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An all singing, all dancing (and signing) Christmas performance. Full of songs, skits and stories and a visit from Rudolf and Santa himself.Summary
Rating
Good
I last visited Chickenshed three Christmas’ ago for their performance of Rapunzel. That was pre-baby. We now have an almost two year old, making it pretty difficult to get out to the theatre as much as we’d like (especially given everything else that has happened in 2020!) so it was a real delight to find a show appropriate to bring him along. Possibly the youngest reviewer ever on Everything Theatre?
Christmas Tales delivers a combination of puppetry, audio-visual, songs and movement routines. A very simple Christmas themed narrative that will keep a young child engaged. If you are lucky enough to be able to get / have tickets (the show is a sell-out already, but always worth checking for returns!) you can expect to see puppets with a message about acceptance and some classic Christmas characters; Santa, Rudolf, a snowman, as well as a small cast of talented singers and dancers taking you through those age old favourite nursery rhymes, such as ‘Row, row, row your boat’.
Sets are deliberately simple; white with a few simple props, some fuzzy animal suits and the puppets. Then there are audio-visual effects in places to Zoom in a cast member unable to be there in person due to shielding, plus additional video and light shows.
It was a bit of a shame that we saw the show in a Covid year, I’m sure that it would have been extra joyful had we all been allowed to jump around with the performers and mingle with other theatre-goers. However, considering the restrictions faced, the cast do a wonderful job. The cast was apparently pared down from somewhere near 60 to just 6, whilst the normal audidnce of over 200 had to be reduced to 60 to ensure social distancing was maintained.
Christmas Tales is a sweet performance if you’re looking for a Covid secure theatre that is suitable to take a small child to. It really is a fun, light-hearted Christmas show for the very youngest members of the family. You can’t fail to leave the lovely Chickenshed Theatre without feeling uplifted and festive.
Directed by: Peter Dowse
Choreography by: Loren Jacobs
Music by: The Tales from the Shed Team
Christmas Tales is currently sold out, but please do check the website/ box office for possible returns.
