A Squash and a Squeeze
A little old lady lived all by herself,
With a table and chair and a jug on the shelf.
A wise old man heard her grumble and grouse,
‘There’s not enough room in my house!’
Once upon a time, there was a lovely old lady who lived all alone in her cosy cottage. But there was a problem! She wasn’t very happy – her house felt just too small. Whatever could she do? Well, when the owner of Easy Peasy Solutions hears of her woes, he offers to help and how could she say no? However it seems that he has a rather… odd approach!
Through an hour long performance of song, dance, and puppetry the dynamic duo (Gilbert Taylor & Ruth Calkin) invite an array of farmyard friends into her humble abode until it really is A Squash and A Squeeze. Can all these animals really grow her teeny, weeny home into something a bit more spacious? Multi-roller Mark Esaias completes the cast and reveals the answer to this question through professional puppeteering, vivid voice acting, and overall delightfulness.
The title is completely apt, coming straight from the unparalleled picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and adapted for the stage by Olivier-nominated Barb Jungr and Samantha Lane. They have done a brilliant job in staying true to its origin material, and follow the exact same structure as you’ll find on the pages in your local library (or from a copy available to purchase in the downstairs foyer). You can even bring the book into the auditorium and read along in real time!
As with all productions at this venue, the technical aspects were spot on. The set and costume by Kate Bunce was timeless and warm, and Sherry Coenen’s lighting design was shining yet soft. It’s puppetry maker Maia Kirkman Richards that really takes the spotlight, though, with creations as big as those maneuvering them and that are almost identical to the beloved illustrations they are based on.
These are all ingredients for a heartwarming and hilarious adventure, full of beautiful visual elements and enchanting musical numbers. The only thing to note is that this one is definitely for the recommended age group (3-8) more so than all the family - with anyone younger unlikely to have a long enough attention span or understanding of the vocabulary used, and anyone older unlikely to be entertained by the slapstick silliness or repetitive nature.
Many of the upcoming show times are now or nearly sold out - so I would definitely recommend grabbing some tickets while you can for an all round fun time!
This show was reviewed on the 23rd February 2025 at Little Angel Studios within the Little Angel Theatre, London where it runs until the 27th April 2025. Tickets available here: A Squash and a Squeeze | Little Angel Theatre
Review written by Katie Anna McConnell
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Photo credit : Suzi Corker
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