Review: The Paper Dolls, Little Angel Theatre

There is much to enjoy about this revival of the 2015 production of the popular and much-loved story-picture book by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Rebecca Cobb. The production is gentle in tone and captivatingly under-scored by Julian Butler, using a series of provocative piano and playfully orchestrated melodies plus – to give a different flavour – a sing-a-along chorus: “Ticky, Tacky, Jackie the Backie, Jim with the two noses and Joe with a bow” is peppered at intervals marking the journey of the paper dolls’ adventures. This is sung with smiling charm by puppeteer-performers Katie Haygarth and Jane Crawshaw, who for the 45 minutes of this show for 3-8 year olds, shift the props, the backdrops and the plethora of puppet characters with skill and precision: so much so that at times you feel you can see the gentle breathing of the little girl, Rosie, as she sleeps, or her heightened breath when things don’t go to plan. 

As is often the case with Little Angel productions, the designs and puppets, by Lyndie Wright on this occasion, are the stars of the show. While faithful to Cobb’s original illustrations, the stage settings are evocative, even bursting into the auditorium at times, as little houses and stars are lit up above the audience’s heads. When Rosie cuts out a string of paper dolls, she takes them by their hands on an imaginative adventure and the stage is transformed into a forest where we meet a slipper tiger, a tropical island with an oven glove crocodile and the moonlike landscape where we encounter a dinosaur toy. 

When it comes to the annoying younger brother, we might wish to see a more balanced portrayal in 2025 than we would have accepted readily ten years ago. Although we do, of course, need him to tease his sister and (spoiler) destroy the paper dolls with a large pair of scissors for the story to unfold, a slightly more nuanced presentation would be welcome. Still, the theme of sibling rivalry, plus those of memory and loss, are very heartfelt and resonant throughout. What appeals are the hints of emotional realism and depth. I particularly liked the moment when the mother sits in the garden attempting to read a magazine in peace, enjoying the birds flying freely overhead, and we feel fleetingly her exasperation at the routine of the day-to-day. Ultimately, this is a play about imagination, memory and enduring inter-generational love, so the ending seems poignant and appropriate. Rosie, as a child, kisses the portrait of her grandmother, and then, as we hear a series of actual children’s voices talking, we see Rosie grow up into a mother herself, making paper dolls with her own daughter.

As a revival, the opportunity was there for director, Peter Glanville, to update and refresh; it is a shame then that at times the pace is quite slow and that the audience engagement is slightly token. If you bring puppets into the audience, you need to think about what impact this has upon children and how to bring them back to the story on the stage. Both this and the pacing weaken the jeopardy and limit the emotional range. But these are minor grumbles. Paper Dolls is a really engaging play with so much to enjoy, and with particular resonance for families, as there is a lot to smile and talk about on the way home. One thought: what happened to brother Tommy? I wonder if Rosie invites him round with his kids, now they are both grown up, to make paper dolls together?

Based on Paper Dolls by Julia Donaldson & illustrated by Rebecca Cobb
Adapted & Directed by Peter Glanville
Associate Directed by Beth Wilson
Set & Puppets designed by Lyndie Wright
Music Composed by Julian Butler
Lighting Design by David Duffy
Produced by A Little Angel Theatre & Polka Theatre

Paper Dolls (recommended for ages 3-8) runs at the Little Angel Theatre until 20 July 2025