The Mystery of Little Angel Theatre
Join super sleuth Constable Newbie to unravel The Mystery of Little Angel Theatre in this new brain-teasing interactive adventure. Combining live board game elements with a thrilling evidence hunt, you'll be faced with intriguing suspects, curious objects and a detailed theatre map. Can you crack this case?
The first thing you must note is that Kate Bunce has created an amazing set which really showcases to young audiences what design departments contribute to a show. This is brilliant not only as these areas deserve more recognition anyway, but it also encourages conversation about it just as much as people typically leave chatting through the content of the script for example.
On such a topic, the show was very well directed (by Dani Parr) and stayed entertaining throughout. It didn’t shy away from slightly complex plot points which can be a common downfall in children's theatre, and the layout of the auditorium was perfect for this. The options of seats at the back (primarily for the grown ups) and mats at the front (for little ones wanting to be closer to the action) meant you could choose how involved to get.
Gillian Tan’s lighting and video elements were spot on - pardon the pun - and the operator's timing was crucial. These cues managed the entire run time of the piece and ensured that any suggestions from enthusiastic participants didn't go off track or draw the scene too far out. A repetitive structure also helped with this and, although it has its pros and cons, overall seemed a great decision for this piece.
Danyah Miller was great at characterisation, and also managed all the responsibilities within the show well (and there were lots of them) but there were lots of extended pauses which didn’t add any dramatic effect. With no interval to break this up, they simply seemed to be so she could work out where to go next or for logistical tasks such as unhooking the screens or fetching a new prop. As understandable as this is, it would perhaps run smoother as a two hander, or with a slightly faster paced performer.
The costuming was minimal but effective, and definitely added some colour to the black box space. As you first enter the building, the walls and stairway are already themed which set the ‘immersive’ expectation although audience participation was entirely optional (if highly encouraged). It was genuinely a ‘whodunit’ too, and not at all obvious who the culprit was - ‘mystery’ being an apt title indeed.
A fun production for those who enjoy exploring relationships, exuding empathy, and using critical thinking to solve a deadly tale!
This show was reviewed on the 29th September 2024 at the the Little Angel Theatre, London where the show runs until the 17th November 2024. Tickets available here: The Mystery of Little Angel Theatre | Little Angel Theatre
Review written by Katie Anna McConnell
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Photo credit: Ellie Kurttz
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You can watch our interview with Danyah Miller all about the show here: https://youtu.be/dYEDxOmrIlw?si=A3SNOWkYj3GWoQwj
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