REVIEW: Just So Stories, Stephen Joseph Theatre
Rudyard Kipling's stories were written in 1902 and have been entertaining generations of children, but Vicky Ireland's unique adaptation at the SJT, aimed at the six+ audience, has given a fresh twist on the classic text.
Making the short stroll to the theatre on a damp summer Saturday afternoon with my young daughters, aged five and eight, we settled into our seats in the McCarthy, unsure of what treats awaited us.
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Hide AdThe hour-long play sees Mrs Brady the Cleaning Lady (Catherine Lamb), Mrs Pett the Usherette (Cate Hamer), and doorkeeper Jim (Dan Henley) tell the audience of four tales of how animals developed the form they now have, as well as a new tale about bats that give the younger members of the audience to get involved.
The simple format sees the three actors uses an array of everyday objects as props, from a ladder to a vacuum cleaner, to keep the audience entertained with stories and songs as the cast are all out eating fish and chips on the foreshore.
Catherine Lamb gets the young audience involved with her energetic performance as Mrs Brady, especially as the Elephant's Child, while Dan Henley is great as the grumpy Camel and the irritated Rhino, and Cate Hamer expertly delivers a wide range of animal noises/voices throughout the play as well as showing off some great artistic skills with her drawings of the animals before and after their transformations.
The length of the show is ideal for the age of the target audience, with both my daughters enthralled by the production, and families looking for an entertaining diversion during the summer holidays should seek out this play.
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Hide AdTickets, costing £12.50 for an adult, and £8 per child, are available from the SJT box office, and the Just So Stories are showing at the theatre until August 27.
Other showings
12 July, 10am
13 July, 10am
16 July, 2.15pm
19 July, 10am
20 July, 10am
21 July, 10am
23 July, 6.45pm
26 July, 2.15pm
27 July, 11am
27 July, 2.15pm
28 July, 2.15pm
29 July, 11am
29 July, 2.15pm
30 July, 11am
30 July, 2.15pm
3 August, 11am
3 August, 2.15pm
4 August, 11am
5 August, 11.00am
6 August, 6.45pm
8 August, 2.15pm
9 August, 11am
9 August, 2.15pm
10 August, 11am
15 August, 6.45pm
16 August, 11am
16 August, 2.15pm
17 August, 2.15pm
18 August, 2.15pm
23 August, 11am
23 August, 2.15pm
24 August, 11am
24 August, 2.15pm
25 August, 11am
26 August, 11am
26 August, 6.45pm
27 August, 2.15pm