In the heart of the mighty jungle a young monkey has lost his mother and needs a bit of human help to find her. Meanwhile, in the southern regions of the United States, a lady farmer is unhappy with her tiny house and seeks precious advice from the old wise man. Strolling around town in his old scruffy clothes, George The Giant longs for a makeover and some new friends. Whereas, deep under the sea, the young Tiddler is reluctant to attend fish school and makes up some wonderful stories to justify his lateness.
Born from the pens of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Monkey Puzzle, A Squash and a Squeeze, The Smartest Giant in Town and Tiddler are four lovely stories presented by the same team behind Stick Man Live.
Intertwined and immersed in Katie Sykes's colourful and highly imaginative setting, these terrific tales are equally entertaining for the little ones and their adult companions. A mesmerising collage of puppetry, funky moves and toe-tapping live melodies contributes to the undisputed success of an ingenious but easily accessible show.
With the clever use of everyday objects for alternative purposes, the talented cast on stage creates a lively sequence of vignettes that keep the auditorium of the Leicester Square Theatre surprisingly silent. Supported by a diverse range of musical instruments, Lauren Silver, Leonie Spilsbury and Brian Hargreaves' impressive vocals offer some catchy tunes happily enjoyed by the audience.
In these terrific tales written by the creators of the Gruffalo and adapted by
Freckle Productions, the happy ending is guaranteed. Cheeky Monkey will have reunited with his loving parents, the old lady's house won't feel so tiny anymore, George will have become the smartest giant in town and Tiddler will have learnt his lesson about making up stories.
Tiddler & Other Terrific Tales is a well-devised combination of physical performance, animated toys and live musical numbers, immersed in colourful set and lighting, to create an original and upbeat family show, filled with heart-warming feelings and positive messages. At Leicester Square Theatre until 3rd September and suitable for children aged 3+, it is one of the hottest ticket in town for the summer 2017 and can be equally appreciated by young audiences, as well as by grownups in much need of a break from the real world.
Review by Marianna Meloni
Rating: ★★★★
