Theatre

Stick Man At Royal And Derngate Northampton Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Janine Rumble

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the Stick Man theatre show at the Royal and Derngate Theatre in Northampton and it was nothing short of a magical experience.  From the moment the show began to the final bow, every aspect of the production was creative brilliance and a joy for all who attended.  I went with my friends and their 3 year old and 9 month old and they sat mesmerised the whole way through, with their 3 year old joining in with all of the fun interactions.  When he left, he declared that “Stick Man was really good!”

As the Royal and Derngate’s write up of the show states ‘This much-loved production of the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved children’s book from Freckle Productions, features a very talented trio of actors and is packed full of puppetry, songs, live music and funky moves!’

The ingenious use of puppetry helped to bring the charming stick figure to life in a way that captivated both young and old theatre goers alike.  For all the fans of the book, you will not be disappointed, as the show follows closely along with the story.  I did wonder how they would stretch the story to fill an hour, but they managed this, and I felt that an hour was just the right length for a children’s show.

One of the standout features of Stick Man was the simplicity of the show and the cleverness of how the three actors portrayed Stick Man, his Stick Lady Love and their three stick children, as well as the myriad of other characters the Stick Man meets on his adventures.  The cast’s performances were nothing short of extraordinary.  Each actor skilfully brought their character to life, infusing them with energy, humour and a genuine sense of joy.  Stick Man’s endearing personality shone through, and we were rooting for him to make it back home to his family and the family tree.  The actor’s abilities to engage with the audience, particularly the children, was truly heart-warming, creating an interactive experience that made the show feel like a shared journey.

The use of puppetry throughout the show was brilliant and cleverly done, linking the actor with the puppet/character they were portraying and making this a believable process for the audience.  The actors also sang, and one performed the music throughout the show, his saxophone playing was particularly impressive.  The music, songs and instruments, all added to the believability of the show and matched the mood being portrayed in each scene.

The well-paced narrative, combined with the music, ensured that the show never lost its momentum, keeping the audience engaged from start to finish.  In conclusion, Stick Man theatre show is a delightful show for both old and young, perfect for those who enjoy a trip to the theatre for a Christmas treat.

Stick Man is at Royal and Derngate Theatre until 31st December and is being shown in the Royal Theatre, which is a smaller theatre, perfect for little ones.  Inclusivity is also key, with an audio described/touch tour performance on Saturday 16th December at 1pm, a relaxed performance on Sunday 17th December at 1pm, a BSL interpreted showing on Wednesday 20th December at 1pm and a captioned performance on Saturday 30th December at 4pm.

I would highly recommend a visit to see Stick Man this festive period, the children will love it, especially those children who are fans of the book. I give this show 4 out of 5.

https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/stick-man-2023/

Tickets are between £14-£22.

Rating: 4/5

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