Hetty Feather Live at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Review
Hetty Feather Live
Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
17-21 June 2014
Reviewed by Becky Linsell
Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson is such a good well known children’s book that when I was asked to review the theatre adaptation the thought crossed my mind – will they do the book justice? Well they certainly did – it was a thoroughly good performance.
I went to see Hetty Feather at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre tonight (Tuesday 17 June 2014) with my eight year old, who was bursting with excitement having read the book and it being a big favourite. I was not alone – the theatre was packed with parents with kids of a similar age, all equally excited with the anticipation.
The story takes you back to the Victorian period, the gritty story about Hetty the foundling girl – who is a likeable character that you immediately engage with and want to know all about what happened to her. Hetty’s story starts as her mother is giving her up at the Foundling Hospital, this scene is played with sufficient emotion but it considers its target audiences age and therefore this is not overplayed. This level of emotion is consistent throughout the performance, I was pleased about this, as the book is a heart-wrencher and I could not have coped with the tears that I would have shed. I am pleased to report that I only had a couple of eye welling moments.
We follow Hetty through her life, as she is fostered along with other foundling children, as she returns to the utterly miserable Foundling Hospital with her foster brother Gideon for schooling and in her quest to find her real mother.
The cast is made up of six actors, who are versatile and all deliver very strong performances. Pheobe Thomas plays Hetty Feather, she is striking in her looks, with long red hair and feisty in her attitude. I had awkwardness when I saw the cast – I was not sure whether the adult actors would be convincing in their children’s roles. I was totally wrong – they were superb! I was totally absorbed by their performances.
The stage set is simple, a large scaffolding which the actors use very effectively to tell the story, along with ladders, ropes and hoops, which are used to represent as the circus, playing in the trees and memories throughout the story. This is a very strong visual performance with great acrobatics and I found this a very interesting and effective use of the stage.
I would be failing not to mention the music to this adaptation, which carries along the story with pace and perfection, all undertaken by two musicians who are present at the side of the stage. The music really enhanced the production.
I found the second half of the production slightly too long (65 minutes) I had a feeling that some of the scenes could have been made shorter. However this did not spoil my overall enjoyment of the performance.
I was totally won over by this adaptation of Hetty Feather, the fiery Victorian orphan who you could not fail to love. My eight year old equally loved it and would happily see the performance again probably this week, if I would let them. Our final verdict would have to be – highly recommended, go see!
Sheffield Theatres currently have an arrangement with the nearby Q-Park car park (Charles Street), which means if you pick up a voucher from the Theatre before you leave, you get an hour’s free parking. That said this is an expensive place to park and even with the discount my parking cost just over £6. However this car park is very central, secure and convenient.
Rating: 4.5/5
Tickets cost from £15 to £20 (plus £1/£1.50 booking fee).
Hetty Feather is at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield until 21 June 2014. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0114 249 6000.
Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield, S1 1DA | 0114 249 6000
