The Juggling Chef

Together we create an awesome live entertainment experience in your home or at your party venue!
First, we discuss the details, including guests, timing, the space in your home/venue and your child’s interests.
On the day of the party, The Juggling Chef (aka Marla Brennan) will arrive at your house 40 minutes before the party to set up & make a space for the show and the audience.

Whether you have a living room space, or an outdoor space, the requirements are simple. I require enough room for a 4 four table, about 4 feet in front of the table and then space for the audience to sit. This can be a couch, small chairs, or on the floor.

The show begins about 20 minutes after the guests arrive and settle in. The fun starts with a puppet show which requires help from the audience. Then the Juggling Chef Puppet arrives with a birthday party poem customized for your child. The Juggling Chef appears on the scene when the audience gives the cue and sets up a call and response poem called "Please Don't Juggle That" in which The Juggling Chef juggles everyday objects. Eventually this leads to juggling more traditional things like scarves, balls, rings and clubs to a high energy song. Everyone's favourite thing to do is to call out "BINGO" which happens whenever the chef drops something on the floor.

Now the audience knows about the puppets and the chef, but the chef wants to know about the audience so they add their suggestions to a song called "I Wanna Be A..." to tell The Juggling Chef what they would like to be when they grow up. Since some kids always respond with "a juggler!" after the song we try juggling together. Everybody gets on their feet, we stand in a circle and play a game with juggling scarves. After this, that each child receives their own juggling scarf to practice the first step in juggling. We put on some music and have a freeze-dance-juggle party! This gets out lots of energy, so the audience is happy to sit back down and watch the rest of the show. We check back in with the puppets, and they say that the only thing missing is the food! So now The Juggling Chef juggle's her lunch and eats it! The puppets give a final goodbye and the show is over.

Now is a great time to have the kids ask any questions, come up to the table to have a closer look at the props and the puppet theatre and we usually take a group photo. To end, I pack up (in character) and I am on my way so party goers all have time for cake and opening the presents.

Each child can go home with their own Juggling Chef loot bag which includes 3 juggling scarves, a moustache, a Juggling Chef playing card and a small piece of candy. Each loot bag costs $10.

I love putting on this show! The fun and satisfaction it creates for parents and children brings me great joy. And it's not just for birthdays, I perform at camps, schools, daycares, festivals, libraries and more! I also do Harvest/Halloween shows and well as a Holiday show which can have themes of Christmas and/or Hanukkah!

I would love to connect so we can make your children's event awesome!

Marla Brennan (aka The Juggling Chef) in an awesome birthday party entertainer! A bilingual, multi-disciplinary performing artist and expert arts educator, Marla has been a guest presenter in over 600 schools, libraries and festivals across Canada and in the United States. Dedicated to empowering and educating the next generations with her beloved drama, creative play, puppetry and juggling programs, Marla's charm, thoughtfulness and creativity leave a positive impression on everyone she encounters.

Also winner of the 2023 Distinguish Alumni Award from the Durham Catholic Children's Foundation for her artistic contribution to her locate community, Marla is a positive role model to youth from various walks of life. Her original song 'People We Can Be' (available on all platforms) was the winner of Stand Up to Cancer's Music As Healing Grant is an inspiration to thousand of cancer survivors. Marla plays in two bands and the birthday party show include original music for kids.

Using her passion for entertainment and education, Marla positively impacts thousands of children and delivers a message of joyful empowerment. And that is just the tip of the iceberg!

Check out TheMarLabs for more information about Marla's work.

It is easier to perform this show indoors, but outdoors is possible, it just takes some consideration. We must factor in shade/sun and wind. I do not perform in the rain, unless it is a well covered outdoor space.

This show requires a performance space of approx. 10 feet long and 5 feet deep.
I bring a 4 or 6 ft table which I set up with a small pop-up puppet theatre and props.
I perform on the floor, as opposed to on a stage because this in an intimate show with lots of audience participation.
A living room is ideal, with ample ceiling height (min 10-12 ft) and enough space to set up a table, about 3 feet of space in front of the table and an area for the children to sit.
Children often sit on the floor, small chairs or on the couch.

If the show is performed outdoors, we must consider the sun, as we do not want to seat the audience facing the sun, nor do I want to face the sun directly. A covered outdoor space is ideal. A shaded space is required for the audience and the performer, especially on hot summer days. No one wants to roast in the sun during a show! Wind can be a challenging factor with this show as juggling in strong wind is very tricky. Let's discuss! I have performed in a lot of different places and we can often make it work.