Norwich Puppet Theatre will be flying the flag for our fine city in China in the autumn when it takes one of its shows to Shanghai.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich Puppet Theatre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYNorwich Puppet Theatre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

Three Colours, a co-production with Polka Theatre and which is designed for children under five, is set to be performed at the Shanghai Children's Art Theatre in October.

While the team behind the show will not be flying out until nearer the time, the set, costumes and equipment for Three Colours have this week been packed up and sent on their six-week journey on a slow boat to China.

News of the trip follows a previous tour of the show to Hong Kong and Macao.

Ian Woods, the theatre's operations manager, said: 'This booking [in Shanghai] came out of the Hong Kong event. The people there saw it programmed in Hong Kong and asked us to go to Shanghai.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich Puppet Theatre and Polka Theatre's production Three Colours is going to Shanghai. Photo: Andi Sapey.Norwich Puppet Theatre and Polka Theatre's production Three Colours is going to Shanghai. Photo: Andi Sapey. (Image: �Andi Sapey)

'It's great for the profile of the theatre, and the name of Norwich gets taken with it as well.'

The show, which is directed by Norwich Puppet Theatre's former director Joy Haynes, was first created in 2013.

It explores the three colours of light - red, green and blue - through two puppet performers who mix dance, puppetry and animation to look at the three colours.

Mr Woods said: 'The lovely thing about Three Colours is that it has no [verbal] language so it can go absolutely anywhere. It is a beautiful piece of work and it's great that it's being recognised internationally.

Eastern Daily Press: Young people from MTM Youth Services CIC have been helping Norwich Puppet Theatre to revamp the venue's auditorium by painting constellations on the newly painted midnight blue walls. Photo: supplied by Norwich Puppet TheatreYoung people from MTM Youth Services CIC have been helping Norwich Puppet Theatre to revamp the venue's auditorium by painting constellations on the newly painted midnight blue walls. Photo: supplied by Norwich Puppet Theatre (Image: supplied by Norwich Puppet Theatre)

'We thought Hong Kong was a one-off but it's not, and hopefully the show is going to keep travelling.

'There are conversations being had with other places.'

Meanwhile the venue is also reaching for the stars back home in Norwich with a revamp of its auditorium and backstage areas.

The auditorium is being completely repainted by the Norwich Puppet Theatre team, and young people from MTM Youth Services CIC also visited the theatre on Wednesday to paint constellations on the new midnight blue walls.

Eastern Daily Press: Young people from MTM Youth Services CIC have been helping Norwich Puppet Theatre to revamp the venue's auditorium by painting constellations on the newly painted midnight blue walls. Photo: supplied by Norwich Puppet TheatreYoung people from MTM Youth Services CIC have been helping Norwich Puppet Theatre to revamp the venue's auditorium by painting constellations on the newly painted midnight blue walls. Photo: supplied by Norwich Puppet Theatre (Image: supplied by Norwich Puppet Theatre)

Mr Woods said the young people had done a brilliant job. He added: 'We are sprucing up the theatre ready to begin our busy autumn season.'

For more about Norwich Puppet Theatre shows and events, visit www.puppettheatre.co.uk