A brand-new children's play will be touring libraries and venues across Gloucestershire this summer - starting in Gloucester on Monday (26 July).

The Everyman Theatre has produced a new play specially themed around the environment and wildlife issues. It's aimed at primary school children to encourage literacy and reading.

The play has been produced as part of the Summer Reading Challenge, which encourages children and their families to visit their local libraries to read as many books as possible throughout the school holidays.

The theme for summer 2021 is Wildlife and the play, Zeb and Cat Save the World, is a light-hearted, entertaining and amusing look at environmental and wildlife issues, suitable for children aged 4-11 years.

Zeb and Cat find that litter is really messing up their park and the wildlife is being harmed. Can you join Zeb and Cat and try to save the animals?

Camille Cowe, Everyman Theatre community arts manager, explained: "It's so great when your work and your passions come together. I am very passionate about saving the environment so I was so thrilled to be able to write this play and hopefully not only entertain Gloucestershire's children but also enthuse them about wildlife and what they can do to try to protect it."

The characters and puppets from the play will be visiting libraries throughout the county from Wednesday 28th to Friday 30th July with lots of activities held outside. So, for a chance to

meet Zeb and Cat in person, head on down to your local library in Stroud, Churchdown, Prestbury, Quedgeley, Lydney and Newent.

You can see the full show live outside (weather permitting) on Monday 26th July (10.30am and 2pm) at Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust HQ, Robinswood Hill Country Park, Reservoir Road, Gloucester and on Tuesday 27th July (11am) at Skillicorne Gardens, Cheltenham and then 3pm at Family Space, St. Barnabas Church, Cheltenham.

If you can't get to one of the venues to see the show live, you can also watch it online from the end of July. Full details will be available on the theatre website www.everymantheatre.org.uk

Local charity Read for Good has also produced free workshops with the theatre to accompany the project, available online https://readforgood.org/everyman-workshop/

Zeb and Cat Save the World has been made possible with support from the Cheltenham branch of Investec. This forms part of their three-year commitment as the Everyman's principal partner to fund a range of local community and education initiatives.

Outdoor Live Shows - Zeb and Cat Save The World:

• Monday 26th July (10.30am & 2pm) - Robinswood Hill Country Park, Gloucester (FREE Event - no need to book - just turn up)
• Tuesday 27th July (11am) - Skillicorne Gardens, Behind the Town Hall, Cheltenham (FREE but book your place on customer.contact@cheltenhamtrust.org.uk )
• Tuesday 27th July (3pm) - Family Space, St. Barnabas Church, Orchard Way, Cheltenham (FREE Event - no need to book - just turn up)

Meet the characters and puppets from the play at your Local Library. Spaces are FREE but limited so book online via the Library catalogue events page or contact your local library direct

• Wednesday 28th July: 10.30am Stroud Library; 3pm Churchdown Library
• Thursday 29th July: 10.30am Prestbury Library; 3pm Quedgeley Library
• Friday 30th July: 10.30am Lydney Library; 3pm Newent Library

For more information, please visit www.everymantheatre.org.uk