Transformation is a theme that runs strongly through Grimms Tales, an aspect the group portray -   as young heroines lead the audience around the space in traditional women's costume, with faces masked by the features of birds whose bodies have morphed into children. In the centre of the space, over the clattering sounds of the sewing machines and ghostly beginnings of tales sit two women, 'spinning a yarn' through needle and thread...... 

The Bird Characters

Parrot

Parrots are very intelligent creatures as well as being beautiful. They are very emotional, and can be both needy and independent. They are boisterous, playful, loving and also prone to fits and tantrums. Parrots can be very messy birds, and because of there powerful beaks, quite destructive. In Mayan culture, talking birds served as messengers.

Nightingale

Nightingales, so named because they sing frequently at night, as well as in the day. The song is loud, with an impressive range of whistles, trills and gurgles. The Nightingale appears in Greek Mythology in the story of Philomela and Procne. Early Greek sources have it that Procne was turned into a nightingale, singing a beautiful but sad song in remorse for the death of her son. 

Raven

In many Western traditions, ravens have long been considered to birds of ill omen, in part because of the negative symbolism of their all black plummage. In the British Isles, ravens were symbolic to the Celts. In Irish mythology the goddess Morrigan alighted on the herol Cu CChulainn's shoulder in the form of a raven after his death. In Welsh mythology there were associated with the Welsh god Bran the Blessed, whose name translates to "raven". According to the Mabinogion, Bran's head was buried in the White Hill of London to ward against invasion. 

Snowy Owl

Many children have grown up with nursery stories of wise old owls. The Owl is a strong symbol in myth and legend, From the ancient Greek legends to the wise owls in Wini the Pooh and The Owl and The Pussycat, we have all seen images in folk tales of owls as the quintessential bearers of knowledge and sagacity. Owls are also appear in legends such as that of King Arthur where Merlin always appears with an owl on his shoulder. 

In many cultures the owl represents widsom and knowledge because of their nocturnal vigilance is associated with that of the studious scholar or wise elder.

In Greek myth Athene the goddess of wisdom is represented as an owl, and was in an earlier incarnation, goddess of darkness. The owl -- whose modern scientific name Athene carries this heritage -- came to represent wisdom from its association with the dark The owl was also the guardian of the Acropolis, and the Roman statesman Pliny the Elder wrote that owls foretell only evil and are to be dreaded more than all other birds. 

Stork

Storks occur in the warmer regions of the world. They are mute birds, and therefore have no song or bird call. In Western culture the White Stork is a symbol of childbirth. This habit was derived from the once popular superstition that storks were the harbingers of happiness and prosperity, and possibly from the habit of some storks of nesting atop chimneys, down which the new baby could be imagined as entering the house. The image of a stork bearing an infant wrapped in a sling held in its beak is common in popular culture. 

Hummingbird

Hummingbirds can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings 15-80 times per second (depending on the species). They can fly backwards, and are the only group of birds able to do so. Their English name derives from the characteristic hum made by their wings. Aztecs wore hummingbird talsmans, the talismans being represnations as well as actual hummingbird fetishes from from parts of real hummingbirds: emblematic for their vigor, energy and propensity to do work along with their sharp beaks that mimic instruments of weaponry, bloodletting, penetration and intimacy.