There was a boy. A small boy. A boy whose best friend was a fox.

Follow the pair as they work their way through their forest, a place of adventure, of discovery, and new experiences. This is an enchanting tale about friendship, nature and growth, with a host of woodland creatures to meet along the way. Using puppetry and music to bring their tale to life, join Jess May- Cox and Back ze Vore as they join forces to explore the world of the boy and the fox.

Inspired by our connection to nature and the world around us, who we look up to and what we inherit, and the special bond between humans and their pets, this is an exciting piece of new family theatre made in North Devon. Jess May-Cox is a theatre maker, performer and facilitator from North Devon. Jess has performed her own solo work at Festivals across the South West, and is often inspired by the sea and coast, and the stories that surround them. She’s incredibly excited to be working as part of the seed commission programme this year, and collaborating with amazing Southwest artists along the way. Jess is a member of i.e Theatre, a regular collaborator with Burn the Curtain, and has recently worked with Trinacria Theatre Company in Sicily.

She has worked with a number Bristol theatre companies, including the Bristol Old Vic, both as a performer and workshop leader.

Jess has recently taken on the role of Joint Co-director of Theatre Workhouse, an association of theatre makers with a connection to North Devon, united by a passion for playful, bold and socially engaged theatre.

Jess has also been part of the programming team for Fringe Theatrefest for the last 5 years.

Back ze Vore is made up of skilled actor Ben Stretton and arts marketing professional Phoebe Mallows who formed a creative partnership in early 2021 when all the ideas spinning around in their heads couldn’t be contained any longer.

Their company has since made multiple productions, including ‘His Heart Belonged to the Sea’, ‘Poor Old Horse’, ‘The Hunting of The Hare’ and ‘Resolution and Independence.’

As proud Devonians the pair are keen to build a treasury of original tales based on local traditions and superstitions.

Jess Blakemore is a Puppet & Prop Maker based in Bristol. From stop motion to stage, her work focuses on storytelling, creating puppets with fun and offbeat personalities, and lots and lots of texture. Having graduated from UWE Bristol with a first class degree in Illustration, specialising in model making, Jess has since been shortlisted for the Batsford Prize for Illustration for her dodo puppet, Doris, and awarded Puppet Place Associate Artist for her short film ‘Lulla-buy-a-baby’, alongside working as an artist at The Bristol Old Vic and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Bath Carnival, and UWE Bristol.