The 13-Storey Treehouse offers a visually exciting and technically impressive experience for off-West End family theatre. 

A cast of 3 take to the New Wimbledon stage to share Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton’s multi award-winning book, presented by Roast Productions. 

Firstly, Nicholas Higgins has designed an exciting lighting plot that stands out from other shows of this calibre, and adds a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere to the performance. Equally, hats must go off to the stage management team, who adeptly handle numerous props and quick turnarounds, keeping the show running smoothly. Jeremy Silver’s audio quality was also impressive, as the auditorium was only half full and, in large venues, this can result in an echoey effect as there aren’t enough people to absorb the sound on each level. 

However, the sound department did falter slightly at the beginning, with microphones coming up a little late, causing us to miss the initial lines from some characters. This wasn’t an issue in the long run as their names were used regularly, aiding young audiences' comprehension as children have a notoriously unreliable memory.

The script itself (by Richard Tulloch), unfortunately, fell short in several areas. The distinction between funny and foolish was often challenged, and resulted in laughter overlapping lines in multiple scenes. This raises the question of why such interruptions weren't accounted for in the delivery. Additionally, some comments within the dialogue were questionable, with certain insults or insinuations feeling inappropriate for the target audience.

On a positive note, the false start to the show was a creative touch, and acknowledges the often invisible roles behind the scenes. Director Julian Louis maintains this sense of ridiculousness throughout the show, with fun puppet work (by Marty Jay and Kay Yasugi) and excruciating puns. However, this approach left little for adults to enjoy, aside from a few pop culture references, resulting in a rather dull and noisy hour for the grown-ups.

The set (designed by Mark Thompson) was undoubtedly the highlight, and was as imaginative as the story itself - really bringing the pages to life. 

Though cringey, Elle Wootton’s portrayal of character ‘Val’ was intentionally so and well-received for that reason. Fellow actors Ryan Dulie and Edwin Beats navigated the play’s fast pace admirably, taking on responsibility for scenery and costumes too, which were minimal but effective. The speed and sharpness were crucial in ensuring the jokes landed, as without them, many might have fallen flat.

The suggested age range of 6-12 felt a little gaping as the differences in children at each end of this spectrum responded very differently to the performance. This is partly because it runs for 55 minutes with no interval, which is a little too long for some younger ones, and partly because the humour was just very silly.

In summary, The 13-Storey Treehouse is a mixed bag - a fun experience for younger children, but one that leaves older kids and adults wanting more.

This show was reviewed on the 3rd August 2024 at the New Wimbledon Theatre, London.

Review written by Katie Anna McConnell

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