny perfect play for very young children at such a tiny perfect price. Congratulations.

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: photo credit Naz Afsahi

May 10 – June 9, 2024

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