• 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

Review / The Paper Dolls at the Little Angel Theatre

February 14, 2020 by Antonia Windsor Leave a Comment

Review of: The Paper Dolls
Produced by:
Little Angel and Polka Theatre
Price:
£14 adult, £12 child. Friday Fives: all tickets £5 at 5pm on Wednesdays and Fridays

Reviewed by: Antonia Windsor
Rating:
4
On February 14, 2020
Last modified:February 14, 2020

Summary:

This charming adaptation of a well-loved Julia Donaldson/Rebecca Cobb picture book sees the characters come to life as adorable puppets.

More Details

Julia Donaldson’s charming book the Paper Dolls, which I have never managed to get through without crying, is brought wonderfully to life in this co-production between the Little Angel Theatre and Polka Theatre. Rebecca Cobb illustrates the picture book and Lyndie Wright’s fabulous puppets take direct inspiration from them, so that young audiences recognise the puppet of the girl Rosie as though she had just jumped out the pages of the book.

Rosie and her paper dolls at the Little Angel Theatre

Rosie and her paper dolls at the Little Angel Theatre

The show is performed by two dextrous and captivating puppeteers. Andrea Sadler as the, at times exasperated, kind mother and Jane Crawshaw as Rosie. They also animate all the other characters and objects in the show, including a dinosaur, a red bus, a butterfly hair slide and of course the paper dolls. We watch the dolls get cut out in front of us in a moment of awe-inspiring magic before they are switched to sturdier “ones I made earlier”, which look exactly as they do in the book. The dolls then embark on a journey in the little girl’s imagination, which is somewhat marred by an annoying brother who eventually snips the dolls so that they have to go and live in the little girl’s memory.

It is not the snipping that produces the tears – on stage it is actually quite a fun moment for being so subversive – it is the kind granny that is found in the little girl’s memory along with the hair slide and the tiger slippers. It is also watching the little girl grow up (a series of cardboard cut outs) and becoming a mother herself and helping her own daughter to make paper dolls. We cry at the passage of time and the delicacy of childhood memory – or at least I do and several other grown ups around me in the audience.

My young critics loved the moments where the paper dolls danced off the stage and into the audience and were particularly tickled when Rosie has a kicking tantrum about her brother stealing one of her toy pigs. The brother is Peter Glanville’s invention, (he adapted the book and directs the show). There isn’t a brother in the book and although the children all recognised how annoying a sibling can be, there is something much darker about a brother snipping the sister’s dolls, rather than just “a boy” as it is in the book. It slightly jarred that this dysfunctional boy had the same loving mother as Rosie. Also one of the great things in the book is that the girl plays with dinosaurs and tigers as well as dolls, and this is reduced somewhat by claiming that the dinosaur actually belonged to her brother. That, for me, was the only niggle in an otherwise enjoyable show.

 

CREDITS:

Adapted and directed by Peter Glanville

Set and puppets designed by Lyndie Wright

Music composed by Julian Butler

Lighting designed by David Duffy

Performed by Jane Crawshaw and Andrea Sadler

 

Thurs 6 February – Sat 18 April 2020 Relaxed performance: Sun 22 March, 3.30pm

Running Time: 45 mins approx.

Recommended for ages 3 – 8

Author: Antonia Windsor

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Children's Theatre, 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
  • Fraser Grace talks about Bliss at the Finborough Theatre
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Going Dark: Will the Last Artist to Leave England Please Switch off the Light?
  • Does Small to Mid Scale Theatre Touring Actually Work?
  • After All This- Ovalhouse
  • Actor John Heffernan on Swings and Roundabouts
  • How to Applying for Arts Grants and Funding
  • Blasted- Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
  • Antonia Windsor
    Author

  • February 14th, 2020
  • 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!