• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides

Suffrajitsu at the Little Angel Theatre

June 11, 2019 by Antonia Windsor Leave a Comment

Review of: Suffrajitsu
Puppet theatre:
Antonia Windsor
Price:
£14 Full-price Adults £12 Children (age 1 – 15) and Concessions All tickets £7 at 4.30pm on Sunday 30 June Friday Fives: all tickets £5 at 5pm on Fridays

Reviewed by: Antonia Windsor
Rating:
4
On June 11, 2019
Last modified:June 11, 2019

Summary:

A captivating puppet show about a young Lancashire mill worker's awakening into the Suffragette movement with some "kerpow" jujitsu moments

More Details

It’s perhaps a hard sell for children: a show about women getting the vote. But Horse + Bamboo’s Suffrajitsu at the Little Angel Theatre in Islington (recommended for 7-11-year-olds) has the audience gripped from the first few moments. The two actors: Gemma Khawaja and Alice Rowbottom arrive through the audience dressed in jujitsu suits asking for signatures for their petition to save the “dojo” – the hall where they practice their martial arts. This enables them to segue neatly into the story of the suffragettes and their training in jujitsu, which helped them in their battle for the vote.

Gemma Khawaja and Alice Rowbottom in Suffrajitsu at the Little Angel Theatre.

Gemma Khawaja and Alice Rowbottom in Suffrajitsu at the Little Angel Theatre. Photo: Ellie Kurttz

With a delightfully versatile set, the story is told using a variety of puppets as we follow Annie, a worker at a Lancashire mill, as she gains understanding of the importance of female suffrage and joins in the antics in London. The characters are largely fictional, but based on real women, which are all explained in the free programme. One of the stand-out aspects of the show is the fully integrated BSL sign language, which is either incorporated by the actors or played out on a separate video screen when the actors hands are busy with puppets.

The details are exquisite. Handmade patchwork posters with slogans “Votes for Women” and “Dare to be Free”, remind us of the textile trade that employed so many women at the time. Green painted boards create the Lancashire hills, while painted panels depict the women’s fair in Hyde park and the numerous arrests that followed. We get shadow puppets depicting the hunger strike in Holloway prison.

The two 7-year-old girls I took with me were enthralled, even if they didn’t follow all of the story, and I am sure it will be a production that stays with them and they will remember it when they hear the word “suffragette” in the future (or perhaps, even, Suffrajitsu!).

Creative Team
Director: Esther Ferry-Kennington
Writer: Ruthie Boycott-Garnett
Set and puppet designer and maker: Emma Brierley
Musical director: Cath Tyler
Technical director and lighting designer: Phil Milston
Shadow puppet designer and maker: Alastair Price
Banner maker: Cath Ford
Puppet fight choreographer: Alex Kanefsky
Specialist BSL support: Ayesha Gavin and Mark Gavin

 

 

Author: Antonia Windsor

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Children's Theatre, Horse + Bamboo, Little Angel Theatre, Puppet theatre

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Fraser Grace talks about Bliss at the Finborough Theatre

Written by Fraser Grace (Breakfast with Mugabe, RSC), Bliss is based on a short story by censored writer Andrey Platonov. It’s at Finborough [Read More]

NEWS / Japanese Romeo and Juliet to the songs of Queen announced

Coming to Sadler’s Wells in September as part of its world tour, A Night At The Kabuki is a retelling [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Paul O’Donnell talks about Shoot Festival

Shoot Festival returns this year with a mix of commissioned pieces and showcases of the best of Coventry’s arts scene. [Read More]

Review / The Man who Knew Too Much at Omnibus Theatre

A packed Omnibus Theatre lapped up the entertaining antics of The Man Who Knew Too Much. Co-Director and Co-writer Olivia [Read More]

Spotlight / Inua Ellams at 05Fest Lewisham

Inua Ellams, the Albany and WE ARE LEWISHAM  presents………. 05Fest, 10 – 19 March Poetry takes front and centre stage [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Much Ado About Nothing at Shakespeare's Globe
  • John Terry on Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense
  • Sarah Bodalbhai on Escape from Planet Trash
  • Forced Entertainment announce new award in memory of Huw Chadbourn
  • Does Small to Mid Scale Theatre Touring Actually Work?
  • The RSC's King Lear at the Barbican
  • Japanese Romeo and Juliet to the songs of Queen announced
  • Antonia Windsor
    Author

  • June 11th, 2019
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!