KIDS | PREVIEWS P H O T O
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THEATRE LITTLE GIFT Platform, Glasgow, Wed 13 Feb; Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Fri 15 & Sat 16 Feb
It’s not unusual to find a piece of children’s theatre billed as ‘a tale of friendship and hope’. Having built an entire career out of creating such works, Andy Manley knows a good one when he sees it. Best known in Scotland for his plethora of high- quality shows for young audiences (including White, Stick by Me and Night Light), Manley’s latest directorial venture is with Rochdale-based children’s theatre company M6. The story of Ted, a lonely man whose life is changed when a new friend enters his world, Little Gift treads the well-loved path of rebirth. ‘Tales of rebirth are fascinating whatever age we are, but
this is definitely one of those stories that is particularly pertinent to young audiences,’ says Manley. ‘They’re open to change and new experiences and the transformation that happens to them as a result. Little Gift is for 3 to 6-year-olds, so many of them have new experiences coming up in their life such as going to nursery or school, and the show is able to reflect that change.’
A blend of puppetry (designed by that other stalwart of
Scottish children’s theatre, Shona Reppe), live music and song, the show is performed by Guy Hargreaves whose surroundings are represented by a pile of suitcases that move and transform as the show develops. Ted (the puppet) lives in one of the cases, and Hargreaves uses a range of everyday objects, from a zip to a spoon to a comb, to tell his tale.
‘I like objects,’ says Manley, ‘and I’m more interested in honest things that transform, rather than pretend things that are painted or created. It feels playful to me to say “OK, this is a green spoon but let’s pretend it’s a plant”. It's a game that children enjoy and I also think it reflects the changing and transformative themes of the show.’ (Kelly Apter)
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STAGE ADAPTATION THE SINGING MERMAID Festival Theatre Studio, Edinburgh, Wed 6–Sun 10 Feb COMEDY STEPHEN HALKETT The Tall Ship, Glasgow, Sat 16, Sun 24 Mar; Dram!, Glasgow, Sat 23 Mar
The Singing Mermaid is absolutely about determination and resilience,’ says Samantha Lane, artistic director of London’s Little Angel Theatre and director / co-adapter of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ storybook for the stage. ‘The mermaid gets swept up in the moment, in the allure of fame and what it can bring, and I think that’s quite a contemporary theme, when we look at all the television shows which offer instant fame. But the reality of that isn’t always what it seems, and she goes on a learning curve which finds her saved by friendship and solidarity.’
In the contemporary world where a job for life is becoming rarer, owning transferrable skills is a boon. For Stephen Halkett, being a secondary school teacher comes in very handy when he takes to the stage and performs comedy for kids. ‘Working in a school every day obviously gives a great insight into what makes young people “tick”,’ says Halkett. ‘I speak to young people, get to know what’s important to them and what makes them laugh. I can actually try out comedy lines in class to see if it connects or not. I regularly use humour in my teaching.’
First staged over Christmas 2017 at co-producing theatre the Royal & During March, Halkett will be shaping that research into shows at the Glasgow
Derngate in Northampton, Donaldson and Monks’ story (the pair are perhaps most famous for What the Ladybird Heard, while Donaldson’s huge library with other artists includes The Gruffalo) tells of a singing mermaid who runs off with the circus to find fame and fortune, but soon finds herself longing for home when she’s kept captive by the nasty circus owner. Little Angel’s version is told through puppetry and song – as composed by co-adapter Barb Jungr – with three performers bringing the story to life using 34 puppets. ‘I’ve got two girls who are nine and seven now,’ says Lane, ‘but when
they were younger this book was a clear favourite; we read it an awful lot. I remember thinking as I was reading it to them that it would make a fantastic show, because it has all the excitement and drama that you need. And it tells a wonderful story that little girls and boys can all engage with.’ (David Pollock)
International Comedy Festival. He’s at the Tall Ship for Stephen Halkett and Friends: Save the Planet! (Sat 16 Mar) in which he and some pals use comedy to rescue the globe, and with Party Time! (Sun 24 Mar) featuring games, dancing and jokes (it’s also on at Dram!, Sat 23 Mar). He’s also entertaining the grown-ups at the festival with Simmer Down! (Dram!, Wed 27 Mar). ‘With adult shows, you go on stage with rehearsed material and simply deliver it.’ says Halkett. ‘But with kids’ shows there’s far more audience interaction and you have to be prepared to go completely off track depending on their responses. It’s brilliant when you’ve worked the room into a frenzy and have some hyper kids just screaming at you. Adults would be thrown out of a comedy club if they did that!’ (Brian Donaldson) ■ See list.co.uk for Stephen Halkett Q&A
72 THE LIST 1 Feb–31 Mar 2019