HANDA’S SUPRISE – 30th Anniversary

EILEEN BROWNE
friend of Islington Writers for Children, celebrates 30 years of her hugely successful book

It’s a great privilege that many amazing things have happened around Handa’s Surprise:-

The Little Angel Theatre London
2004 First performance with actors Angela Broom & Samantha Gordon-Phillips

For 20 years it’s been touring across the UK and abroad
visiting theatres, Arts Centres, Sure Start Centres, Prisons, Schools, Festivals etc.
with over 5,000 performances so far, including…

2012 London Wonderground, South Bank with actors Krystle Hilton & Amanda Wright
2016 Tong Productions, Beijing China (coolest poster!)
2016 New Victory Theater, 42nd Street, New York USA
2024 Polka Theatre London + UK tour, with actors Hannah Akhalu & Rujenne Green.

2023 London Symphony Orchestra
St Luke’s London. Members of the LSO performed Vanessa King’s magical musical interpretation for tiny tots and their grown-ups… with audience participation.

Storysack creator, Neil Griffiths created a fabulous Handa’s Surprise doll, basket of fruit & finger puppets. Sadly, Storysack (and the doll) are no more… but happily, Yellow Door’s wonderful wooden figures are still going strong.

2014-present CBeebies Bedtime Stories – read by the brilliant Adjoah Andoh, who also voiced the Walker Books animation of Handa’s Surprise & Handa’s Hen.

I’m thrilled this book was enjoyed by some other authors: It was a favourite of Ebinehita Iyere (Girlhood Unfiltered, Knights Of, 2022) & Faridah Àbíké-íyímídé, who dressed as Handa on World Book Day at school (The Doomsday Date, Usborne 2024).

I hope you’ve enjoyed and even been surprised seeing some of the things that Handa’s Surprise has inspired in the last 30 years.