<p>Barbican Theatre worked with emerging illustrator Karina Yordanova to produce the illustrations of the funny foursome for The Official Le Navet Bete Colouring Book. Karina is currently in her final year, studying <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-animation-games" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BA (Hons) Animation</a> at the college. She first worked with Barbican Theatre in September 2017, when she was recruited as a professional animation artist for their schools tour of Why Would You?, commissioned by Next Steps South West.</p> <p>Barbican Theatre’s Marketing and Communications Manager, Jo Cann, said: "I was looking for an idea for some branded Le Navet Bete merchandise to have at A Christmas Carol, but wanted something a little different to the usual mugs, t-shirts and badges. I met Karina while she was working on Why Would You? and saw her other incredible illustrations and artwork.</p> <p>"I had a ‘light-bulb’ moment and the colouring book developed from there. Karina is such a talent and I couldn’t be happier with what she’s created. I’m sure fans will have a great fun creating their own versions of Le Navet Bete’s posters and photos, and we fully expect it to top all the Christmas wish lists across the land!”</p>

<p>Karina Yordanova and other BA (Hons) Animation students at the college study a wide range of traditional, experimental and digital animation styles, which include elements of narrative development and storyboarding. Graduates typically go on to become animators, character designers and concept artists. The work of our Animation students collaborating with animation students from across France, Belgium, Hungary, Denmark, and Finland, could be seen projected and mapped on the walls of Plymouth's Royal William Yard in the Illuminate festival.</p> <p>Karina said: “Working on the colouring book was a dream come true for me. As a passionate Christmas lover who was obsessed with colouring books from a young age, this project combined two things I feel deep love for. It was challenging and exciting, but also very calming - who would know that making a colouring book is almost as relaxing as colouring one!</p> <p>“The actors from Le Navet Bete and the characters that they played were simply amazing to draw and there was something almost magical about removing all colours and shadows from a photo and making it into a line art drawing, waiting to be filled in a completely new way. I really hope to work on another colouring book in the future, because I really enjoyed the experience, and who knows, maybe I'll publish my own colouring book someday.”</p>

<p>The limited edition Le Navet Bete colouring book features sixteen A4 pages of fantastic illustrations taken from some of their best-loved performances including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dracula: The Bloody Truth, A Christmas Carol, Extravaganza and The Jungle Book.</p> <p>Al Dunn from Le Navet Bete said: “Whenever we’re not being silly on the stage, we’re colouring (although we’re still teaching Matt to colour inside the lines). So a colouring book was an obvious choice for our first official merchandise. We’ve chosen some images from our most well-loved shows so our fans can show off their artistic flair and have fun bringing colour to some of their favourite characters. When Nick was 28 all he wanted was to have a colouring book with his face in it. Now, at 33, he’s finally living his dream”.</p>

<ul><li><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-animation-games" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Find out more about studying BA (Hons) Animation</a></li><li><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/illuminate-2019-students-work-lights-up-this-years-festival" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">See the Illuminate festival at Royal William Yard in pictures</a></li><li><a href="http://www.barbicantheatre.co.uk/shop">Buy the limited edition Official Le Navet Bete Colouring Book</a></li></ul>