Brave Bettie: A Half Moon and Z-arts co-production

Thursday 26th February 2026

Event Details

Bettie feels most alive in the forest, surrounded by whispering trees and rustling leaves. It’s her sanctuary – a place where she can breathe deeply, think clearly and feel at peace. But what happens when her safe haven is under threat?

When the council announces plans to cut down her favourite tree, Bettie is devastated. At home, she struggles to manage her emotions and doesn’t think of herself as brave. But the forest needs her now more than ever.

The night before the woodcutters come, Bettie meets the bold and enigmatic Paida Moyo. Their chance encounter sparks an extraordinary journey of friendship and self-discovery. Can Bettie and Paida rally to save the woodlands before it’s too late? Will Bettie’s newfound courage be enough to protect the critter crew and her beloved trees? And how might the forest return the favour?

Written by Tatenda Naomi Matsvai (Hot Orange), Brave Bettie is a lyrical and magical woodland adventure, brought to life with poetry, songs, live music and stories that explore their home heritage in Zimbabwe. This playful yet powerful production looks at resilience, self-belief, social activism and the environment, offering an urgent message for young audiences.

Co-produced by Half Moon and Z-arts, this exciting partnership unites two of the UK’s leading children’s theatre companies to create an unforgettable experience for young audiences and families. Previous co-productions include award-winning productions of Dust and Grandad Anansi, which tours again in autumn 2025.

 

GET tickets now for brave bettie!

 

COMPANY INFORMATION

ABOUT TATENDA NAOMI MATSVAI AND BRAVE BETTIE

Tatenda has been working with Half Moon since the 2021 artform development programme Narratives of Empathy and Resilience. This is their second commission, following Hot Orange in 2023.

They have been working on exploring how they can fictionalise and dramatise the experiences of their own upbringing, as a child asylum seeker in South East London, through the mythology of the strong, female character of the Zimbabwean spiritual guide Nehanda.

The interaction of sharing songs, poetry and stories of her homeland acts as a metaphor for social activism and how to develop resilience. It champions the cultural pride that a young girl feels when visited by an ancestral guide who imparts wisdom.

The aim is to find a simple, dramatic and age-appropriate way to unpack and illustrate Afrofuturism for audiences aged 3 to 8 within a contemporary context.

ABOUT HALF MOON 

Half Moon is the UK’s leading small-scale young people’s venue and touring company. It is a local organisation with a national remit, committed to supporting artists and young people at every stage of their creative development. Working from our base in East London, we specialise in new writing and artform development, acting as a gateway organisation that provides pathways for progression and experimentation. Our wide-ranging programme reaches around 50,000 annually and engages those who are often excluded from arts activity. Our activity includes a season of professional plays for young audiences, national touring productions and an extensive creative learning programme, including seven youth theatres. Half Moon is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England and receives regular funding from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.  

Grandad Anansi is one of several productions that are part of Half Moon’s in-person and digital touring portfolio, supporting the promotion and development of theatre for young audiences at a national and international level. 

Website: halfmoon.org.uk 

Twitter | Facebook: halfmoontheatre 

Instagram | halfmoon_theatre 

ABOUT Z-ARTS 

With a year-round programme of arts activities and theatre productions, Z-arts is Manchester’s dedicated venue for children and families. From drama, dance, music, yoga and arts and crafts activities to high-quality theatre productions for families, their work is influenced by their audiences and customers. Through their participation activities and creative learning, both inside and outside the building, Z-arts hear what families want from art, and they follow their lead.  

Z-arts leads the Big Imaginations network of venues across the North West to bring brilliant children’s theatre to the region. They commission and programme theatre that stimulates, reflects and entertains the rich diversity of modern family life. 

Z-arts are strategically funded by Manchester City Council and is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England. 

Website: z-arts.org 

Facebook: zartsmcr 

Twitter: arts_mcr 

Instagram: z.artsmcr 

 

Audience Information  

Date: 26th February 2026

Times: 11am

Location: GlassBox Theatre

Tickets: £8

Running time: Approximately 50 mins no interval

Access: The performance will be relaxed. Glassbox Theatre is a wheelchair accessible venue.

Age recommendation: Ages 3-8

 

TAKE CENTRE STAGE WITH LYRICI ARTS

Lyrici Arts is delighted to offer this theatre show as part of our Take Centre Stage strand, which is our vibrant community programme, showcasing high-quality, Black-led performances and diverse events designed for Medway audiences. This event is kindly funded by Arts Council England, Colyer Fergusson Trust, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Medway Council.