Marauding before teatime: The Sagas of Noggin the Nog
“In the lands of the North where the black rocks stand guard against the cold sea, in the dark night that is very long, the men of the Northlands sit…
The life lesson of sharing: The Selfish Giant
Giant snores reverberate across Westacre Theatre’s wide stage as we settle down for Andy Naylor’s bespoke adaptation of The Selfish Giant, Oscar Wilde’s heartfelt fairytale about selfishness, loneliness and love.…
Oh, yes they did: Dick Whittington and his cat, Ben Crocker
The Fisher Theatre has developed an enviable reputation over the last few years for putting on an excellent pantomime at Christmas, and I’ve seen tired London theatregoers light up when…
Cold snap: The Wolves of Willloughby Chase, Maddermarket
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase is a children’s novel, rather than a play: accordingly, the Maddermarket’s Christmas staging, using an adaptation of Joan Aiken’s book by Russ Tunney, keeps our…
Fresh sea air: Much Ado About Puffin, Open Attic Company
“On a small island, in the middle of the sea, a man meets a big bird…” Much Ado About Puffin tells a beguiling story of an unlikely, exciting friendship in…
Treasure in store: A King’s Ransom, Into Opera
It all started with a tweet: in October 2011, Genevieve Raghu realised she had just missed Patrick Hawes’ concert in Norwich the previous week, and tweeted the composer to ask…
Sophisticated Christmas sparkle: The Firework-Maker’s Daughter at the Royal Opera House
Directed by John Fulljames, The Firework-Maker’s Daughter is a gently exotic and quietly magical act of storytelling, with a strong female hero, a vibrant score with strong, tuneful melodies from David…
Life lessons at Tête à Tête: The Fisherman and his Wife, Storm’s Eye
The Fisherman and his Wife is a nicely conceived opera for children. Eralys Fernandez’s score confidently paints a range of moods and emotions in a cheerful piano accompaniment played for…