Everything Theatre Reviews, interviews and news for theatre lovers, London and beyond
A visually gorgeous and exquisitely performed puppet show that will have children and adults alike captivated this Christmas.Summary
Rating
Excellent
Sometimes at Christmas you can get bogged down under the pressure and the relentless plastic glitz of it all. Wouldn’t it be nice instead to descend into a magical land of fairy tale, and contemplate the real essence of the season – caring and sharing? Join me then in the cosy cabin of the Puppet Theatre Barge and escape for a short while to a world of wonder and beauty that fuses the old and the new, creating a moment of breathtaking performance and warm goodwill.
The Selfish Giant is a story for children, based on the Oscar Wilde classic first published in 1888. Here, it is vibrantly refreshed in an adaptation by James Boswell, and performed using traditional marionettes. It’s a captivating piece that sits beautifully in a timeless space, reflecting the past but connecting to the future, and it will enchant adults and youngsters alike.
The tale tells of a Giant who selfishly builds a wall to keep some children from playing in his garden. Unfortunately, when their joy and laughter leave so too do the seasons; all except Winter, who freezes the place, preventing flowers from growing and animals from frolicking. The garden is ruined. It’s only when the Giant realises he needs to share his space and invites the children back that his world defrosts, and they all enjoy together the happiness his generosity brings.
This production is visually gorgeous from its opening moments. The actors are beautifully crafted puppets, manipulated with outstanding skill by a team of only three puppeteers (though you’d easily believe there were more, it’s so intricate). In their performance Emily Dyble, Bori Mező and Stan Middleton expertly capture the essence of playful youth in the small children and animals of the tale, making wonderful use of a tiny stage across multiple levels and with delightful representations of scale, particularly for the lovely Giant himself. The performance is brimful of warm humour, from the children playing excitedly in snow, to the Giant’s tickly legs, and a particularly talented squirrel that you certainly won’t want to miss!
Varied and entertaining music by Josh Middleton gives the story a folksy feel, and is at times joyfully upbeat, having the young audience and their grown-ups happily clapping along. The set design, lighting and special effects are just perfect, not only reflecting the changing seasons and emotions, but occasionally surprising us with luscious growth, or a dramatic wall demolition.
Cleverly, however, within the fairy tale ambiance this old story offers incredible contemporary resonances. It delicately addresses themes of being different and bullying, and how these can lead to negative responses: though it’s never too late to change. It’s a tale of personal growth but also of environmental awareness, sensitively describing the dangers of ecological neglect and carelessness in a very gentle way; placing an urgent, important topic within a space where children can understand and learn without it being forced upon them.
Somehow the delicate precariousness of the stringed puppets, defying gravity to perform whilst themselves an endangered artform, sits beautifully sympathetically with this learning. The two ideas work harmoniously, so at the end when the Giant takes his final journey there’s a poignancy but it’s not distressing: we know that by changing his behaviour for the good of all his life was happy, rewarding and of value.
This is a truly beautiful production that will have children and adults beaming with pleasure. It demonstrates a warmly optimistic lesson, showing how we too might make the world a better place for ourselves and those around us by caring and sharing. What better message for Christmastime?
Written/adapted by James Boswell
Directed by Kate Middleton
Music by Josh Middleton
The Selfish Giant is aimed at ages 4+ and runs until Sunday 21 January. Further information and bookings can be found here.
