kids encyclopedia robot

The Ghost of Faffner Hall facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
The Ghost of Faffner Hall
Directed by Tony Kysh
Starring Louise Gold
Richard Hunt
Karen Prell
Mike Quinn
Mak Wilson
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Jim Henson
Production company(s) Jim Henson Productions
Tyne Tees Television
Distributor The Jim Henson Company
Release
Original network ITV (UK)
Original release August 16 (1989-08-16) – November 8, 1989 (1989-11-08)

The Ghost of Faffner Hall is a British TV show made for children. It was created by The Jim Henson Company and ITV Tyne Tees. The show first aired in the UK from August to November 1989. The amazing puppets were made by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. The series was filmed in Newcastle upon Tyne and directed by Tony Kysh.

Story of Faffner Hall

Faffner Hall was once a special music school. It was started by a woman named Fughetta Faffner. After Fughetta passed away, her ghost stayed in the hall. Now, her great-great-grandnephew, Farkus Faffner, runs the place. The problem is, Farkus hates music!

Fughetta's ghost must stop Farkus's bad plans. She gets help from Mimi, Riff, and the Wild Impresario. Together, they meet many famous musicians who visit Faffner Hall.

Meet the Characters

Main Characters of the Show

  • Fughetta Faffner (played by Louise Gold) - She is the main character and the founder of Faffner Hall. As a ghost, she tries to save the hall from her music-hating relative. When she hears beautiful music, she can become solid. Fughetta can also freeze time to fix problems.
  • Mimi (played by Karen Prell) - Mimi is a girl who lives at Faffner Hall. She has a Southern accent.
  • Riff (played by Mike Quinn) - Riff is a boy who also lives at Faffner Hall. He often helps Mimi.
  • The Wild Impresario (played by Richard Hunt) - He is another resident of Faffner Hall. He is the main piano player.
  • Farkus Faffner (played by Mak Wilson) - Farkus is the show's main villain. He is Fughetta's great-great-grandnephew. He hates music and only cares about money. Farkus is always trying to get rid of the people who live in Faffner Hall.
  • Faffner Hall Composer Busts - These are statues of famous composers. They include Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and George Frideric Handel. When Fughetta freezes time, she asks them for advice.

Episode Guide

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1 "Your Body Is an Instrument" Tony Kysh Jocelyn Stevenson & Patrick Barlow August 16, 1989 (1989-08-16)

Farkus plans to sell all the musical instruments. Fughetta's ghost is upset. The residents try to teach Farkus that instruments are very valuable.

Guest Spot: Bobby McFerrin shows how his body can make music. Gary Karr and Håkan Hardenberger also appear.
2 "Delighting in Sounds" Tony Kysh David Angus & Patrick Barlow August 23, 1989 (1989-08-23)

Faffner Hall holds a "Festival of Sounds." The Wild Impresario gets a note from an old friend. Farkus plans to blow up the hall for insurance money.

Guest Spot: Nigel Kennedy and Joni Mitchell visit.
3 "Sound Becomes Music" Tony Kysh David Angus & Patrick Barlow August 30, 1989 (1989-08-30)

A baby alien lands at Faffner Hall. Farkus tries to get rich from it. Fughetta and Mimi learn the alien needs music.

Guest Spot: Mark Knopfler, George Martin, Paddy Moloney, and Fish appear.
4 "Music Is More Than Technique" Tony Kysh David Angus & Patrick Barlow September 6, 1989 (1989-09-06)

Mimi wants a famous violinist, Piganini, to play at Faffner Hall. Piganini has stage fright.

Guest Spot: A janitor who looks like Ry Cooder helps Piganini.
5 "The Voice Is an Instrument" Tony Kysh Jocelyn Stevenson & Patrick Barlow September 13, 1989 (1989-09-13)

Farkus sells Faffner Hall to a zookeeper to turn it into a zoo. Fughetta remembers playing in an opera.

Guest Spot: Thomas Allen, Electric Phoenix, and Marion Montgomery appear.
6 "Reacting to Sounds" Tony Kysh Jocelyn Stevenson & Patrick Barlow September 20, 1989 (1989-09-20)

Fughetta does a sound check to make sure she is the only ghost. She hears another ghost, J.J. Ready.

Guest Spots: H.K. Gruber's orchestra and Dizzy Gillespie's trumpet are heard.
7 "If You Can Play, It's an Instrument" Tony Kysh David Angus & Patrick Barlow September 27, 1989 (1989-09-27)

Mimi learns about a record-breaking oboe player. Farkus plans to sell instruments as scrap metal.

Guest Spot: The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Courtney Pine appear.
8 "Improvised Music" Tony Kysh Jocelyn Stevenson & Patrick Barlow October 4, 1989 (1989-10-04)

A TV crew visits Faffner Hall for a special. Farkus wants to turn the hall into an amusement park.

Guest Spot: Gil Evans Orchestra and Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform.
9 "Notation: The Sign That Gets the Sound" Tony Kysh David Angus & Patrick Barlow October 11, 1989 (1989-10-11)

This episode explores how music is written down.

Guest Spot: James Taylor performs with the Wild Impresario.
10 "Discovering New Sounds" Tony Kysh David Angus & Patrick Barlow October 18, 1989 (1989-10-18)

The characters explore different and new sounds.

Guest Spot: Thomas Dolby shows off synthesizer sounds. Patrick Moraz is also a guest.
11 "Music Brings Us Together" Tony Kysh Jocelyn Stevenson & Patrick Barlow October 25, 1989 (1989-10-25)

Farkus uses a talking skull to trap Fughetta in solid form. Mimi, Riff, and Wild Impresario call for help from Fughetta's Great Uncle Fishknife.

Guest Spot: Youssou N'Dour shows how music can connect people. Steve Turre plays seashells, and Yomo Toro plays guitar.
12 "The Power of Music" Tony Kysh Jocelyn Stevenson & Patrick Barlow November 1, 1989 (1989-11-01)

A ghost exterminator, Madame Mumu, arrives. Farkus hires her to get rid of Fughetta.

Guest Spot: Madame Mumu finds Los Lobos performing.
13 "Anyone Can Make Music" Tony Kysh David Angus & Patrick Barlow November 8, 1989 (1989-11-08)

This episode shows that everyone can create music.

Guest Spot: Michala Petri and Robin Williamson appear.

Cast and Performers

Muppet Performers

The talented people who brought the Muppets to life include:

  • Richard Coombs as Ray, Piganini, the Zookeeper, Mr. Director, and Madame Mumu.
  • Louise Gold as Fughetta Faffner.
  • Richard Hunt as The Wild Impresario.
  • Phil Knowles
  • Angie Passmore as Zola and Tutie.
  • Karen Prell as Mimi.
  • David Rudman as Earl the Dragon.
  • Mike Quinn as Riff.
  • Bob Smeaton
  • Mak Wilson as Farkus Faffner.

Special Musical Guests

Many famous musicians visited Faffner Hall, including:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Los fantasmas del conservatorio para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
The Ghost of Faffner Hall Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.