With puppets and pea-green boats in multiple sizes, nonsense poetry and plenty of singing, this charming retelling of the Further Adventures of the Owl and the Pussycat (based on a book by Julia Donaldson of the same name) will enchant young audiences.
Samuel Dutton as the Owl and Cass Newby as the Pussycat work tirelessly over the 45-minute show performing the characters themselves and manipulating a variety of puppets, from fully-articulated marionettes to finger puppets and rod puppets. The boats are like Russian dolls, a smaller one emerging as the perspective shifts and the puppets shrink.
The adventures are suitably ludicrous for a story that has been taken on from an Edward Lear poem. The Owl and the Pussycat continue their journey and meet wonderful characters such as the Pobble who has no Toes and the Jumblies, who go to sea in a sieve. The story is regularly interrupted for some delicious nonsense songs written by Paul Mosely, which are so in keeping I thought they may have been forgotten Lear poems.
Samuel Dutton and Cass Newby. Photo: Ellie Kurttz
Kate Bunce’s set is beautiful and functional. Alongside the multiple boats (which at one point are stacked on top of each other upside down to make a hillside), we have colourful paper lanterns hanging from the rigging, one of which becomes the balloon for the hot air balloon and several wicker baskets that hide puppets and create landscape.
The story seems to make much more sense on the stage than it does on the page. We follow the crow with the ring and the final exchange for a pair of gossamer gloves for the Pobble, seems perfectly reasonable. And anyway, the children don’t care as the puppetry is so enthralling it doesn’t matter if the story makes sense or not.
Creative team
Adapted and directed by Greta Clough
Set and costume designed by Kate Bunce
Puppets designed by Maia Kirkman-Richards
Music and lyrics by Paul Mosely
Lighting designed by David Duffy
Sound designed by Martin Thompson
Little Angel Theatre, 14 Dagmar Passage, Off Cross Street, Islington, London N1 2DN
Dates: Friday 27 September to Sunday 17 November 2019
Times: Times vary – check website for details
Tickets: £13.50 Full-price Adults, £11.50 Children (age 1 – 15) and Concessions
All tickets £8 for previews Fri 27 Sept – Fri 4 Oct
Friday Fives: all tickets £5 at 5pm on Fridays
Box Office: 020 7226 1787 or online at www.littleangeltheatre.com
Royal & Derngate, Guildhall Road, Northampton NN1 1DP
Dates: Thursday 28 November 2019 – Sunday 5 January 2020
Times: Times vary – check website for details
Tickets: Adult £11, Child £9*
Box Office: 01604 624811 or online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk
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