Review: Three Little Vikings, Half Moon Theatre

Three Little Vikings sail into Half Moon Theatre this summer, bringing a vibrant, upbeat and bouncing show full of musical fun and adventure. Based on the best-selling picture book written and illustrated by Bethan Woollvin, this delightful adaptation by Elvi Piper takes the original story and makes it bigger and bolder.

When chickens start to go missing from the village of Valhalla-on-Sea, and trees are found fallen down, young friends Ebba, Wren and Helga realise that there’s something wrong. But the Chieftain won’t listen to them because he ‘knows best’. They have to find out for themselves what is causing the destruction and prove him wrong.

Like the little girls themselves, this show is small but packed with power. It starts with a bang, in a dynamic song energetically delivered by the cast of three (Neha Eapen, Georgia Barnett, Saskia Newman), which sets the epic tone for the adventure and embraces the idea of the Scandinavian saga. The girls are introduced and their individual talents carefully acknowledged, but they also work as a team to save the village from danger. It’s a really refreshing narrative, with a quick-witted, brave bunch of girls taking the lead, showing bravery, friendship, and amusingly getting the better of an adult! As in the original story, Helga’s use of mobility aids is signalled but not made into an issue, normalising her crutches. At times, the girls are represented by cute, small-scale puppets that give a clear nod back to the illustrations in the book and allow the characters to climb high trees and cross great distances, live on stage, which is fun.

The three performers deliver the tale with great gusto: it’s fluid, clear storytelling that’s complemented by innovative use of reimagined parts of the set and shadow puppetry – which was perhaps not always as sharp as it might be, but nonetheless offered a great idea for a creative project the audience could try themselves after the show. The girls discuss mythological characters such as Odin and Loki, raising further topics for the audience to follow up, but this section might perhaps be a little over the heads of the lower end of the age 3+ recommended age bracket. It’s also great to see the Little Vikings’ visible use of books to research and gain knowledge. The enthusiasm throughout is totally infectious, with the audience keen to get involved, sharing ideas and shouting out when invited.

The stage is set with beautifully rustic woodland props that are then used imaginatively and flexibly, and even contain surprise features such as UV footprints that show up under special torchlight. At times, it feels a little bit cluttered, as if there are a few too many things in the performance space, but this might vary from venue to venue.

The outstanding feature of the show is undoubtedly the excellent music from composer and musical director Bay Bryan, which rocks from the very start. It’s playful and hugely dynamic, but also totally relevant to the storytelling, giving clarity and shifting energies; it certainly gives that Tom Fletcher a run for his money! Three Little Vikings is a really enjoyable, fun show with some brilliant examples of good role models, diversity and empowerment clearly and entertainingly presented. It’s got great potential to expand, and I’d love to see it worked up into even more of a musical format, extra songs replacing some of the dialogue and perhaps episode two or even three of the girls’ adventures. Here’s hoping!

A Wrongsemble Production
Directed by Elvi Piper & Richard Priestley
Written by Elvi Piper
Artistic Associate Eija Gibson
Musical Director & Lead Composer: Bay Bryan
Associate Composer: Claire O’Connor
Designed by Antony Jones
Lighting Design by Bethany Bains
Puppetry Specialist: Kathleen Yore

Three Little Vikings is aimed at ages 3+ and runs at Half Moon Theatre until Saturday 28 June..