Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales at the Leicester Square Theatre Review
Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales
Leicester Square Theatre, London
11 July to 31 August 2015
www.leicestersquaretheatre.com
Reviewed by Gemma Whates
Having a nearly three year old boy means I am well familiar with Tiddler and the other terrific tales in the Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler series. We’ve loved reading the books for a long time and were keen to see some of our favourites come to life on stage. With a pre-schooler I’m never sure how sitting in one place for more than 10 minutes will go, but he was totally mesmerised for the whole hour. Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales is a medley of four of the classic Donaldson and Scheffler’s stories, Monkey Puzzle, A Squash and a Squeeze, Tiddler and The Smartest Giant in Town. Directed by Sally Cookson, it was a treat for adults and children alike.
If you are not familiar with Leicester Square Theatre, it’s really quaint and has a special vibe to it, it feels small and intimate. We stocked up on drinks and took to our seats, booster seats are provided for children so my son had an unobstructed view of the stage.
From start to finish we watched a simple stage be transformed to essentially four different sets before our eyes, using minimal props and maximum imagination. The hour was full of singing, dancing and acting with the three actors narrating their way through the stories. From a little green bag that turns in to a frog, my son actually screamed unprompted ‘it’s a frog’, to a game of catch with three little yellow balls that turn out to be fisherman hats, that then lead in to the start Tiddler, the stage was full of surprises and kept us all guessing about what was coming next. Houses were made from books and animals from ropes and scarves, never once did my son question what was being presented.
Acted fantastically, the energy levels are high and the pace is fast. The actors seamlessly switch characters throughout the performance from puppeteers to shadow artists, singers to animals. A Squash and a Squeeze was a particular highlight for us and for everyone else judging by the giggles in the audience!
What really made the performance special was how the show really encouraged imagination. It was creative and yet for a three year old it still told the stories he knows and loves. We left feeling energised and went home to turn our sofa cushions in to flying UFOs.
Rating: 5/5 
Suitable age: 3 years + | Running Time: 1 hour
Tickets cost £14.50 (child) and £19.50 (adults).
Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales is at the Leicester Square Theatre in London until 31 August 2015. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 020 7734 2222.
Leicester Square Theatre, 6 Leicester Place, London, WC2H 7BX | 020 7734 222
